The Unseen formed in Boston 1993 and released the demo EP Too Young To Know...Too Reckless To Care in 1994. Two other 7" EPs followed, before the release of their debut full-length, Lower Class Crucifixion on A-F Records. Another two albums followed on the same label before they signed to BYO Records, and then, Hellcat Records. Each of their albums have sold moderately better than previous releases.
The quintet also released a best-of compilation for the European market in June 2000 titled Totally Unseen: The Best Of The Unseen, which contained two previously unreleased tracks.
For the release of their 2001 album The Anger And the Truth, "Chainsaw" re-accompanied the band in the studio to record the song No Evacuation, a song he originally wrote.
After being a member of the band for nearly ten years and writing most of the material on Lower Class Crucifixion, So This is Freedom?, and The Anger and the Truth, Paul Russo left the band after only contributing vocals to one track on their fourth album Explode. Citing differences in direction, he is now the leader of The Strings, an indie rock/folk band. He remains friends with his former bandmates.
Mark Unseen, the lead singer, formed and currently runs ADD Records. He also briefly joined the Maine street punk group A Global Threat as a second singer, and recorded the full-length What the Fuck Will Change? and Until We Die before deciding to concentrate on his duties with The Unseen.
There has been some controversy concerning the band, including allegations that in recent years they have "sold out". Most widely cited is the fact that The Unseen have produced music videos to air on commercial music video channels such as MTV2, an avenue looked-down upon in the underground streetpunk scene. The band reacted to this perception with the song "So Sick of You."
They have toured Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, and Mexico with many punk heavyweights from The Bouncing Souls and Rancid to decidedly more hardcore outfits like Hatebreed and Sick Of It All. Since the departure of Paul, the band has used many replacements on tour such as members from The Virus, Strike Anywhere, and F-Minus, however, recently, on their MySpace page The Unseen have included a fifth band member, Jonny, an ex-guitarist of A Global Threat who was in the band at the same time as Mark.
2006 also saw the release of Tripp's book So This Is Readin'?, which details the life and hardships of being in an underground band with dry comedy. It started as a lengthy band history on the band's website, but after a few amusing "chapters" he was contacted by a publishing company to release it in book form.
In May 2006, The Unseen announced on their official website that they would begin writing their sixth studio full-length album during the summer of that year. The album, titled Internal Salvation, came out on July 10, 2007. The first song released from that album is a track titled "Right Before Your Eyes". In support of the new album, the band has joined the thirteenth Warped Tour.
Countdown
The Unseen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Countdown! my life is such a disgrace
Countdown! should I hang myself or slit my wrist
Countdown! overdose on heroin, just like Sid
My life means nothing to me,
can't wait until I'm fuckin dead I can't stand this life any more,
wait 'till I blow off my head
Countdown! always got problems, can't seem to escape
Countdown! the lies you feed me are so fuckin fake
Countdown! can't put up with life's daily pressure
Countdown! suicide will be self expression
The lyrics to The Unseen's song Countdown are a stark and honest portrayal of someone who is struggling with the weight of their existence. The opening line, "Countdown to my extinction, my life falls apart in front of my face," sets a tone of hopelessness and despair. The singer is experiencing a profound sense of loss and disintegration, with their life crumbling before them.
As the song progresses, the singer expresses a desire to take their own life, musing on methods such as hanging, cutting, and overdosing. The lyrics are a raw and unflinching examination of what it feels like to be at the end of one's rope, struggling to find a way out of the pain and suffering that life can bring.
Overall, Countdown is a powerful and poignant song that speaks to the experience of those who are grappling with mental illness, addiction, or other challenges that can make life seem unbearable.
Line by Line Meaning
Countdown! to my extinction, my life falls apart in front of my face
I feel like my life is slowly but surely coming to an end, as everything around me falls apart, and I have no control.
Countdown! my life is such a disgrace
The way my life is going, and the things I've done, make me feel ashamed and worthless.
Countdown! should I hang myself or slit my wrist
I am considering ending my life, but I am unsure of the best method.
Countdown! overdose on heroin, just like Sid
I am contemplating ending my life by overdosing on drugs, like Sid Vicious.
My life means nothing to me,
I don't see any value or purpose in my life.
can't wait until I'm fuckin dead I can't stand this life any more,
I am eagerly anticipating the end of my life, as I can no longer bear living.
wait 'till I blow off my head
I am planning to commit suicide by shooting myself in the head.
Countdown! always got problems, can't seem to escape
I feel like I am constantly faced with problems and issues, and I can't find a way to get away from them.
Countdown! the lies you feed me are so fuckin fake
I don't trust the people around me, as I feel like they are lying to me and being insincere.
Countdown! can't put up with life's daily pressure
The day-to-day pressures and stresses of life are too much for me to handle.
Countdown! suicide will be self expression
I see suicide as a way to express myself, and to show others how much pain and anguish I am feeling.
Contributed by Kaylee C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
alice robinson
aw 7th grade i miss you