Doubtlessly the band’s hardest hitting effort to date, 'Based On A True Story' easily meets the high quality of its predecessor and offers tons of soon-to-be-classic hardcore hymns like 'Dominated', 'Long As She’s Standing', 'The Divide' and 'Lowest Common Denominator. It features the most catchy and powerful material the band has ever written. It’s astonishing to see the band still boiling with rage at a world gone wrong and successfully transforming this natural and honest aggressiveness into hardcore hits. Two decades of experience as skilful songwriters, endless touring, plus an undying hardcore spirit make SICK OF IT ALL anno 2010 sound stronger and more determined than ever. 'Based On A True Story' is undeniable proof that the quartet is simply unstoppable and unrivalled within the hardcore scene in terms of quality and sheer impact.
Formed during 1986 in Queens, the band released their first self-titled EP on Revelation Records and began to accumulate a strong local following by playing famous clubs like CBGBs ('A Month Of Sundays' actually pays tribute to these glorious days at this legendary venue). Soon after, the band released their first full-length record 'Blood Sweat And No Tears' on In-Effect Records. Often revolving around politics, social injustices and life on the streets of New York, the band wore their heart on their sleeve and made no apologies, often including threads of positivity. When their second album 'Just Look Around' was released in 1992, it was a benchmark for the band and the New York hardcore scene, and kicked off their globe-trotting expansion with tours in Europe, South America and Japan. They released their breakthrough album 'Scratch The Surface' in 1994 on Atlantic, followed by the seminal album 'Built To Last' in 1997. After releasing three albums on Fat Wreck Chords, as well as a live album and a collection of rarities, the band took on the challenge to push themselves further. 'Death To Tyrants' was the band’s first cooperation with Century Media and was mixed by renowned metal producer Tue Madsen (The Haunted, Heaven Shall Burn, Dark Tranquillity,) adding a refreshingly heavy edge to the band’s trademark NYHC sound. 'Death To Tyrants' was extremely well received by media and fans alike and followed up with three years of relentless touring.
The new album was also recorded with Tue Madsen, this time at Starstruck Studios in Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark, resulting in a massive metallic heaviness which increases the punch and drive of the new opus. Craig Ahead (bass) comments: “The end result of our three and a half weeks in the studio is something that we are all very proud of. An album that is pure SICK OF IT ALL and will stand up against any of our previous work and I believe raises the bar to a new standard. I hope you enjoy our offerings. We look forward to its release so we can again stomp the world. See you on tour!“ To walk the talk, the band plays a European tour with Dropkick Murphys in January/February 2010, followed by a UK run with AFI in April. More festival shows and touring activities are in the works.
'Based On A True Story' is another sonic statement that SICK OF IT ALL are an institution of hardcore. Their longevity and conviction has kept the band’s reputation untarnished and legendary. As Metal Hammer (UK) puts it: “SICK OF IT ALL – despite their ever-increasing age and fierce competition – are still the finest spokesmen for hardcore’s social conscience and values”, and this new release will allow them to maintain this leading position for many years to come!
Falling apart
Sick of It All Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Falling apart
Staring back from the dark shadows in my mind
Falling apart
My trust is like a crumbling statue
Falling apart
I try to hide but find no refuge
They seem so threatening
They all seem so threatening
They're all coming after me
The enemy's after me - that's a problem
From what I see the land of the free is ready
To arm me to the teeth - that's a problem
We're free to cheat,
Free to steal
Free to wreck each other at will
They shock my chill,
Shock my senses
Never let down my defences
Kundalini's in a mess
And I'm shattering from stress
They victimize,
Traumatize
And I'm as vulnerable as a child
All the sounds I hear at night
Is my alarm going off
Are my windows shut and locked
As I fumble trough my keys
You see me falling apart at the seams
Falling apart
The enemy's after me
The lyrics of Sick of It All's song "Falling Apart" present an intense and distressing internal and external landscape experienced by the singer. The opening lines allude to how the singer feels about the people in his life making him feel uneasy and watched. Even though these individuals are not standing right in front of him, he feels their presence, making him feel as if he is falling apart. The lines "My trust is like a crumbling statue, I try to hide but find no refuge" reveal how this overwhelming sensation is causing him to lose faith in his support system and struggle to find a safe space to seek shelter from the pressure.
The second verse shifts focus to the societal concerns he is grappling with. Sick of It All touches on observations about the current state of affairs in his society, citing corrupt practices and a misuse of freedom. This perspective causes a great deal of anxiety and unease, with the lyrics "They shock my chill, shock my senses, never let down my defenses" alluding to how this has resulted in a complete loss of safety for him. As the chorus repeats, he illustrates that he feels he is under attack by those who wish him harm, resulting in a state of psychological turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
My enemies lurk in the corner of my eye
I feel threatened by unknown people around me
Falling apart
My life is breaking down
Staring back from the dark shadows in my mind
My own negative thoughts are making things worse
My trust is like a crumbling statue
I no longer have faith in anyone
I try to hide but find no refuge
I can't escape from my problems
They seem so threatening
I perceive danger from those surrounding me
They're all coming after me
I feel like everyone is against me
From what I see the land of the free is ready
The society wants me to be part of an aggressive culture
To arm me to the teeth - that's a problem
The widespread idea of weapons as a solution is concerning
We're free to cheat,
Free to steal
Free to wreck each other at will
The freedom given to people may lead some to harmful behavior
They shock my chill,
Shock my senses
Never let down my defences
I need to stay alert and protect myself from danger
Kundalini's in a mess
And I'm shattering from stress
My life force is disrupted and I am falling apart due to stress
They victimize,
Traumatize
And I'm as vulnerable as a child
The negative influences around me make me feel helpless like a child
All the sounds I hear at night
Is my alarm going off
Are my windows shut and locked
I am paranoid and fear for my safety constantly
As I fumble trough my keys
You see me falling apart at the seams
Falling apart
The enemy's after me
My anxiety and fear are causing me to be emotionally unstable and I feel like I'm being hunted
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind