Fronted by mercurial, beguiling 19 year-old Ryann Donnelly (an ex-musical theatre devotee teeming with preternatural savoir-faire and pipes Ann Wilson would die for) Schoolyard Heroes catapult tuneful metal intricacy to new, surprising heights. Clearly, the tension between the band's boisterous attitude and the sheer weight of their riff heavy operatic horror rock has proved itself infectious from the get go.
"Heroes grabs at metal, punk and even opera dynamics with both hands and crosses in and out of each with gusto." -Chico News & Review.
"[Schoolyard Heroes)] put on one hell of a rock show, and with their steadily growing fan base, I'm not the only one who thinks so" -Seattle Weekly
Soon after their inception, the band came in second place at EMP's Sound Off! competition, played the Bumbershoot festival, and found themselves sharing the bill with Franz Ferdinand and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at staunch supporters KNDD's huge EndFest fete. The Heroes wowed audiences opening for Pretty Girls Make Graves and Vendetta Red, all while headlining their own crowds of over 500.
Donnelly has classically romanticized the curious fun of 60s pulp horror tomes and Troma films in Schoolyard Heroes' songs, wailing, growling and crooning lines like "Check the body before it gets cold!" (from their debut's "Yours Truly, Jonathan Harker") with piercing intensity.
2005's Fantastic Wounds sure is a fun ride through Amityville - but it's much more than that; showcasing a band whose driving charisma and unending creativity have continued to transcend peers since since their nascency. Building on the Mars Volta-style rock assaults of their earlier days, on Wounds, Schoolyard Heroes speed through "Thunderstruck"-era AC/DC riffs on the hyper "Battlestar Anorexia", kill on the anthemic battle cry of "Serial Killers Know How to Party" and rip through spectral opener "Body Shots."
Just like the band's dominating live show, Fantastic Wounds oozes with Donnelly's raucous 'tude, stunning style and brash confidence. Here, Donnelly channels the raging metal theatrics of Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, the curious intensity of Melt Banana and the controlled acrobatics of Yes' Jon Anderson, while bassist and second vocalist Jonah Bergman, axe wielder Steve Bonnell and percussionist Brian Turner churn out the most unapologetic chops to come out of Sea-town since the Blood Brothers. At once muscular and complex, our Heroes' compositions are as beguiling as Donnelly's smirk, right before the band launches into their surprising rock onslaught.
The band split up in late 2009 due to two members fazing themselves out of the band. It was announced November 20th, 2009 by the band. Their last show was Home for the Horrordays, December 19th, 2009.
Ryan and Jonah have gone on to form a new band named Blood Cells.
Curse Of The Werewolf
Schoolyard Heroes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Composed with hate I'm filthy, wretched, and foul
It's not a thirst but a hunger inside
Tear open your flesh
There ain't no safe place to hide
You try to run and you try to escape
It's of no consequence
This is your time to repent
I cross my heart I hope to die
So close to dying in your arms
I'm close to dying in your arms
On Saturday night
My hunger burns
I'll tear you down
[x4]
Midnight and I'm out on the prowl
Composed with hate I'm filthy, wretched, and foul
It's not a thirst but a hunger inside
Tear open your flesh
There ain't no safe place to hide
I cross my heart I hope to die
So close to dying in your arms
I'm close to dying in your arms
On Saturday night
The Schoolyard Heroes' song "Curse of the Werewolf" speaks of a hunger that is not of thirst, but of the violent desire to tear open flesh. The singer of the song is on the prowl, feeling composed with hate, filth, and wretchedness. The "fallen one" always gets what he wants, leaving no safe place to hide for his victims. The lyrics describe the singer as so close to dying in the arms of someone, possibly a lover, on a Saturday night.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight and I'm out on the prowl
I am roaming around in the night, looking for my prey.
Composed with hate I'm filthy, wretched, and foul
Filled with anger and disgust, I am a repulsive creature.
It's not a thirst but a hunger inside
I am not thirsty for blood, but rather have a strong desire to devour flesh.
Tear open your flesh
I will rip apart your skin to satisfy my hunger.
There ain't no safe place to hide
You cannot escape from me; there is no safe place to go.
You try to run and you try to escape
You attempt to flee from me.
It's of no consequence
Regardless of your attempt to escape, it does not matter to me.
The fallen one he always gets what he wants
As a creature of the night, I always obtain what I desire.
This is your time to repent
You should feel regret for crossing paths with me.
I cross my heart I hope to die
I make a sacred promise to fulfill my desire.
So close to dying in your arms
I am so near to fulfilling my craving by devouring you.
On Saturday night
This is when I am at my strongest, on this particular night.
My hunger burns
My desire to consume flesh is intense and overwhelming.
I'll tear you down
I will fiercely break down and destroy my target.
Contributed by Alexander O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.