Call it restlessness, call it fear, call it being… Read Full Bio ↴Now known as Swain
Call it restlessness, call it fear, call it being out of step or call it being stubborn; This Routine is Hell has been the medium through which these, what some would call "defects" have been ruthlessly transformed into an uncompromising "NO".
Existing somewhere between today's obsolete definitions of hardcore and punk, it's hard to tell exactly what we are; but more important to us is why we're here. Where self-doubt has laid us to rest, creativity must awaken us. Where sadness only saddens more, the power of will and love must empower us. It's this path to transformation which has guided the four of us to cross borders and oceans onto uncommon ground.
The new album "Howl" is the next step into that same unfamiliar territory. We were on the verge of giving up when finally deciding to either go for it completely or simply put it all to rest. A big leap across the Atlantic was taken and we recorded our second full length at Godcity Studios with Kurt Ballou in Salem, MA in the summer of 2012.
Howl is exactly about that. Written with the basic idea that we simply refuse to let ourselves be governed by our fears and our doubts. But perhaps it's even more strongly against 'their' view on what it means to grow up (set in stone) and 'their' inability to actively shape their lives which has its virulent and devastating effects on all of us. It's about disassembling the society with the little tools we have, and rebuilding them with the ones we create.
Some people write biographies. This is rather a statement.
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCdNQ55dIaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QWq_mJV7uU
Howl
This Routine is Hell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've all got blackened hearts.
We've all got saddened parts.
And they don't know this play,
they don't feel the bass.
No happy endings, no soothing chords,
more like a fist on the piano.
And I'm happy that we're always offbeat.
"...the best minds of my generation, destroyed by madness ... burning for a connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night."
They sleep while they count the days.
They fear the moment when they part their ways.
Heads in cement, knees to the ground.
They loathe the beast they've crowned.
"They broke their backs lifting moloch to heaven."
We are the sea and all its sickness,
just as blue and equally still.
Like the other sore lips that are swaying with us,
"we're all still ill."
Brothers, sisters, reap what you sow.
God is dead, we're alone.
The city's howl never felt so loud, but we're never quite mute.
The lyrics of "Howl" by This Routine is Hell are strikingly introspective, and they demand the listener to deeply contemplate the melancholic state of the human heart. The song beckons a realization that everyone, including the person singing, harbors a blackened heart and saddening memories on account of life's tribulations. The lyrics suggest that people are inherently broken and that their inner demons are an ever-present feature of life. It is no wonder that the song notes the lack of happy endings and soothing chords, but rather a fitting analogy of a fist on a piano to describe the harsh realities of life.
The lyrics of "Howl" by This Routine is Hell also take a critical perspective on mainstream society. The song suggests that the masses are asleep, blindly following as life passes them by. Apathy has been cemented within them as they loathe the beast they've crowned. The song alludes to the idea that society's values are misguided, with the individual being disregarded, and the masses are focused on their own individual pursuits, independent of others' well-being. In a sense, the city's howl has never felt so loud, yet people are never quite mute.
* "Howl" by This Routine is Hell is off their self-titled album released on May 13th, 2013.
* The band is a hardcore punk rock group from Utrecht, Netherlands.
* The song has been featured on notable music blogs such as Lambgoat, and it has received positive reviews from critics.
* The song, along with the rest of the album, has themes of existentialism, personal responsibility, and contemporary societal issues.
* The song's lyrics are heavily influenced by Allen Ginsberg's poem "Howl."
* The song has been performed as part of the band's live shows throughout Europe, South America, and Asia.
* The song's lyrics were written by the band's lead vocalist, with music composition by the rest of the band members.
* The band's name, "This Routine is Hell," is a reference to a quote from Chuck Palahniuk's novel "Fight Club."
* The song's artwork depicts a hand-drawn illustration of a wolf's head with two feathers in its mouth.
* The artwork drew inspiration from Native American symbolism, particularly the significance of feathers in Native American culture.
Chords: Unfortunately, I could not find the chords to this song.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not just you.
You're not alone in having a dark side or feeling pain.
We've all got blackened hearts.
We've all done things we regret, and those things have left a mark on us.
We've all got saddened parts.
Everyone has experienced sadness or grief in their life.
And they don't know this play,
People who haven't lived our experiences can't understand our pain.
they don't feel the bass.
They can't truly feel what we're feeling or relate to our struggles.
No happy endings, no soothing chords,
Life isn't always fair or easy, and you don't always get the closure you want.
more like a fist on the piano.
Sometimes life feels harsh and discordant, like someone banging on a piano.
And I'm happy that we're always offbeat.
We don't conform to societal norms or expectations, and that's okay with me.
"...the best minds of my generation, destroyed by madness ... burning for a connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night."
A quote from Allen Ginsberg's 'Howl' reflecting on the struggles of his generation, comparing their search for meaning to the workings of the universe at night.
They sleep while they count the days.
Some people go through life in a daze, just waiting for it to be over.
They fear the moment when they part their ways.
Change can be scary and uncertain.
Heads in cement, knees to the ground.
Some people feel stuck and unable to move forward.
They loathe the beast they've crowned.
People often hate the things they have created or become.
"They broke their backs lifting moloch to heaven."
A reference to William Blake's 'Milton,' where Moloch is a false god who demands sacrifices in vain, reflecting on people's struggles to meet impossible expectations.
We are the sea and all its sickness,
We are all part of the larger world and its problems.
just as blue and equally still.
We appear calm on the surface, but there is turmoil underneath.
Like the other sore lips that are swaying with us,
We are not alone in our struggles, and others are going through similar pain.
"we're all still ill."
A reference to The Smiths' song 'Still Ill,' which reflects on people's struggles in society and feelings of alienation.
Brothers, sisters, reap what you sow.
We have to live with the consequences of our actions.
God is dead, we're alone.
There is no higher power or meaning in life, and we are ultimately responsible for our own destiny.
The city's howl never felt so loud, but we're never quite mute.
The chaos of the world can be overwhelming, but we still have a voice and agency.
Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DORF
Nostalgia is a disgusting track in the best way possible and these guys are doing everything perfectly.
bdizzler
Finally some modern hardcore that doesn't annoy me or bore me. Great balance of aggression and artsiness. Wish I heard of these guys earlier :(
Piotr Zając
You can hear alot of 90's grunge inspirations here, mixes very well with the whole thing.
Davi Pinho
Finally someone realized that you dont have to sound exactly like every other band to sound heavy and engaging.
Joshua Shaw
this is awesome but for anybody trying to find it on itunes to purchase, this is the bands former name. their current name is Swain. TRIH will bring up zero results (at least in Australia)
Davi Pinho
My favourite album of 2013, hands down.
callibretto
i honestly like this version more than the remaster, but glad its finally on streaming services now
My Celly Weighs a Ton
brutal vocals. Most post-anything bands these days annoy the fuck out of me. This is awesome.
Trevor VanHoose
One of my top 10 favorite albums of all time. Definitely my favorite punk album of all time. Judt perfect.
Tyler H
Listening to this album while driving is basically walking up to a cop and asking for a speeding ticket.