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
Unfamiliar
The Birthday Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A heavy hand is holding me down
A breeze is just an unfamiliar sound to me
Just close the door
(It's all coming back to me)
Be still, my heart
('Cause it's all coming back)
Just close the door
(It's all coming back to me)
Be still, my heart
('Cause it's all coming back)
Lately nothing passes by me
And every hand is pulling me down
And praise is just an unfamiliar sound to me
Just close the door
(It's all coming back to me)
Be still, my heart
('Cause it's all coming back)
Just close the door
(It's all coming back to me)
Be still, my heart
('Cause it's all coming back)
Ooh, just close the door
It's all coming back
Ooh, just close the door
'Cause it's all coming back
All this meaningless direction
Feels like it pulls me away
It's hard to just forget what they say to me
Just close the door
(It's all coming back to me)
Be still, my heart
(It's all coming back)
Just close the door
(It's all coming back to me)
Be still, my heart
('Cause it's all coming back)
The lyrics of The Birthday Massacre's "Unfamiliar" are about feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges and finding solace in isolation. The song describes the feeling of being held down by the weight of the world, unable to experience joy or connection with others. The singer's heart is heavy and their senses are dulled; even everyday experiences like a breeze or praise feel unfamiliar and distant.
The repeated "just close the door" refrain suggests that the singer is seeking refuge from the outside world. In shutting out distractions and external pressures, they hope to rediscover their own identity and sense of purpose. The line "it's all coming back to me" implies that the singer may be remembering past pain or trauma that has resurfaced and is weighing them down, but they are determined to face it head-on and move forward. The final line, "It's hard to just forget what they say to me," suggests that the singer may be struggling with the opinions of others and feeling judged or misunderstood.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of isolation and disconnection, but with a glimmer of hope for self-discovery and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately nothing passes lightly
Recently, everything feels heavy and difficult to bear
A heavy hand is holding me down
I am burdened by something or someone
A breeze is just an unfamiliar sound to me
Even the small things that used to bring me joy are now unknown and strange
Just close the door
I need to shut out the world and be alone
(It's all coming back to me)
I can't escape the memories and emotions that keep resurfacing
Be still, my heart
I must be calm and quiet my racing thoughts
('Cause it's all coming back)
These feelings and memories are overwhelming and can't be ignored
And every hand is pulling me down
I feel like everyone is trying to bring me down
And praise is just an unfamiliar sound to me
Even compliments and positive feedback seem foreign and insincere
All this meaningless direction
I am lost and don't know where to go or what to do
Feels like it pulls me away
The world and its demands are dragging me in different directions
It's hard to just forget what they say to me
Negative words and opinions of others are hard to shake off
Ooh, just close the door
The only solution is to shut out the noise and seek solitude
It's all coming back
The memories and emotions keep resurfacing
'Cause it's all coming back
There is no escaping the overwhelming feelings
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATTHEW O'HALLORAN, MICHAEL HANMER, MICHAEL RAINBOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind