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.
On The Other Side
The Unseen Lyrics
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You wonder why you are alive
Suffering from severe depression
Contemplating suicide
You're told your nothing, unimportant
You only see their life through your eyes
Well every life has it's own problems
Stumble and fail
Stumble and fail or reach the sky
You'll never know unless you try
Dealt misery while some are blessed
Who measures failure what is success
A part of you is gone and dead yeah
But it just won't leave your head
So you try to push it all away all away
Take it all day after day
Theirs only darkness at the end
Will your soul wonder or descend
Is this how it's supposed to be
Can you control your own, own destiny
Stumble and fail or reach the sky
You'll never know unless you try
Yeah will you be free
Or suffer endless misery
Yeah will you be free
Or you suffer, suffer endlessly
The song "On The Other Side" by The Unseen deals with themes of existentialism and depression. The first verse describes the feeling of questioning one's own existence and wondering why they are alive. The singer of the song is then highlighted as suffering from severe depression and contemplating suicide. These feelings of hopelessness are likely exacerbated by the prevailing societal messaging which deems the singer 'nothing' and unimportant. However, the song challenges this perspective by insisting that every life has its own problems and that it is possible to see the 'other' side, rather than just seeing life through one's own eyes.
The chorus features lines that discuss the uncertainty of life and the importance of taking risks to achieve one's goals. It encourages individuals to attempt to reach for the sky, regardless of the possibility of failure. In this way, the song celebrates the idea that it is better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. The bridge suggests that, while a part of the singer's psyche may feel 'gone and dead,' it remains deeply ingrained in their psyche. Pushing these feelings away is an attempt to deal with them, even if day after day proves difficult.
"On The Other Side" as a whole is a meditation on life's struggles and the different ways individuals can deal with them. Ultimately, the song suggests that how we approach our own suffering is key to determining whether we experience 'endless misery' or freedom. The song powerfully synthesizes punk rock ethos with existentialist philosophy, resulting in a memorable and thought-provoking anthem.
Line by Line Meaning
Pondering on your existence
Reflecting on your own being and purpose
You wonder why you are alive
Questioning the reason for one's own existence
Suffering from severe depression
Experiencing intense sadness and hopelessness
Contemplating suicide
Considering taking one's own life
You're told your nothing, unimportant
Being told that one is insignificant and worthless
You only see their life through your eyes
Perceiving others' lives solely based on one's own perspective
Well every life has it's own problems
Acknowledge that every person faces their own difficulties
If you can see the other side
Gaining a different perspective on life
Stumble and fail
Making mistakes and facing setbacks
Stumble and fail or reach the sky
The possibility of either experiencing failure or achieving success
You'll never know unless you try
One can only discover the outcome by attempting something
Dealt misery while some are blessed
Experiencing hardship and adversity while others live privileged lives
Who measures failure what is success
Questioning the definition of success and failure
A part of you is gone and dead yeah
Feeling like a piece of oneself is lost or absent
But it just won't leave your head
Being unable to forget or move on from past events or emotions
So you try to push it all away all away
Attempting to suppress or eliminate negative thoughts or feelings
Take it all day after day
Enduring hardships and struggles repeatedly
Theirs only darkness at the end
Believing that the future seems bleak or hopeless
Will your soul wonder or descend
Uncertainty of whether one's soul will experience turmoil or peace
Is this how it's supposed to be
Questioning the nature and purpose of life
Can you control your own, own destiny
Contemplating if an individual has the ability to shape their own future
Yeah will you be free
Questioning whether one will ever be liberated from their struggles
Or suffer endless misery
Contemplating whether hardships will continue indefinitely
Or you suffer, suffer endlessly
Repeating the fact that one might endure constant hardships and challenges
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: C. COLEMAN, C. LEIGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind