Their first EP, The Butterfly Effect (EP), was released in 2001, and charted well on the ARIA Independent charts. This first release, featuring the Triple J single "Take Me Away", was more "nu-metal" than later recordings although contained much of what was to become their signature soundscapes. They followed this with the critically-acclaimed Begins Here, released on 3 August 2003. The album peaked at No. 23 in Australia, reaching gold sales accreditation by mid-2006. It produced the minor hit Always, and attracted considerable critical acclaim
On 17 June 2006, the album Imago was released, with a move towards progressive rock and a less heavy sound. It was produced in Los Angeles by Joe Barresi, who had just produced Tool's "10,000 Days" album. The album was commercially successful, being featured on national radio station Triple J, peaking at No. 2 in Australia in its first week and attaining gold sales accreditation just nine weeks later. The single A Slow Descent also peaked at No. 9 on the singles charts.
Their next album, Final Conversation of Kings, was released on 20 September 2008. It was produced by Forrester Savill on the Central Coast of New South Wales, and represented a significant change in their sound, but did not match either the commercial or critical success of previous releases despite charting at No.3 in its first week in Australia.
On 6 February 2012, the band announced on Facebook the following message:
The Butterfly Effect wish to inform their fans and media that singer Clint Boge is officially leaving the band to pursue other musical interests. The remaining members of the band, Ben Hall, Kurt Goedhart and Glenn Esmond will continue to work together and will announce their intentions in the not too distant future.
Clint’s departure is an amicable one and the band are giving fans a chance to see them perform together for the last time on the club circuit by announcing the “EFFECTED” national tour starting late April 2012. To celebrate 10 years of recordings The Butterfly Effect is releasing an “EFFECTED” compilation CD of their best work in April and signed copies will be available at shows on the tour."
In late 2013, the band introduced new singer Paul Galagher with the release of a single, "Eyes Down", and a small tour. However, the band soon became inactive, and in 2016, it was announced that they had permanently disbanded.
In July 2017, the band announced the reformation of their original lineup, with Boge again as the lead singer, and announced they would begin touring Australia again in March 2018. In 2019 they released Unbroken, their first new music since reuniting.
September 2nd, 2022 saw the release of the bands long awaited 4th Full length album IV.
Perfection
The Butterfly Effect Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Devil's grip it won't let me breathe
Fools gold is love over money, I have,
This time I've lost my control, Oh no...
Love of God it won't let me near you
Devil's grip is all over me
Perfect is less than perfection, I have,
Here, and forever, I have found
Life, with no answers
Love of God you won't disappoint me
Fail to feel I don't want to feel
Leave me I'm broken and hungered, I have,
This time I don't want to feel what's left to feel...
Here, and forever, I have found
Life, with no answers, you have found
Here in the anti, I have gone
Skin black from bruising...
My, My eyes, won't,
My eyes, My eyes, My eyes, My eyes,
...this is how we play...
...this is how we play...
...this is how we play...
...this is how we play...
Here in the anti I have gone
Skin black from bruising
My eyes, won't, my eyes won't, let me see
...this is how we play...
...this is how we play...
The lyrics of The Butterfly Effect's song "Perfection" seem to explore the theme of struggle between good and evil, love and money, and self-control. The first two lines suggest the idea of being torn apart between two opposing forces, the "Love of God" that restrains the singer from touching someone and the "Devil's grip" that suffocates him/her. The third line "Fools gold is love over money, I have" could mean that despite the singer's belief that love is more valuable than money, he/she has lost control over the situation.
The choruses express a sense of hopelessness and frustration, as the singer acknowledges that neither perfection nor the pursuit of it can bring satisfaction or answers. The lines "Perfect is less than perfection" and "Life, with no answers" convey the idea that seeking perfection is a futile endeavor. The second chorus also suggests that the singer has gone through some sort of transformation, as he/she has found something in the "anti" or the opposite of what is expected or desirable.
The final lines of the song are somewhat elusive and open to interpretation. The repeated chant of "My eyes, won't let me see" could signify a refusal to accept reality or a desire to remain blind to the truth. The phrase "This is how we play" seems to imply that the singer is resigned to the game of life and its rules that cannot be changed.
Line by Line Meaning
Love of God it won't let me touch you
I cannot physically reach you due to my deep religious convictions
Devil's grip it won't let me breathe
I feel suffocated by the forces of evil working against me
Fools gold is love over money, I have
I have realized that true love is worth more than material wealth
This time I've lost my control, Oh no...
I am experiencing a loss of agency and am feeling powerless
Love of God it won't let me near you
My religious beliefs are preventing me from getting closer to you
Devil's grip is all over me
I feel like I am consumed by the negative forces in my life
Perfect is less than perfection, I have
I have come to realize that striving for perfection is futile
This time I don't want to see, what's left of me...
I am afraid of seeing the negative aspects of myself
Here, and forever, I have found
Life, with no answers
I have discovered that life is full of ambiguity and unknowns
Love of God you won't disappoint me
I trust that my religious faith will not let me down
Fail to feel I don't want to feel
I am avoiding negative emotions by numbing myself
Leave me I'm broken and hungered, I have
I feel damaged and in need of nourishment and care
This time I don't want to feel what's left to feel...
I am overwhelmed and do not want to experience any more pain
Here in the anti, I have gone
Skin black from bruising
I have descended into a dark place and have been hurt in the process
My, My eyes, won't,
My eyes, My eyes, My eyes, My eyes,
I have lost sight of something important to me
...this is how we play...
This is the way things are always done, and it feels like a game
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind