Catching onto the then-noteworthy idea of touring , the band gained notereity through repeated exposure in the skateboarding world, which helped on tour, and which helped create a national fanbase. Thrasher Magazine's MoFo compiled the first Skate rock tape, which featured several Faction songs, as well as songs by JFA and the Big Boys, the two other most established skate punk bands. Other bands included were Riot .303, Minus One, Los Olvidados, Skoundrelz, featuring Tony Alva, Anvil Chorus, Free Beer, featuring San Francisco's Tony and Tommy Guerrero, and others.
The Faction recorded two 7" records, an LP, an EP, and a posthumous EP, and contributed songs to a 7" compilation single, From The Valley Within. Their song Skate and Destroy was also featured in the first skateboarding video, Powell-Peralta's "Bones Brigade Video Show." Except for the Thrasher Skate Rock tapes and the posthumous "Epitaph" EP, which was released on Mystic Records, all the Faction's music was released on IM Records. This label was owned by guitarist Adam Segal, and financed by Arly. Primarily due to musical evolutional differences in the band, they broke up in 1985. In 1989 they reformed with pro skateboarder Jeff Kendall on guitar instead of Adam Bomb. They played two shows, recorded "Accelerate" (used in the "Stoked: The Gator Story") and for whatever reason it didn't go any further.
In 1994, Mark Waters, of Goldenrod Records, approached the band with the idea to compile the Faction's musical history into one complete CD package. The resulting "Collection" gathered most of the band's studio recordings along with some live and radio recordings, along with Gavin's complete list of every show the band ever played, complete lyrics, and what most of the band called their first good artwork. In 2001, the band started playing shows here and there, with original guitarist Russ Wright on guitar. One show led to more, and between 2001 and 2005 the band played a handful of shows, including gigs in Dortmund and Munster Germany, Vancouver B.C., Aberdeen Scotland, Seattle (with X), San Diego and Anaheim with the Adolescents and Strung Out, Sacramento, and numerous San Jose and San Francisco shows.
The Faction's song 'Skate And Destroy" is featured in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 video game.
Tenebrae
The Faction Lyrics
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The Faction's song "Tenebrae" is a gripping representation of existential fear and paranoia. The lyrics "see being watched" creates an ominous tone, which suggests a sense of constant surveillance, resulting in a loss of personal freedom. The song's theme resonates with George Orwell's idea of Big Brother, where the government instills fear within the citizenry through constant surveillance to sustain its authority, creating a sense of constant anxiety and uncertainty.
Additionally, the song also highlights the complexity of human emotion when dealing with surveillance. The lyrics "and I want to be seen, but I don't want to be watched" captures the agony of wanting to be in the public sphere but not under constant surveillance. The song paints a picture of a person who desires attention and validation but fears the consequences of the prying eyes that constantly monitor their every action.
In summary, The Faction's "Tenebrae" is a hauntingly beautiful depiction of the relationship between an individual and constant surveillance. The song accurately captures the helplessness, anxiety, and paranoia that being watched can instill.
Line by Line Meaning
Silent streets fill with smoke and gloom
The streets are eerily quiet, obscured by a thick, mysterious fog.
Faint figures leer as you pass through
You catch glimpses of eerie shadows and ghostly apparitions leering at you as you walk by.
Lost in nightmarish dreams unfulfilled
You're trapped in a living nightmare of unfulfilled desires and broken dreams.
Their cold touch chills your soul until
You feel their icy fingers touch your soul, sending chills down your spine.
You awaken alone to face the bleak
You wake up alone, greeted by the cold, harsh reality of your surroundings.
And empty remnants of a life you seek
You are left with nothing but the hollow remnants of a life that you once hoped to achieve.
Shadows fall as the darkness deepens
The shadows grow longer as the darkness of night deepens.
The chill of night overtakes you
The coldness of the night overwhelms you, numbing your senses and clouding your thoughts.
Terrifying visions creep in, insidious and cruel
Frightening visions begin to invade your mind, creeping in gradually and inflicting their insidious and cruel hold on your thoughts.
Fear grips you now, as malevolent forces duel
You're engulfed by fear as malevolent forces battle for control over your soul.
Tenebrae, obsidian night
Tenebrae, the Latin word for darkness, evokes the blackness of the night that surrounds and engulfs you.
Tenebrae, embrace your plight
Tenebrae also suggests a sense of embracing one's fate, accepting the darkness and the suffering that comes with it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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