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.
Dead Weight Falls
The Unseen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Friends like you, who needs enemies: DEAD WEIGHT FALLS SET YOU FREE!.
Friends like you, who needs enemies: DEAD WEIGHT FALLS SET YOU FREE!.
Stabbed in the back, time time again.
Life goes on, learn to embrace the pain.
Dealt with so much but it was never enough.
(chorus:)
TIME TO FACE...REALITY!. Dead weight falls and it sets you free.
CAN'T STAND THIS ATROCITY!. Dead weight falls and it sets you free.
LET'S END THIS...HYPOCRISY!. Dead weight falls and it sets you free.
There's nothing left, why can't you see the dead... weight... FALLS?
Severed ties... well, are we friends?
Friends don't lie, cheat or steal.
Is that what you are? Well, it's good for you;
I'll get a knife and I'll stab you TOO!.
TIME TO FACE...REALITY!. Dead weight falls and it sets you free.
CAN'T STAND THIS ATROCITY!. Dead weight falls and it sets you free.
LET'S END THIS...HYPOCRISY!. Dead weight falls and it sets you free.
With friends like you, well I now see...who...needs...ENEMIES!.
No apologies or consideration.
DEAD...WEIGHT! DEAD...WEIGHT!.
You never pitch in... but you're always taking.
DEAD...WEIGHT! DEAD...WEIGHT!.
I've been strung along, time to cut the string.
DEAD...WEIGHT! DEAD...WEIGHT!.
Dead weight falls and it sets you...FREE!.
(chorus)
The Unseen's song Dead Weight Falls is a furious and unapologetic critique of a toxic friendship. The opening lines of "Friends like you, who needs enemies" signal the frustration and betrayal the singer has experienced with someone who should have been a friend. The chorus repeatedly declares that "dead weight falls and it sets you free", suggesting that the song is a reckoning that will allow the singer to move on from this harmful relationship. The lyric "Severed ties... well, are we friends?" underscores the confusion and uncertainty that often accompany the end of a relationship, particularly when one party has acted badly. The singer seems to be questioning whether this person was ever really a friend to begin with, and wonders whether they are merely a liar, a cheater, or a thief in disguise. Ultimately, the song suggests that the singer has had enough, and wants to end the hypocrisy and the pain once and for all.
The song resonates with listeners who have experienced similarly difficult relationships, and it has become a rallying cry for those seeking to move beyond toxic friendships. It also showcases The Unseen's signature sound, blending punk rock and hardcore influences with a driving rhythm and memorable hooks. The band's honesty and intensity have helped them to gain a dedicated following, and Dead Weight Falls remains a fan favorite.
Line by Line Meaning
Friends like you, who needs enemies: DEAD WEIGHT FALLS SET YOU FREE!.
Being friends with you is worse than being enemies because when I get rid of you, it frees me from your negative influence.
Stabbed in the back, time time again.
You've betrayed me repeatedly, causing me pain and heartache.
Life goes on, learn to embrace the pain.
Despite the hardships caused by your betrayal, life goes on and I've learned to accept and deal with the pain.
Dealt with so much but it was never enough.
I've tried to make things work with you despite all the pain you've caused, but it's never been enough.
Now you're set free, my wounds healing up.
Now that I'm done with you, I'm healing and able to move on without your negative influence.
SEVERED TIES...WELL, ARE WE FRIENDS?
I've cut ties with you, but I'm questioning if we were ever really friends in the first place.
Friends don't lie, cheat or steal.
True friends don't betray each other through dishonesty, cheating or stealing from each other.
Is that what you are? Well, it's good for you; I'll get a knife and I'll stab you TOO!.
Since you're clearly not a true friend, I'm not afraid to hurt you just as you have hurt me.
No apologies or consideration. DEAD...WEIGHT! DEAD...WEIGHT!.
You've shown no remorse for your actions or care for my feelings, making you nothing but dead weight in my life.
You never pitch in... but you're always taking. DEAD...WEIGHT! DEAD...WEIGHT!.
You never contribute anything positive but instead always take from me, making you nothing but dead weight.
I've been strung along, time to cut the string. DEAD...WEIGHT! DEAD...WEIGHT!.
I've been manipulated and deceived by you for too long, and it's time to cut off your toxic influence.
Dead weight falls and it sets you...FREE!.
Getting rid of you and your negative influence will free me from the weight you've put on me.
TIME TO FACE...REALITY!. Dead weight falls and it sets you free.
It's time to accept the truth about this toxic friendship and let the dead weight of it fall away.
CAN'T STAND THIS ATROCITY!. Dead weight falls and it sets you free.
I can't tolerate the atrocities you've committed in this friendship, and it's time for you to fall away.
LET'S END THIS...HYPOCRISY!. Dead weight falls and it sets you free.
This friendship has been filled with hypocrisy and deceit, and it's time for it to end so that I can be free.
With friends like you, well I now see...who...needs...ENEMIES!.
You've been a terrible friend, and I now realize that I'm better off without you in my life.
There's nothing left, why can't you see the dead... weight... FALLS?
Our friendship is over, and it's time for you to see that the weight of it has fallen away.
Contributed by Stella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.