By 2011, the band had come full circle since its inception back in 2004 in Los Angeles, CA With the return of founding guitarist / songwriter A.J Minette, the band returned to a sound reminiscent of the critically acclaimed “Nocturne” album, while introducing classical technical rhythms their complex sound. Former From First To Last/The Color of Violence member Travis Richter also joined the ranks as vocalist just long enough to record "Digital Veil," the bands third LP. After only a few months of touring Richter quit the band in August, 2011. He brought to the table a worthy balance of guttural screams combined with ethereal harmonies and all of the vocal range fans would expect from THA. With syncopated harmonies meeting complex time signatures, precise yet pounding bass riffs and heavy bellows filling the album from beginning to end a new, albeit short lived, era for The Human Abstract had been firmly established.
Guitarist Dean Herrera and guitarist/keyboardist A.J. Minette formed The Human Abstract in 2004, adding drummer Brett Powell, bassist Kenny Arehart, and singer Nick Olaerts. The band recorded a couple of demos and played a number of regional gigs before signing with Hopeless Records in 2005. Soon after signing to Hopeless Records, THA replaced singer Nick Olaerts with Nathan Ells.
Nathan Ells joined the band only 1 month before heading into the studio (Jamie King - the basement recordings in North Carolina) to record the band's debut full length release "Nocturne”, which was published by Hopeless Records August 22, 2006. Their album Midheaven was released on August 19, 2008 and featured a new guitarist in Andrew Tapley, who had replaced A.J. Minette previous to the recording of Midheaven.
Nathan Ells was fired from THA in late 2009. Vocalist Travis Richter (x-from first to last, the color of violence) joined The Human Abstract in early 2010 along with original guitarist songwriter A.J. Minette.
Nocturne
The Human Abstract Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the wake of intent that day
At the fault line, at the fault line we were
Searching for answers
Filthy crimes, power play
Grasping for our lessons overthrown.
What you've gone and done now...
It's hard to get over
Events of the past have carried
A lasting grudge toward a pure heart
I'm calling out a false hero.
Lay your plans,
I'll play Rome, false martyr, take a stand
Lay your plans.
With broken heart, I've finally become a man.
Past the sights and the sound
Cloak and dagger are found
No wonder here, just an echo resounding.
Hardship owns all that remains
Red queen, a fallen Knight on the way that day
At the fault line, at the fault line we were
Searching for answers
Filthy crimes, power play
Grasping for our lessons overthrown.
Caught in the act, right in our midst,
A snake in the grass. No honor,
As night fell on my soul.
The Human Abstract's song Nocturne is a dark and haunting exploration of the consequences of hollow self-indulgence and the search for truth in a corrupted world. The opening lines speak to the way in which our self-destructive tendencies can lead us astray, and how we can end up on the wrong side of intention. The phrase "at the fault line" is particularly evocative, suggesting a kind of collapse or impending disaster that is just waiting to happen. The repetition of "searching for answers" reinforces the idea that we are always looking for meaning in our lives, but often find only confusion.
As the song progresses, we get a sense of the singer's anger and disillusionment. They have been wronged in some way, and they are calling out the person responsible. The lines "I'm calling out a false hero" suggest that someone has betrayed the singer's trust, perhaps pretending to be something they're not in order to gain some kind of advantage. The singer is no longer willing to be a passive participant in this deception, and they are ready to take a stand and confront those who would do them harm.
The final lines of the song are particularly powerful. The image of a snake in the grass suggests a kind of treachery that is difficult to detect, and the phrase "no honor" speaks to the moral decay that can lurk beneath the surface of human society. The fact that the singer feels as though "night fell on my soul" reinforces the sense of loss and despair that permeates the song, and reminds us of the dangers of indulging our darker impulses.
Line by Line Meaning
Hollow self indulgence leading the way
Selfish actions driving us forward
In the wake of intent that day
In the aftermath of our actions
At the fault line, at the fault line we were
At a critical moment of decision
Searching for answers
Looking for solutions
Filthy crimes, power play
Bad deeds done for personal gain
Grasping for our lessons overthrown.
Trying to learn from our mistakes
What you've gone and done now...
Asking about someone's actions
It's hard to get over
It's difficult to move on
Events of the past have carried
The past has a lasting effect
A lasting grudge toward a pure heart
Holding a resentment towards someone innocent
I'm calling out a false hero.
Exposing someone who is pretending to be a hero
Lay your plans,
Make your plans
I'll play Rome, false martyr, take a stand
I will act as a martyr for a false cause
With broken heart, I've finally become a man.
Through heartbreak, I have grown up
Past the sights and the sound
Beyond the obvious
Cloak and dagger are found
Deceit is present
No wonder here, just an echo resounding.
Not surprised by the outcome
Hardship owns all that remains
Only suffering remains
Red queen, a fallen Knight on the way that day
Powerful people have lost their power
Caught in the act, right in our midst,
Caught in the act of wrongdoing
A snake in the grass. No honor,
A deceitful person without integrity
As night fell on my soul.
Feeling darkness and sadness
Contributed by Victoria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.