Now known as Swain

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

Nostalgia
This Routine is Hell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dirty hands, blistered feet,
playing in the sun but now we’re feeling the heat.
Summer in the suburbs, safe and sound,
knowing what it’s like: nostalgia brings us down.

Nostalgia burns.

We’ve roamed the streets, always out of luck.

The glory days, but now we’re sobering up.
Scraped our knees to the barren ground.
It’s only skin, but nostalgia keeps us down.

Yet we still raise our fists to the heedless skies.
We piss on god, our ethos never dies.

Nostalgia burns.
Nostalgia hurts.

Nostalgia flirts.
Nostalgia fucks us up.

Overall Meaning

The song Nostalgia by This Routine is Hell explores the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia, a longing for a past that we cannot go back to. The lyrics convey feelings of regret and frustration over the passage of time and the realization that things will never be the same as they once were. The opening lines refer to physically demanding activities, such as playing outside in the sun and navigating the streets, which are now taking a toll on the body. This highlights the physical effects of aging and the idea that time stops for no one.

The chorus repeats the phrase "Nostalgia burns," emphasizing the pain and discomfort that accompanies remembering the past. The verses continue to describe the physical and emotional bruises that the past has left on the singer, such as scraped knees and the realization that they can never relive past experiences. However, despite the pain and regrets that nostalgia brings, they still hold onto their beliefs and values, symbolized by their raised fists and defiance towards higher powers.

Overall, the song is a reflection on how we can become trapped in our memories and how those memories can both inspire us and bring us down.

Line by Line Meaning

Dirty hands, blistered feet,
We've worked hard and played hard, but now we're feeling the consequences of our actions.

Playing in the sun but now we're feeling the heat.
The fun we had in the past now comes with responsibility and consequences that we can't ignore.

Summer in the suburbs, safe and sound,
Our childhood memories of growing up in the suburbs were full of security and comfort.

Knowing what it's like: nostalgia brings us down.
We understand the dangers of dwelling on the past, but we can't help feeling nostalgic and melancholy.

Nostalgia burns.
The pain of nostalgia affects us deeply and leaves a lasting impression.

We've roamed the streets, always out of luck.
We've been wanderers, never quite finding our place in the world.

The glory days, but now we're sobering up.
We used to feel invincible and full of hope, but now we're facing the reality of life's challenges.

Scraped our knees to the barren ground.
We've suffered hardships and setbacks that have left us wounded and vulnerable.

It's only skin, but nostalgia keeps us down.
While our physical wounds have healed, the emotional scars of our past still affect us.

Yet we still raise our fists to the heedless skies.
Despite our struggles, we remain defiant and refuse to give up hope.

We piss on god, our ethos never dies.
We reject conventional norms and authority, clinging to our personal values and sense of purpose.

Nostalgia burns.
The pain and longing of nostalgia continues to affect us, even in our moments of defiance.

Nostalgia hurts.
The sharp ache of nostalgia is a constant reminder of what we've lost and can't regain.

Nostalgia flirts.
The allure of nostalgia tempts us to dwell on the past, even though we know it's not healthy.

Nostalgia fucks us up.
The overwhelming pain and longing of nostalgia can have a destructive impact on our lives, holding us back from moving forward.

Contributed by Elena R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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