The Word Alive was founded in 2008 by Craig Mabbitt (lead vocals) with Zack Hansen (lead guitar) and Tony Pizzuti (rhythm guitar) who were former members of the bands Calling of Syrens and Clouds Take Shape. As a side-project of Mabbitt during his part in Escape the Fate, the remaining required members he recruited to start The Word Alive were chosen to be Nick Urlacher (bass), Dusty Riach (keyboard) and Tony Aguilera (drums). The group recorded songs with the intention of releasing them as a self-titled EP, despite that it never surfaced. Later on, the band forced Mabbitt to leave due to their dissatisfaction with Escape the Fate's schedules, which required Mabbitt to work as a full-time member.
The day after, Mabbitt posted a blog to his fans via his Myspace account explaining that leaving the band was not his decision and that "[The Word Alive] pretty much replaced me while I was on the road due to the fact that they wanted to tour and couldn't until I was available, I started that band with those guys and I'm very hurt at how they replaced me while I was touring...it's bullshit." On December 3, the band officially announced that Tyler "Telle" Smith, who was formerly one of the vocalists for In Fear and Faith and bassist for Greeley Estates, joined The Word Alive as their new frontman.
Feeling somewhat stagnant in their progression beforehand, the addition of Smith catapulted the band’s ambitions to the forefront. With this initiation, their goals and aspirations were much more a reality, and they set to work on what would become their record label debut, Empire.
During March 2009, the band were taken in with a contract by a new label, later on during the 26th of that month the group officially confirmed that the label they were then signed to was Fearless Records. Smith stated "We hope to just keep touring, touring, touring... we couldn't be happier or more appreciative to be on tour right now, I think despite having some of the worst luck in the early beginnings of being a touring band yet never missing a show, we always have a positive attitude and that will make us a stronger band." The band set out to create an EP to be released through the label wherein it was titled Empire and was recorded with producer Andrew Wade in Ocala, Florida. It was released on July 21, 2009 where it reached #15 on the Billboard Heatseeker chart.
During February the band reached an agreement to leave founding drummer, Tony Aguilera out of the group. Both parties (Aguilera and the rest of the band) shared their concerns and reasoning for the matter publicly. It was overall described that the band wanted to pursue a different percussionist of alternate talent than the founding member. Aguilera was replaced with Justin Salinas, whom previously was a part of the bands Scars of Tomorrow and Catherine as well as serving as a past live drummer for MyChildren MyBride.
In April 2010, The Word Alive entered the studio in Ocala, Florida with Andrew Wade to record their debut full-length album, Deceiver. By June, Deceiver was fully mastered and engineered. On June 23, 2010 the band premiered their first single from the album, “Epiphany” as streaming media online.The following day, Fearless Records released their 2010 Summer Sampler which also featured the track "Epiphany". A week later, the album's album art and track listing was released. Guitarist Zack Hansen explained upon this premiere that "We all felt like that was going to be the best choice considering how comfortable the recording process is with Andrew. The tracking was a lot of fun and everyone had a good time. We got the opportunity to stay in a house while we recorded and surprisingly we didn't party as much as I thought we would haha." Hansen later followed along explaining that his favorite track on the record is “The Hounds of Anubis”, which was written by him and Pizzuti and stated that he "wrote this song with an 'Egyptian feel' to it and I think we got our point across." Smith described that its lyrics describe the times of when The Word Alive overcame their hardships that they face with the help and support from their fans. "The Hounds of Anubis" was released as the album's second single on July 26, 2010. It premiered on the official Revolver website.
By November of 2011, the band made plans to return to the studio on February 7, 2012 with Joey Sturgis to begin recording their next album, with an expected recording session lasting from that time until mid-March. However by February (and before the date of entering the studio), the announcement of two members leaving occurred; keyboardist, Dusty Riach and drummer, Justin Salinas were simultaneously confirmed to no longer be a part of the band. Salinas stated his reason was because he grew tired of touring, although Riach's reason was preferred to be kept silent.
