The story of the Action Design began with the closing of a different chapter. Just as pop punk act Tsunami Bomb was hitting its peak – seemingly poised and ready to take over the world – the band abruptly disbanded. Feeling they still had something to contribute to the music scene, vocalist Emily Whitehurst and bassist Matt Mckenzie soldiered on and joined forces with guitarist Jaycen McKissick (ex-Pipedown) and drummer Jake Krohn (ex-Calcutta Bazaar). Tsunami Bomb and Pipedown were former touring mates and Mckenzie and Krohn were childhood friends, so the chemistry and familiarity had already been established.
Rather than travel down the same paths they had already paved – after all, it would be easy to pick up where their former bands had left off – the Action Design decided to explore new ground. While keeping the energy and spirit of punk rock intact, the guitars are cleaner, the bass lines less frantic, and the drumming more precise. With the addition of keyboards, the result is a much broader and more accessible sound. One thing that fortunately remained unchanged, however, is Whitehurst’s penchant for crafting catchy melodies and memorable lyrics.
The band played their first show in June of 2007 and wasted no time heading into the recording studio. The result was the EP “Into A Sound” released in September of 2007. Therein lie six fine-tuned gems that continue to swirl in the head and tap toes long after the music has stopped. The response was overwhelming, with various tracks being played on specialty radio.
The momentum continued to gain ground with the band’s touring schedule. They started off in June playing the west coast Warped Tour dates (including Canada), and by the end of 2007, they had stormed the southern half of the US. Due to their vibrant live performances at Warped Tour, the band was asked to participate in the movie soundtrack for “Endless Bummer” and was subsequently placed in a prominent spot in the film. They were also asked to return for Warped Tour ‘08, playing double the amount of dates.
As a final push for “Into A Sound” before switching gears toward a full-length album, the Action Design filmed a video for the song “Connect/Disconnect” which was immediately put into rotation in various outlets nationwide. The band is currently focusing on the newest collection of material, and will be releasing a premier full-length in summer. They also have multiple tours lined up and plan on covering the entire US and more this year.
With a full touring schedule and an album due out soon, it’s only a matter of time before the Action Design takes its hold on the world. But be warned: if you don’t find yourself singing along or dancing up a storm, it might just mean you don’t have a pulse.
Pale Horizon
The Action Design Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I just can't shake
No matter what I do
It's still looming there
In my mind on the horizon
There's something strange
It's creeping closer
Till it's everywhere
Like a dense fog
Someone somewhere
Has a blade to cut through
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Don't say there's nothing we can do
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
So far removed
From the world we once knew
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Don't say there's nothing we can do
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
This era is done
We're under the gun now
It's about time for the next train
I'm going on the next train
Jumping on the next train, oh
We're under the gun
I gotta feelin', gotta feelin'
That I just can't shake
No matter what I do
It's still looming there
In my mind on the horizon
There's something strange
It's creeping closer
Till it's everywhere
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Don't say there's nothing we can do
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
This era is done
We're under the gun now
It's about time for the next train
I'm going on the next train
Jumping on the next train, oh
We're under the gun
This era, this era,
This era, this era
Don't wanna hide away
Don't wanna hide away
I say, I say
We find another way
We're under the gun
The lyrics of The Action Design’s song “Pale Horizon” reflect the feeling of impending doom and an uncertain future. The song begins with the singer admitting their inability to shake off a feeling of unease, as if something foreboding is on the horizon. They describe this feeling as strange and creeping, until it's everywhere and shrouding them in fear like a dense fog. The singer suggests that someone, somewhere, has a solution to cut through this fear.
As the chorus kicks in, we hear a plea to not accept defeat and to take action. The repetition of “Don’t say there’s nothing we can do” reinforces the singer's desire for proactive solutions to navigate this uncertain future. The second verse echoes the first, underscoring the sense of unpredictability that pervades the song. The singer expresses that this era is done and that they are “under the gun” – they need to act fast to find a way forward.
The final chorus reiterates the call for action, rejecting the idea of hiding away and urging listeners to find another way. Ultimately, “Pale Horizon” is a song about facing the unknown with courage and resilience, even when the path forward seems unclear.
Line by Line Meaning
I gotta feelin', gotta feelin'
The singer has an intense, persistent feeling within them.
That I just can't shake
This feeling is hard to get rid of.
No matter what I do
The singer has tried to get rid of the feeling but has been unsuccessful.
It's still looming there
The feeling is still present in their mind.
In my mind on the horizon
The feeling is like something on the horizon, far away but still visible.
There's something strange
The feeling is unusual and unsettling.
It's creeping closer
The feeling is getting nearer, becoming more prominent.
Till it's everywhere
The feeling is now all-encompassing, affecting everything.
And the fear hangs in the air
There's a pervasive sense of fear around the feeling.
Like a dense fog
The fear is heavy and thick, surrounding everything.
Someone somewhere
There's a sense that there's an outside force causing or contributing to the feeling.
Has a blade to cut through
The artist believes that someone can help them cut through the fog of fear and overcome the feeling.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
This is the refrain of the song, repeating the central idea.
Don't say there's nothing we can do
The singer is advocating for action to be taken to overcome the feeling.
So far removed
The world has changed significantly, we're not in the same place as we once were.
From the world we once knew
The world has changed in a drastic way the artist finds difficult to accept.
This era is done
We're in a new era, one that is very different from the previous one.
We're under the gun now
We're under pressure to take action.
It's about time for the next train
It's time for something new, a change of direction.
I'm going on the next train
The artist is ready to move forward and take action.
Jumping on the next train, oh
The artist is eager and excited to move forward.
This era, this era,
Again, emphasizing the idea of a new era.
Don't wanna hide away
The singer doesn't want to avoid the problem.
I say, I say
The artist is passionate and insistent about taking action.
We find another way
The singer is advocating for creative problem-solving to overcome the feeling.
We're under the gun
Emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for action.
Contributed by Mason J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.