Tombs started as a collaboration project consisting of former Anodyne frontman Mike Hill (guitar, vocals), bassist Dominic Seita (ex-Speedloader) and drummer Justin Ennis (ex-The Heuristic). Carson Daniel James joined as their new bassist from 2009 to 2012 when he was replaced by Ben Brand. Dan Howard played additional guitar in 2012. In 2013, Garett Bussanick joined as a full-time second guitarist. Andrew Hernandez II (ex-ASRA) was their drummer from 2009 until 2014, when he was replaced by Charlie Schmid. Bussanick also left the band in 2014 and Evan Void joined as a new guitarist. Fade Kainer joined the band in 2014 as their synthesizer player and backup vocalist.
Tombs have released three full-length albums: Winter Hours in 2009, Path of Totality in 2011, and Savage Gold in 2014, all through Relapse. Savage Gold was produced and recorded by Erik Rutan. It has been unanimously praised by music critics, with Dave Schalek of About.com calling it "their heaviest album to date." They also released a self-titled EP and a split EP with Planks in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In 2010 they released a compilation album Fear Is the Weapon, consisting of tracks from the aforementioned EPs and demos from their Winter Hours sessions. The CD release was limited to 1000 copies.
The Divide
Tombs Lyrics
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Night time swallows me in shadows
Sullen nights trapped beneath the wheel
Phantoms walk inside my room
They speak to me
Speak to me
Subtle shades lost on a callous mind
Speak to me
I can see the stars collide
Obsessions with forgotten stars
Obsessions speak to me
They speak to me
It calls to me
Behold the black sun rise
Behold the black sun rise
I'm wide awake
Wide awake
Wide awake
The lyrics of Tombs's song The Divide paint a picture of a city that is asleep beneath the stars, while the singer is swallowed by shadows of the night. The sullen nights are captured under the wheel, and phantoms haunt his room. These phantoms are speaking to him in a language that only he understands. The subtle shades are lost on a callous mind, and shadow webs cover the sky. The singer's obsessions with the forgotten stars are speaking to him in a haunting manner. The words "speak to me" are repeated throughout the song, a plea by the singer to be heard, and to communicate with the world around him.
The divide between the reality and perception of the singer is highlighted through the lyrics. The black sun rising is a symbol of hope or despair depending on the interpretation of the listener. In this case, it can be seen as the singer's mind being overwhelmed by the darkness of his obsessions. The repetition of the phrase "I'm wide awake" emphasizes the singer's inability to escape his reality. Perhaps he finds solace in staying awake during the night, as his obsessions take over his mind. The Divide is a chilling depiction of the inner turmoil of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
The city sleeps beneath stars
The city is silent, while the stars above continue to shine brightly.
Night time swallows me in shadows
The darkness of night engulfs me and I am lost in my thoughts.
Sullen nights trapped beneath the wheel
Nights filled with intense emotions, like sadness, that feel never-ending and difficult to escape from.
Phantoms walk inside my room
Figures that exist only in the mind, like ghosts or memories, haunt the artist's space.
They speak to me
These phantoms continue to communicate with the artist.
Speak to me
The singer is longing for someone, or something, to communicate with them.
Subtle shades lost on a callous mind
The intricacies of life and its nuances are lost on the singer, who has grown cold-hearted and indifferent.
Shadow webs across the sky
The sky is filled with darkness and a sense of unease.
I can see the stars collide
The artist sees things happening in the world that are unexpected, possibly negative.
Obsessions with forgotten stars
The artist is consumed by thoughts or actions related to things that are no longer important.
Obsessions speak to me
These thoughts or actions continue to hold power over the singer's mind.
They speak to me
These obsessions continue to hold power over the artist's mind.
It calls to me
Something is beckoning the singer to act or think in a certain way, to be consumed by their obsessions.
Behold the black sun rise
A metaphorical sunrise of something dark and negative, possibly a change or event that has a negative impact.
Behold the black sun rise
Reiteration of the earlier line, further emphasizing the idea of something terrible on the horizon.
I'm wide awake
The artist is alert and aware of everything happening around them, perhaps even hyper-vigilant.
Wide awake
Emphasis on the artist's alertness, as if to warn others to stay cautious as well.
Contributed by Andrew L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.