In regards to the band's second studio album, it was reported that 17 songs were recorded in its process. 13 of those will be on the standard edition of the album, while the another three will be included on the deluxe edition. The name of the album will be Life Cycles and both editions will be released the same day.On March 23rd of the year, the group issued a statement that 18-year old Arizona resident Luke Holland has joined as the new drummer, however, Holland was not included for the recording sessions of Life Cycles. The drumming for the record was done by a friend of the band named Matt Horn wherein Holland joined after these sessions were already completed.
On March 18, 2014, the band released a new single entitled "Play the Victim." Along with the song, they also announced their third full-length album Real. would be released on June 10. The album would be the first to feature Luke Holland on drums.
The band released their fourth album, Dark Matter, on March 18, 2016. The band also revealed the tracklist and a headlining North American tour with support from Fit for a King and Out Came the Wolves. The album's lead single, "Trapped", was released January 8.
In November 2016, Luke Holland announced he would be leaving the band at the end of 2016 after finishing their last tour of the year to pursue other musical endeavors. In February 2017, the band announced that Matt Horn would be taking Holland's place as drummer. Shortly after, a new single "Misery" was released.
On August 7, 2017, The Word Alive and Daniel Shapiro mutually announced they were parting ways due to a "new musical adventure" of Shapiro's. The next day, The Word Alive announced that they would be joining I Prevail on their Rage on the Stage Tour along with We Came as Romans & Escape the Fate.
Branded
The Word Alive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wandering hopeless into the unknown
Is there hope, to hope like them?
Save me from the hell I'm in
We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
So here we are
Off in the unknown
Aimless, but tired of being alone
Is there hope?
To hope like them?
Save me from the hell I'm in
We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
Singing for those who don't belong
Lost and found, I had no home
Found myself when I gave up hope
So don't forget your darkest hours
Light the way to a life empowered
Don't forget your darkest hours
Light the way, light the way
(We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong)
We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
Singing for those who don't belong
Don't belong
The lyrics of "Branded" by The Word Alive explore themes of isolation, longing for salvation, and finding hope in a world that often makes people feel like outcasts. The song begins with the singer feeling lost and hopeless, with no guiding savior to lead them back home. They feel like they are wandering aimlessly into the unknown, wondering if there is any hope for them to belong or find a sense of purpose. They express a desire to be saved from the personal hell they are experiencing.
The next part of the song emphasizes the feeling of being branded or labeled by society. The singer describes how they have become dependent on these societal expectations, feeling as though they don't belong. Despite this, they find strength in standing together with others who also feel like outsiders. They use their voices to demand recognition and acceptance, singing for those who don't fit into the norms of society.
The third paragraph introduces a shift in perspective. The singer reflects on their own journey of being lost and eventually finding themselves when they gave up hope. It suggests that sometimes, in our darkest moments, we can actually find ourselves and discover a new sense of purpose. The lyrics encourage listeners not to forget their darkest hours, as they can be a catalyst for personal growth and empowerment. The call to "light the way" implies that by embracing the struggles and overcoming them, we can guide others towards a more fulfilling life.
The chorus is then repeated, emphasizing the message of not belonging, standing together, and singing for those who also feel like outcasts. The repetition drives home the idea that there is strength in unity and that the singer and listeners are not alone in their experiences.
Overall, "Branded" by The Word Alive explores the universal theme of feeling like an outsider and searching for a place to belong. It acknowledges the challenges and hardships faced along the way but encourages listeners to find hope, support each other, and embrace their darkest moments as opportunities for growth and empowerment.
Line by Line Meaning
No living savior to follow home
There is no saving presence to guide us back to safety and comfort
Wandering hopeless into the unknown
Feeling lost and without direction as we venture into unfamiliar territory
Is there hope, to hope like them?
Do we have the ability to hold onto optimism like others do?
