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
Pale
The Birthday Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Towards the sky in arrogance
It easily betrays the closest friend
A moment lost, no consequence
A circle starts again, away from you
Deception pulls us in, away from you
Away from you, away from you
Imitation, a fabrication
A pretty fake, but counterfeit
An empty carcass behind the artist
Is there a trait of innocence?
So how do you portray a sentiment?
Where users brought
The truth is bent
And much to our dismay, they're ignorant
The more that we make up the more it fits
A circle starts again, away from you
Deception pulls us in, away from you
Away from you, away from you
Imitation, a fabrication
A pretty fake, but counterfeit
An empty carcass behind the artist
Is there a trait of innocence?
This doesn't feel right
Feels like everything's further away
Dead as the nightlife
Hindsight, watching another mistake
We never feel right, warm night
Following into the day
Dead as the street light, pure white
Washing the color away
Imitation, a fabrication
A pretty fake, but counterfeit
An empty carcass behind the artist
Is there a trait of innocence?
The Birthday Massacre's song Pale is a commentary on the facade of celebrity and fame. The lyrics suggest that success in the entertainment industry often comes at the cost of sacrificing one's true identity and genuine relationships. The pointed chin referenced in the first verse is a symbol of arrogance and the betrayal of a close friend suggests that celebrities prioritize their own success over their relationships. The repetition of the line "away from you" throughout the song emphasizes this sense of distance and detachment.
The lyrics go on to mention imitation and fabrication, suggesting that the entertainment industry is built on false images and personas. The line "An empty carcass behind the artist" reinforces this theme of inauthenticity. The chorus repeats the idea that deception is pervasive, and that it pulls people further away from their true selves.
The final verse touches on the feeling of disconnection that comes with a life in the limelight. The imagery of dead nightlife and washed-out streetlights paints a picture of a life that is devoid of color and meaning.
Overall, Pale is a mournful reflection on the toll that fame takes on its recipients. The song suggests that the cost of success in the entertainment industry is a loss of identity and a disconnection from reality.
Interesting facts about the song "Pale":
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm looking at a face, a pointed chin
Observing a face characterized by its pointed chin
Towards the sky in arrogance
The individual's disposition of conceit which is reflected by their body language
It easily betrays the closest friend
The face's expression reveals the individual's propensity to trick even those familiar with them
A moment lost, no consequence
An insignificant time frame passes
A circle starts again, away from you
Cyclically repeating a series of events, distanced from oneself
Deception pulls us in, away from you
The association with falsehood attracts us, but also distances us from various aspects of our life
Away from you, away from you
Reiterating the removal from one's life
Imitation, a fabrication
An ersatz form, a copy of the original
A pretty fake, but counterfeit
Creating a beautiful lie which is not genuine
An empty carcass behind the artist
A hallow core existing within the artist
Is there a trait of innocence?
Asking the question of whether pure thoughts or intentions exist
So how do you portray a sentiment?
How does one depict an emotion?
Where users brought
A place where individuals are ushered to
The truth is bent
The truth undergoes distortion
And much to our dismay, they're ignorant
Regrettably, they are foolish and unaware
The more that we make up the more it fits
The concept taking shape as more facets are added
This doesn't feel right
A sensation of discomfort
Feels like everything's further away
The impression that all things appear more distant
Dead as the nightlife
An analogy of how the nightlife is listless and worn-out
Hindsight, watching another mistake
Knowing one is making an error after the fact
We never feel right, warm night
An inability to feel at ease on hot evenings
Following into the day
Continuing along with the day's activities
Dead as the street light, pure white
A lifeless street light emits a clean, white light
Washing the color away
Removing any vividness or variety
Imitation, a fabrication
A copy of that which is not real
A pretty fake, but counterfeit
Presenting a beautiful lie that is not authentic
An empty carcass behind the artist
The artist who is lacking substance at the core of their being
Is there a trait of innocence?
Questioning if any unspoiled characteristics are present
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATTHEW O'HALLORAN, MICHAEL HANMER, MICHAEL RAINBOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind