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!
Insurrection
Sick of It All Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Power for those with the most capital.
Upper echelon not in touch at all.
Grabbing at straws, desperation.
Whatcha' gonna do about it?
Where are you gonna run?
Whatcha' gonna do about it
No more joy in the lives of the skuoned and exited
Screaming from silence,
Pent up inside us. All this frustration,
Has bred all this violence.
In the commotion power was at hand,
In the confusion wealth was up for grabs,
Both looked appealing we took all that we could,
Control was ours and then we understood.
Helpless, I'm sure the feeling is typical.
Glory for those with the most capital.
Upper echelon we rule with an iron hand.
Crushing any insurrection.
Whatcha' gonna do about it
There's nothing you can do...
In these lyrics, Sick of It All’s “Insurrection” addresses the inequality and injustices that are perpetuated by those in power. The track highlights the resentment felt by those who are left behind in society because of their lack of capital. The upper echelon, the wealthy elites, are painted as out of touch with reality, grasping at straws as their grip on control slips away. Meanwhile, those who are left out of this prosperity experience anger and frustration at the lack of joy in their lives. This pent-up frustration can only lead to violence, as individuals seek to take control of their lives in the chaos, leading to power and wealth being up for grabs. Soon enough, control is lost and the panic sets in.
The song speaks to the helplessness felt by those without wealth or power, and the hopelessness felt in their attempts to rebel against those who control their lives. Those who have power and money seem to be cemented into their positions, crushing any insurrection that may rise against them. The repeated questioning of “Whatcha gonna do about it?” highlights the desperation of those without access to the power structure. The song ends on an ominous note, stating that there is nothing that can be done, leaving the listener with a feeling of anger and frustration at the current state of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Resentful, I'm sure the feeling is mutual.
I am filled with resentment, and I am certain that the person or people who have caused it feel the same way about me.
Power for those with the most capital.
Power is held by the individuals who possess the largest amount of wealth.
Upper echelon not in touch at all.
The individuals in the highest social and economic class are out of touch with the reality that the majority of people experience.
Grabbing at straws, desperation.
I am frantically searching for a solution to my problems because I am in a state of desperation.
Whatcha' gonna do about it?
What actions do you plan on taking to address the current situation?
Where are you gonna run?
You will not be able to escape the consequences of the situation you are facing.
That you haven't already done?
Have you already tried everything and found no success in your attempts to solve the problem?
No more joy in the lives of the skipped and exited.
The lives of those who have been left behind or excluded from society no longer hold any happiness.
Screaming from silence, pent up inside us.
We are holding in our frustrations and anger, and it is building up inside us until we feel like we need to scream to release it.
All this frustration, has bred all this violence.
The frustration that we are feeling has caused us to become violent in order to express our anger and resentment.
In the commotion power was at hand.
During the chaos and confusion, those who held power were able to maintain control over the situation.
In the confusion wealth was up for grabs.
During the confusion and disarray, individuals were able to acquire wealth that was previously unavailable to them.
Both looked appealing we took all that we could.
Both power and wealth seemed desirable, and we took advantage of every opportunity to obtain them.
Control was ours and then we understood.
We were able to gain control of the situation, and it was only then that we realized the extent of the power and wealth we had acquired.
Helpless, I'm sure the feeling is typical.
Feeling powerless and unable to control the situation is a common sentiment in situations like these.
Glory for those with the most capital.
The people with the highest amount of wealth are often celebrated and glorified in our society.
Upper echelon we rule with an iron hand.
Those in the highest social and economic class exercise their power with extreme authority and control over their subordinates.
Crushing any insurrection.
We will not allow any attempt to overthrow or challenge our authority, and we will use force to suppress any such actions.
There's nothing you can do...
There are no options or solutions available to you to change the current situation.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARMAND MAJIDI, LOU KOLLER, PETE KOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind