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
Violet
The Birthday Massacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Paints the way to peace of mind
Leaving shallow lovers far behind
Past uncertainties combine
Bringing tears to sleepless eyes
Memory runs the course of time
The violet prison
For violent visions
And so the broken record plays
As you throw us away
We're never enough
We're drowning in cliches
So desperate to love
We're twisting every word they say
So we sleep through the days
Within the heat of passions war
Lust is spilled upon the floor
Staining red the wasted metaphor
The selfish need for something more
Claws in vain at closing doors
Scarring faces once adored
Tracing circles in the violet prison
For violet visions
And so the broken record plays
As you throw us away
The Birthday Massacre's song, "Violet," is a haunting yet beautiful piece that uncovers the tragic reality of feeling unloved, unwanted, and alone in a world full of shallow relationships and false passions. The lyrics begin with the idea of a "tragic comedy divine" that acts as a guide towards reaching inner peace and leaving behind shallow lovers. However, the memories of past uncertainties still linger, causing sleepless nights and brought tears to the eyes. The haunting image of a "blood runs cold beyond the violet prison" signifies a deep feeling of being trapped in a dark and oppressive place, consumed and becoming part of one's violent visions. As the song progresses, it becomes evident that the singer is struggling to hold onto the people they love, which is why they feel like they are "never enough" and are "thrown away."
The second verse of the song illustrates a passion war where the need for love and acceptance leads one down the path of destruction, staining everything in its wake. The line, "tracing circles in the violet prison," is a poignant metaphor for feeling trapped within oneself, unable to escape the cycle of inner conflict that leads to mental isolation. The "broken record" symbolizes the repetition of the same unhealthy behaviors, thoughts, and actions that lead to destruction. With every cycle, it becomes harder to break free from the violet prison, and one succumbs to seeing nothing but "violent visions." The song ends on a note of despair, where the singer "sleeps through the days" as they wait for their life to change.
Line by Line Meaning
The tragic comedy divine
Life is both tragic and funny at the same time.
Paints the way to peace of mind
Experiencing these moments of tragedy and comedy may lead to a state of inner peace.
Leaving shallow lovers far behind
Superficial relationships have no place in the pursuit of inner peace.
Past uncertainties combine
Memories of past uncertainties and doubts build up over time.
Bringing tears to sleepless eyes
These memories can cause sadness and keep people awake at night.
Memory runs the course of time
Our memories and experiences shape the course of our lives.
Blood runs cold beyond
Something is deeply unsettling about the situation described.
The violet prison
Metaphorically, the violet prison represents a state of emotional turmoil and feeling trapped.
For violent visions
The turmoil includes disturbing and aggressive thoughts.
And so the broken record plays
Despite efforts to move on, the same negative patterns keep reoccurring.
As you throw us away
Someone has rejected the singer, leaving them alone in their struggles.
We're never enough
The artist feels like they can never meet the expectations of others.
We're drowning in cliches
The way people talk about love and relationships is tired and unhelpful.
So desperate to love
Despite this, the singer still craves love and connection.
We're twisting every word they say
Because of their insecurity, the singer can't help but overanalyze and misunderstand what others say.
So we sleep through the days
Sometimes the only way to cope is by numbing oneself and coasting through life without really engaging with it.
Within the heat of passions war
Intense romantic desires can feel like a battle.
Lust is spilled upon the floor
The singer's passions and desires are not fully reciprocated.
Staining red the wasted metaphor
This failed relationship metaphorically represents a physical mess which refuses to be cleaned up.
The selfish need for something more
The artist's desires feel selfish because they are not being fulfilled.
Claws in vain at closing doors
Trying to keep the relationship alive is like trying to hold onto a door that is shutting tight.
Scarring faces once adored
The memory of the relationship will always be a painful reminder.
Tracing circles in the violet prison
Again, the violet prison is a metaphor for feeling trapped and unable to move on.
For violet visions
Their thoughts are still full of turmoil and sometimes violent thoughts.
And so the broken record plays
Just like before, the same unhelpful patterns keep reoccurring.
As you throw us away
The relationship is truly over and the singer is left with the same problems they had in the beginning.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL HANMER, MICHAEL RAINBOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Allen
To people commenting on monetisation of this video. If you upload copyrighted content as here sometimes YouTube allows it but the content owner monetizes your video. So the uploader would not get the add revenue
Komikino
This is spoken truth!
Spooky101 UwU
True. I think I might use some copyrighted music in my videos, but give credit to the original artist, and do everything I can to avoid getting a copyright strike.
nun is that high
TriVos Ahren all of the present day internet is an echo chamber anyhow
Junior Torquato
@nun is that high Yes
Daisy Wanderlust
i don't know what it is about this band, or this album, but every time i listen to it its like i'm given memories from a life i don't remember having. growing up as a little girl... haunted house... arcades... pizza parties... drawing in a notebook at a hospital waiting room...
Junior Torquato
Sensacional! E o COELHO quase implora por atenção de quem trás nas costa uma boneca sem cabeça.
Seu comentário foi o melhor.
ED
I'm not a girl, but I agree. I admire them alot, they were uni/college kids who made a killer band together, year 2000+ what a good life
Mikko Kukkonen
I can't thank my friend enough! He informed me of this band just few hours ago, and I have already bought all of their albums on CD. I rarely get this obsessed, but I can't remember a band that has moved me like TBM in a really long while. What a magical band!
LadyLotus
What I love about this album is how it gives you different feelings throughout with songs just fading into each other, sometimes you cant even tell the song has changed because its so smooth. It gives off the creepy kind of vibe in the beginning, sad towards the middle and then really happy towards the end. These guys are genius...