Save me from the hell I'm in
Rescue me from the torment and despair I am currently experiencing
We came dependent just to be branded
We arrived relying on others only to be marked or labeled
It's hard to believe we don't belong
It is difficult to accept that we do not fit in or are not accepted
Here we are standing, together demanding
We are present and united, demanding recognition and understanding
Singing for those who don't belong
We are using our voices to represent those who feel like outsiders
Off in the unknown
Venturing into unfamiliar territory
Aimless, but tired of being alone
Without purpose, but exhausted from feeling isolated
Lost and found, I had no home
I was lost and then discovered my place of belonging
Found myself when I gave up hope
I discovered my true self when I let go of hopelessness
So don't forget your darkest hours
Remember the times of deepest pain and struggle
Light the way to a life empowered
Illuminate the path to a life of strength and empowerment
Don't belong
Do not conform or fit into societal expectations
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Tony Pizzuti, Tyler Smith, Zack Hansen, Daniel Shapiro, Luke Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
yungderek
[Verse 1]
No living savior to follow home
Wandering hopeless into the unknown
Is there hope, to hope like them?
Save me from the hell I'm in
[Chorus]
We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
Singing for those who don't belong
[Verse 2]
So here we are
Off in the unknown
Aimless, but tired of being alone
Is there hope? To hope like them?
Save me from the hell I'm in
[Chorus]
We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
Singing for those who don't belong
[Bridge]
Lost and found, I had no home
Found myself when I gave up hope
So don't forget your darkest hours
Light the way to a life empowered
Don't forget your darkest hours
Light the way, light the way
(We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong)
[Chorus]
We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
Singing for those who don't belong
Don't belong
Adam Artz
+yung derek First verse:
No living savior to follow home
Wandering hopeless into the unknown
Is there hope, to hope like them?
Save me from the hell I'm in
Chorus:
We can't depend on [?] just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
Singing for those who don't belong
Second verse:
So here we are
Off in the unknown
Aimless, but tired of being alone
Is there hope? To hope like them?
Save me from the hell I'm in
Bridge:
Lost and found
I had no home
Found myself when I gave up hope
So don't forget your darkest hours
Light the way to a life empowered
Don't forget your darkest hours
Light the way, light the way
Trevor Dodson
The last chorus into the part at 3:10 freaking had me in shock with goosebumps all over. The intensity and emotion is just so real. This album is just so real.
Neal Schuster
+Trevor Dodson Much realer than Real lol
Elmergh Reyes
"Singing for those who don't belong"- that really hits me
yungderek
[Verse 1]
No living savior to follow home
Wandering hopeless into the unknown
Is there hope, to hope like them?
Save me from the hell I'm in
[Chorus]
We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
Singing for those who don't belong
[Verse 2]
So here we are
Off in the unknown
Aimless, but tired of being alone
Is there hope? To hope like them?
Save me from the hell I'm in
[Chorus]
We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
Singing for those who don't belong
[Bridge]
Lost and found, I had no home
Found myself when I gave up hope
So don't forget your darkest hours
Light the way to a life empowered
Don't forget your darkest hours
Light the way, light the way
(We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong)
[Chorus]
We came dependent just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
Singing for those who don't belong
Don't belong
Gaby Pereyra
Thank's men. lml
Adam Artz
+yung derek Actually the first line in the chorus is: "We can't abandon those who've been branded"
Adam Artz
+yung derek First verse:
No living savior to follow home
Wandering hopeless into the unknown
Is there hope, to hope like them?
Save me from the hell I'm in
Chorus:
We can't depend on [?] just to be branded
It's hard to believe we don't belong
Here we are standing, together demanding
Singing for those who don't belong
Second verse:
So here we are
Off in the unknown
Aimless, but tired of being alone
Is there hope? To hope like them?
Save me from the hell I'm in
Bridge:
Lost and found
I had no home
Found myself when I gave up hope
So don't forget your darkest hours
Light the way to a life empowered
Don't forget your darkest hours
Light the way, light the way
Hannah Kelley
lost and found, I had no home
Light the way to a life in (power)?
Hannah Kelley
so here we are for the unknown
Heitor
This album it's a masterpiece, the best album of the band, with Deceiver and Empire (EP), perfect.