Sparta got a deal with Dreamworks in 2001 and released their debut EP Austere in early 2002. They released their debut full-length album Wiretap Scars on August 13, 2002. The album is mostly influenced by their previous work with At the Drive-In, which is a contrast from The Mars Volta, formed by the other two ex-members of ATD-I, which departs entirely from post-hardcore and instead focuses on progressive rock or psychedelic rock. This album is also a lot cleaner and more accessible than At the Drive-In's experimentation.
On May 25, 2003, Ward's cousin Jeremy, the sound manipulator for The Mars Volta, died of a heroin overdose. Hinojos would leave Sparta in 2005 to join TMV as their secondary guitarist and filling in Jeremy Ward's position as sound manipulator. He was replaced by Keeley Davis (Engine Down, Denali).
Sparta's second full-length album Porcelain was released July 13, 2004 and peaked at #60 on the Billboard 200. The first single released from the album was "Breaking the Broken," for which a music video was recorded that received much airplay.
In January 2006, they announced that they had signed a deal with Hollywood Records, which will release their third album Threes on October 24, 2006. The album peaked at #83 on the Billboard 200. It's the first album with guitarist Keeley Davis and its debut single was "Taking Back Control."
In June 2008, Ward stated that Sparta is on hiatus and without a label; he would focus instead on his alternative country band, Sleepercar, which released its debut album West Texas on April 22, 2008. Three years later, on August 3, 2011, Ward stated that Sparta was back in action and would play their first show in November in El Paso. That comeback would be short, as in January 2012, At The Drive-In reunited for a series of shows, splitting up once again at the end of the year. In January 2016, At The Drive-In reunited for the second time. However, days before the tour start in March 2016, it was announced that Ward had been replaced in the band by his former Sparta bandmate Keeley Davis.
Sparta would come back for a second time in 2017, with a line-up consisting of Ward, Miller, Gabriel Gonzalez and Cully Symington (Beach Slang, Cursive). They would release their fourth album, Trust the River, on April 10, 2020 on Dine Alone Records.
There is another band ith the sane name:
2. Sparta was also a NWOBHM band from Mansfield. They formed in 1980, and released two singles, plus participated on a five way split album before they split up. Hades Records released a compilation on vinyl in 2006. This compilation contained all their previously released songs, plus a few more.
Hiss The Villain
Sparta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For such a waste of time
Such a waste of breath
We can shake our fists in vain
Screama nd lose our voice
It's our choice
This is forever
I promise you
This is forever
This ring will never leave this hand again
I promise you
Hopefully life goes on
We'll meet up in the end
Worn out
We can sit and watch the world
Smile on it
These situations come and go
I'll do my best
We'll settle down and focus now
I'll do my best
I keep forgetting why we fought
We'll make amends somehow
Sitting next to you
You know the honor would be mine
To share your arguments
For all of time
The lyrics of Sparta's song Hiss The Villain are reflective of a sense of insignificance in the grand scheme of things. The opening line "It's so early in our lives for such a waste of time" indicates a feeling of lost potential for something greater. However, the lyrics also express a desire to hold on to what is important, represented by the repeated refrain "This is forever, this ring will never leave this hand again, I promise you." The ring may symbolize a commitment to a loved one or a passion or dream that the performer is determined to pursue despite the perception of time slipping away.
The chorus seems to hold some hope for the future as the singer acknowledges that "Hopefully life goes on, we'll meet up in the end." There is a sense of finality or resignation in the phrase "Worn out, we can sit and watch the world, smile on it," suggesting a willingness to confront and accept the impermanence of life's struggles. However, the lyrics also contain a resolve to persevere, "These situations come and go, I'll do my best, we'll settle down and focus now, I'll do my best." In the end, the focus is on human connection, represented by the line "You know the honor would be mine, to share your arguments, for all of time." This is perhaps the true source of value and meaning in life.
Overall, the lyrics of Hiss The Villain exude a certain melancholy, tempered with a determination to make the most out of life while it lasts. It is a reflection on what is important to the performer and a reminder to the listener of the preciousness of time and the importance of love and human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so early in our lives
We are young and have much time ahead of us
For such a waste of time
Arguing and fighting is a waste of the little time we have
Such a waste of breath
Arguing and shouting is a waste of our energy
We can shake our fists in vain
We can scream and protest, but it won't change anything
Scream and lose our voice
Shouting and yelling will only lead to losing our voice and not being heard
It's our choice
Whether or not we argue is a decision we make
This is forever
This commitment is for life
This ring will never leave this hand alone
This ring symbolizes a lifelong commitment that will always be kept
I promise you
I swear to you that this commitment will never be broken
Hopefully life goes on
Hopefully, we will continue to live and grow
We'll meet up in the end
We will eventually reconcile and come together
Worn out
Tired and fatigued
We can sit and watch the world
We can sit and observe the world around us
Smile on it
Enjoy and appreciate the world
These situations come and go
Problems arise and pass
I'll do my best
I will try my hardest
We'll settle down and focus now
Let's calm down and concentrate on what's important
I keep forgetting why we fought
I forget the reason for our disagreement
We'll make amends somehow
We'll find a way to reconcile and make things right
Sitting next to you
Being by your side
You know the honor would be mine
I would be honored
To share your arguments
To hear and understand your point of view
For all of time
Forever
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JIM WARD, MATTHAEUS GUENTHER MILLER, PABLO HINOJOS, TONY HAJJAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind