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!
Too Late
Sick of It All Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, to the pressure of what's hip
No, this simple lesson must be learned
No, won't candy coat it, must be heard
[Chorus]
Burry your head, hoping it all goes away
living state of apathy
don't want to hear what goes on
can't ignore there's something wrong
No, don't have time for fantasies
No, can't escape reality
No, won't shut my eyes, won't look away
No, from the truth and the pain
[Chorus]
you close your eyes, try to deny
you look away to shut it all out
We'll defy, the candy coated lies
can't accept, pretending it's fine
can't survive, with blinders on our eyes
seek the truth, reach the sublime
we'll defy, the candy coated lies
can't accept, pretending it's fine
open up your eyes
it's too late
See what's goin' on and recognize it's too late
time is running out, it's running out
it's too late
take a stand and see what it's about
it's too late
The overall theme of Sick of It All's "Too Late" is the idea that we should never turn a blind eye to social or political issues, and that it's crucial to speak out, stand up, and be heard, even if it's unpopular or uncomfortable. The song is an anthem for those who refuse to be silenced, who reject the pressure to conform to what's trendy or fashionable, and who instead insist on facing the truth, no matter how painful or inconvenient it may be. The lyrics remind us that we can't afford to be apathetic, indifferent, or passive because there are real problems in the world that demand our attention and action.
The first verse emphasizes the need to learn a "simple lesson," which is that we can't sugarcoat or ignore the truth of what's happening in the world. The chorus is a call to action, urging listeners not to bury their heads in the sand or become apathetic to the issues at hand, but instead to seek out the truth and take a stand. The second verse emphasizes the importance of being grounded in reality and facing the world head-on, rather than trying to escape or avoid the harsh realities that exist.
The bridge is a rallying cry for all who refuse to accept the lies and illusions of those who try to convince us that everything is fine when it clearly isn't. It rejects complacency and urges us to seek out the truth, even when it's uncomfortable or inconvenient. The final chorus drives home the urgency of the message, warning that time is running out and it's too late to remain inactive or unaware.
Line by Line Meaning
No, I won't be silenced, I won't give in
I refuse to be silenced and give up my beliefs
No, to the pressure of what's hip
I won't conform to society's expectations of what is cool or trendy
No, this simple lesson must be learned
It's time to learn this simple truth
No, won't candy coat it, must be heard
I won't sugarcoat it, this message needs to be heard
[Chorus]
Ignoring the problems won't make them go away
Burry your head, hoping it all goes away
Pretending nothing is wrong won't solve anything
living state of apathy
Living in a state of apathy and indifference only makes things worse
don't want to know
Some people don't want to face the truth and prefer to remain ignorant
don't want to hear what goes on
Some people refuse to listen to what's happening around them
can't ignore there's something wrong
It's impossible to ignore that something is seriously wrong with the world
No, don't have time for fantasies
I don't have time for empty illusions or unrealistic dreams
No, can't escape reality
It's impossible to run away from reality
No, won't shut my eyes, won't look away
I won't close my eyes or look away from what's really happening
No, from the truth and the pain
I won't run away from the harsh truth or the pain that comes with it
[Chorus]
Ignoring the problems won't make them go away
you close your eyes, try to deny
Some people try to deny what's happening by closing their eyes to it
you look away to shut it all out
Other people try to ignore the problems by simply looking away
We'll defy, the candy coated lies
Together we will stand up against the false and deceptive messages presented to us
can't accept, pretending it's fine
We can't accept the lies that everything is okay when it's not
can't survive, with blinders on our eyes
We can't survive if we wear blinders and refuse to see what's happening around us
seek the truth, reach the sublime
We need to actively seek out the truth in order to reach a higher level of understanding
we'll defy, the candy coated lies
Together we will stand up against the false and deceptive messages presented to us
can't accept, pretending it's fine
We can't accept the lies that everything is okay when it's not
open up your eyes
It's time to wake up and see what's really happening around us
it's too late
Unfortunately, we have already waited too long to take action
See what's goin' on and recognize it's too late
We need to see and recognize the gravity of the situation before it's too late
time is running out, it's running out
We are quickly running out of time to fix the problems around us
take a stand and see what it's about
It's time to take a stand and actively work towards understanding and fixing the issues
it's too late
Unfortunately, we have already waited too long to take action
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARMAND MAJIDI, CRAIG SETARI, LOU KOLLER, PETE KOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind