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!
Guilty
Sick of It All Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't stop the ringing in my head
You can't see what I see,
You can't feel what I feel
Guilty, the time will surely come
Guilty, when I pay a heavy price - guilty
I search for love but find oppression
You can't see what I see,
You can't feel what I feel
Just when I've fought out of the corner
I find my back against the wall
My rules are far too hard to live by,
They beat me down from inside
Guilty, my standards are pathetic
Guilty, I fail myself again
The song "Guilty" by Sick of It All is a powerful commentary on the harsh realities of life. The lyrics describe the singer's struggle to reconcile his own values with the injustices and oppression he sees in the world around him. The opening lines, "I watch as innocence is slaughtered, Can't stop the ringing in my head," convey a sense of helplessness and despair. The singer is deeply troubled by the violence and injustice he sees around him, but feels powerless to intervene.
The chorus of the song is a reflection on the consequences of this sense of guilt and powerlessness. The singer sings, "Guilty, the time will surely come, Guilty, when I pay a heavy price." The punishment the singer fears is not a physical one, but rather an emotional one. His guilt stems from a sense that he has failed to live up to his own standards, and this failure weighs heavily on his conscience.
Throughout the song, the singer's struggle is one of self-doubt and inner turmoil. He searches for love, but finds oppression. He fights to escape the corner, but finds himself backed up against the wall. Ultimately, he recognizes that his own rules are too hard to live by, and that he has failed himself once again.
Overall, "Guilty" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that explores the complex emotional and ethical dilemmas we face as individuals and as members of society.
Line by Line Meaning
I watch as innocence is slaughtered
I witness the cold-blooded killing of blameless lives
Can't stop the ringing in my head
I can't stop the haunting thoughts from playing over and over in my mind
You can't see what I see,
You can't discern what I observe
You can't feel what I feel
You can't experience what I undergo
Guilty, the time will surely come
I will inevitably face punishment for my culpability
Guilty, when I pay a heavy price - guilty
I will endure a severe penalty for my blame, no doubt about it
I search for love but find oppression
I explore for affection but encounter suppression
Just when I've fought out of the corner
Just when I've struggled my way out of a difficult situation
I find my back against the wall
I discover myself trapped with no escape
My rules are far too hard to live by,
The principles I follow are exceedingly tough to adhere to
They beat me down from inside
They crush me emotionally from within
Guilty, my standards are pathetic
I am guilty of setting low expectations for myself
Guilty, I fail myself again
I am culpable of letting myself down once more
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Lou P Koller, Pete Koller, Armand Majidi, Craig Setari
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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