So far, TBM have released eight studio albums: Nothing and Nowhere (2002), Violet (2005), Walking With Strangers (2007), Pins and Needles (2010), Hide and Seek (2012), Superstition (2014), Under Your Spell (2017), and Diamonds (2020). They have also issued the DVD Blue (2005), the live album/DVD Show and Tell (2009), and the EPs Violet (2004), Looking Glass (2008), Imaginary Monsters (2011), and Imagica (2016).
The group originated in London, Ontario under the name Imagica, inspired from the novel "Imajica" by Clive Barker. The band's original lineup consisted of: Chibi, Rainbow, Michael Falcore, and Aslan (bass). Dank played live keyboards and O.E. joined the group on live drums. A seven-song limited edition demo was released.
In 2001, Dank left the group, and the others relocated from London to Toronto, Ontario, to begin recording. There, they recorded another limited edition demo, this time with five songs. In 2002, the band adopted the name The Birthday Massacre in order to avoid confusion with a metal band. They chose the name "The Birthday Massacre" since people were already familiar with the song of the same title. The song was later retitled as "Happy Birthday".
In July of 2002, The Birthday Massacre independently released their debut album entitled Nothing and Nowhere. In 2003, Adm joined the band on live keyboards and Rhim on drums.
On 20 July 2004, The Birthday Massacre released a nine song EP entitled Violet and at the end of the year, re-released Nothing and Nowhere with new sleeve artwork. Adm soon left thereafter to explore his own projects.
In the fall of 2004, the band was signed to Repo Records in Germany, and released a remastered and expanded version of Violet in Europe. The expanded version of Violet included four re-recorded and slightly reworked tracks from Nothing and Nowhere.
In 2005 the band signed to Metropolis Records and released Violet in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and most of South America. Owen joined on live keyboards and in August, the band began a series of international tours taking them to Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Belgium.
Also in August 2005, a DVD consisting of a video for the song "Blue" was released. It also included behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, a studio performance of "Nevermind" as well as live performances of "Violet" and "Video Kid". The centerpiece of the DVD was the Dan Ouellette-directed video for "Blue".
In early 2006, the Birthday Massacre toured North America, playing across Canada, the United States, and Mexico on their "Broken Minds" tour. They also played Europe in the summer of 2006.
In June 2007, it was announced that the band was working on a new record with Canadian producer/engineer Dave "Rave" Ogilvie (producer of many industrial acts such as Skinny Puppy), and that bass player Aslan had left the band for his own project named Aslan Osiris. Aslan was replaced on bass by former drummer O.E. .
On 11 September 2007 the band released their third album Walking With Strangers in North America, entering at #10 on the Billboard "Top Heatseekers" chart for 29 September. The album was released in Europe on 21 September and in the UK on 22 October. Walking With Strangers included the singles "Kill the Lights" and "Looking Glass". An EP, Looking Glass followed in 2008.
In spring 2009, The Birthday Massacre issued their first live album, Show and Tell. It was recorded in Hamburg, Germany in Autumn 2007. A DVD with the Hamburg show and extra video content was released later in Europe (2009) and North America (2010).
The band's fourth studio album, Pins and Needles was issued on 14 September 2010 in North America, debuting at #152 on the Billboard 200, #6 on the heatseekers, and #34 on independent. O.E. left the group and was replaced by Nate Manor.
On 9 August 2011 the band released the EP Imaginary Monsters. In 9 October 2012, TBM released the fifth studio album, Hide and Seek.
Superstition is the sixth studio album by Canadian electronic rock band The Birthday Massacre, released on November 11, 2014 through Metropolis Records. The album was funded through PledgeMusic. To promote the album, a subsequent North America tour and music video for "Beyond" followed the album's release.
Under Your Spell is the seventh studio album by Canadian electronic rock band The Birthday Massacre, released on June 9, 2017 through Metropolis Records. The album was funded, once again, through PledgeMusic.
Official site: www.thebirthdaymassacre.com
Looking Glass
The Birthday Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Speaking as I'm spoken to
Changing to your point of view
Fading as I follow you
A boyish notion of false emotion
These words are spoken despite my love
A fool's devotion was set in motion
It's a glass cage so I can't pretend
You hide beneath the physical
I see it coming but I can't defend
You cut so deep, my belief is gone
My belief is gone, my belief is
Tell me what I want to say
Save me for another day
Break me, it's the game you play
Hate me as I turn away
A boyish notion of false emotion
These words are spoken despite my love
A fool's devotion was set in motion
My eyes are open now
It's a glass cage so I can't pretend
You hide beneath the physical
I see it coming but I can't defend
You cut so deep, my belief is gone
My belief is gone, my belief is gone
My belief is gone, my belief is
It's a glass cage so I can't pretend
You hide beneath the physical
I see it coming but I can't defend
You cut so deep, my belief is gone
My belief is gone, my belief is gone
My belief is gone, my belief is
The lyrics of The Birthday Massacre's song Looking Glass are a reflection of a one-sided relationship. The use of words such as "waiting," "speaking," "changing," and "fading" clearly indicate that the persona is living by the other person's terms. The persona is desperate to please the other person, to the point where they change their point of view just to make the other person happy. The lyrics also suggest that there is an emotional imbalance in the relationship, with the other person being completely in control while the persona is left feeling helpless.
