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
Shiver
This Routine is Hell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We write the poetry of the dead with every word we type.
Remarks are made.
Heads turn away.
They prefer to stay.
Behind gritted teeth our lies take shape.
Fed by a festering hate, they procreate.
Disgusted, there’s nothing left inside.
The first two lines of "Shiver" by This Routine is Hell paint a vivid image of the state of our modern workplaces. Blood running through the offices alludes to the cut-throat competition and stress that runs rampant in corporate culture. The use of fire as something we breathe suggests that the environment is toxic and hostile, and we are forced to swallow it down to survive. The line "We write the poetry of the dead with every word we type" highlights the sense of hopelessness and despair that pervades every aspect of our lives, even the mundane act of typing. The lyrics suggest that we are constantly surrounded by death, whether it be physical or metaphorical.
The second half of the verse is a commentary on the reluctance of people to speak out against the system. The line "Remarks are made, heads turn away" implies that people know things are wrong, but they choose to ignore them out of fear or complacency. The use of "gritted teeth" and "festering hate" suggest that the system is actively oppressing and angering people, but they are unable to speak out or rebel. The chorus, "You'll shiver at what you'll find inside. Disgusted, there's nothing left inside" reinforces the sense of hopelessness and the idea that the system is slowly killing us from the inside out.
Line by Line Meaning
Blood runs through the offices and fire’s what we breathe.
The intense pressure and unhealthy work environment leave us drained and perpetually anxious.
We write the poetry of the dead with every word we type.
Our work may seem robotic, but each keystroke is an expression of our inner turmoil and despair.
Remarks are made.
Our colleagues make snide comments and engage in passive-aggressive behavior.
Heads turn away.
When confronted with the toxicity of the workplace, people avoid taking action and prefer to look away.
They prefer to stay.
Despite all the suffering, people stay because leaving the comfort zone seems too daunting.
Behind gritted teeth our lies take shape.
We feel compelled to put on a facade and pretend everything is fine, even though it's not.
Fed by a festering hate, they procreate.
Negative emotions like anger and resentment fuel each other and create a breeding ground for more negativity.
You’ll shiver at what you’ll find inside.
If you peel back the layers of the superficial happiness, you'll discover the alarming reality of this workplace.
Disgusted, there’s nothing left inside.
Feeling powerless and overwhelmed, we start to lose our sense of self and motivation to keep going.
Contributed by Harper H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Josh Rivers
I'm always risking death while riding my bike when this shit comes on.
hh hh
gotta live in the edge, man!
Tyler H
Lemme tell ya, when this shit comes on in my car, I risk a speeding ticket every time.