The lyrics also bring in a sense of self-realization, with the persona realizing that their "fool's devotion was set in motion" by false emotions. The reference to a "glass cage" further emphasizes the feeling of being trapped; it's as if the persona is seeing the relationship from the outside but is unable to break free from its grasp. The line "You cut so deep, my belief is gone" gives the impression that the other person has deeply hurt the persona and has made them lose faith in themselves.
Overall, the lyrics of Looking Glass by The Birthday Massacre explore the themes of power dynamics, emotional manipulation, and self-realization. It is an intense and emotional song that leaves the listener feeling as if they have lived through the persona's experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Waiting as I'm wanting to
I am eager to please and waiting for your approval
Speaking as I'm spoken to
I am submissive and only speak when spoken to
Changing to your point of view
I am willing to adapt to your perspective
Fading as I follow you
I am losing my sense of self as I blindly follow you
A boyish notion of false emotion
My feelings for you are immature and not genuine
These words are spoken despite my love
I am saying things I don't truly mean because I love you
A fool's devotion was set in motion
I am foolishly devoted to you and can't escape
My eyes are open now
I finally see the truth about our relationship
It's a glass cage so I can't pretend
Our relationship is restrictive and I can't fake happiness anymore
You hide beneath the physical
You are not revealing your true self to me
I see it coming but I can't defend
I know I am being hurt but I am powerless to stop it
You cut so deep, my belief is gone
Your actions have caused me to lose faith in you and our relationship
Tell me what I want to say
I am struggling to express myself and need your guidance
Save me for another day
I am pleading to be rescued from this situation at a later time
Break me, it's the game you play
You enjoy breaking me down emotionally
Hate me as I turn away
You resent me for walking away from our toxic relationship
My belief is gone, my belief is
I have lost all trust and faith in you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATTHEW O'HALLORAN, MICHAEL HANMER, MICHAEL RAINBOW, SARA TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@camobranson09
@@H000REI That's the impression I get from the lyrics and the video as well.
"a boyish notion of false emotion"
it implies a small crush
"these words are spoken despite my love"
I take it to mean suffering verbal abuse despite showing love and devotion.
"a fool's devotion was set in motion"
Someone dwelling in an ignorant belief that things will change sets them on a destructive path to appease them.
"my eyes are open now"
awakening to the fact that what you believed was a lie.
"It's a glass cage so I can't pretend"
despite knowing that'd be easy to escape and even able to see freedom they opt to stay.
"You hide beneath the physical"
Not sure on this line but it could mean that they've been groomed to the point where the focus of their interest no longer has to even be present to be in their mind.
"I see it coming but I can't defend"
Knowing the abuse is about to happen but afraid to make their focus leave they don't defend themselves.
"You cut so deep my belief is gone"
They've been hurt so badly they've realized what they're putting up with and can finally break their cage and fight back.
@sarahandceciliabohman8655
Waiting as I'm wanting to
Speaking as I'm spoken to
Changing to your point of view
Fading as I follow you
A boyish notion or false emotion
These words are spoken, despite my love
A fool's devotion was set in motion
My eyes are open
And now, it's a glass cage so I can't pretend
You hide beneath the physical
I see it coming, but I can't defend
You cut so deep
My belief is gone (X2)
My belief is...
Tell me what I want to say
Save me for another day
Break me
It's the game you play
Hate me as I turn away
(Pre - Chorus)
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
Written by: Michael Hanmer, Michael Rainbow, and Matthew O'Halloran
Genre: Alternative Rock, Industrial Rock, Electronica, Darkwave
Album: Walking with Strangers, and Looking Glass EP
Year: 2007
@DavidMiller-dt8mx
DethklawExodus Industrial?
Which band do you figure was the biggest influence?
Throbbing Gristle,
Einsturzende Neubauten,
Laibach,
Cabaret Voltaire,
Muslimgauze,
SPK,
Test Dept,
or... somebody else? NON? Z'ev?
Sorry, I can't place them.
@TBMOfficial
We're on Spotify - add us to your playlists!
https://open.spotify.com/track/38xCz3esTeO8sS5wJDU00v?si=m5hyqHP5SxqXgyCfOxR1GQ
@tomfooleryx517x2
Any new music on Pandora?
@Spookythereaper3
The Birthday Massacre Yay! Now that you are on Spotify, I really want to add some of your songs on my future T.B.M playlist on said app, but I am more into good ol' Apple Music. I will need iTunes premium though :/
@REN-dj5sg
I love you're music. One of my favorites. Thanks for being an awesome band I get to enjoy.
@mightytaco123
no
@joshuadorn5604
Please counterpane video! Love TBH!
@Theaterg15
OMG!! 14 years ago!!! I was one of the featured extras in that music video. I was number 7. Yes lots of work but it was a lot of fun. The band was really nice❤️
@the_seer_0421
That's really cool! I'm jealous...
@winterlynn9012
Thats awesome! Funny, thats what brought me back to this video, I was at a KMFDM show a few nights ago and while washing my hands in the venues bathroom I noticed a girl next to me had a birthday massacre pop socket on her phone. After complimenting her on it, she mentioned she was in this video, I believe she said she was number" 33". Can't remember now but thought that was cool, lol. The birthday massacre has been one of my faves for about 20 years now, definitely must be a cool memory to be in one of their videos 💜
@cathydargie9253
That is so cool!! That must been fun