Within the Ruins founding members Joe Cocchi and Kevin McGuill started the band during 2003. The band went through some line-up changes and finally began working on their first self-released EP entitled Driven by Fear which was completed in 2005. Followed by the release, the band began touring in late 2006 in an effort to gain exposure and label recognition. With the release of their second EP Empires through Innerstrength Records the band received an offer from Victory Records. The band's debut studio album Creature was released in February 2009, followed by their second studio album entitled Invade. Invade was released in September 2010, selling over 3000 copies in its first week. The band has most recently toured Europe with Carnifex and has been part of a number of 2011-12 festivals thus far including the Bonecrusher Fest, the Jamboree, New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, the Bamboozle, South by Southwest and 2011's the Summer Slaughter Tour. In support of the Summer Slaughter Tour the band released a 4-song EP entitled Omen. The EP consists of 2 new original songs and a cover of Metallica's "Fight Fire with Fire" and Kansas' "Carry On Wayward Son". In 2013 the band signed with new label eOne Entertainment and released the third studio album called Elite.
On April 20, 2014, vocalist Tim Goergen was hospitalized in the band's hometown of Westfield, Massachusetts with "heart/liver complications". As a result, the band was forced to miss a scheduled appearance at the "Eat Your Heart Out Fest" in Poughkeepsie, New York while touring in support of fellow deathcore mainstays Whitechapel.
The band released an official statement on the occurrence via their Facebook page:
"Yesterday morning Tim checked into a hospital here in Western Mass for a second time since our tour began four days ago. We will unfortunately not be performing at today's Eat Your Heart Out Fest, as we are waiting for clarity on Tim's condition and release. Tim informed us a few weeks before leaving for tour that he was experiencing chest and stomach pains. After his first doctor visit he was advised to "take it easy" if he did do the tour. At this point all we know is that he is experiencing heart/liver complications, will not be released today, but is stable."
Tim's recovery necessitated the band canceling the rest of their scheduled tour dates. On their Facebook page, the band released an official statement:
Unfortunately, at this point we have no other option but to withdraw from the remaining dates of the Whitechapel tour. Tim will be released tomorrow, but due to the seriousness of his condition he has been advised not to engage in any strenuous activity while recovering over the next few weeks. We apologize to any fans that were looking forward to seeing us, but Tim’s health comes first. We WILL be back out this summer in support of our forthcoming album. The rest of the shows are still happening so be sure to make it out and support our friends in Whitechapel, Carnifex and Cruel Hand. See you all this summer!
On July 8, the band released the fourth studio album entitled Phenomena, which reached #72 on the Billboard 200.
On February 15, 2015, while traveling through Pennsylvania in support of Suicide Silence on "The Stronger Than Faith", the band were involved in a serious bus accident. Extreme winter conditions resulted in the band's van and trailer flipping several times on the interstate. None of the band members were injured, however their gear was completely destroyed.
Speaking on the incident, Joe Cocchi stated:
"We rolled about three times from what I can remember and landed on the median. Our van and trailer are totaled. All I can say is that we're happy to be alive. I don't know how, but none of us were injured. We're on the road touring because this is all we know and love, and we want to continue. Help us get back on our feet by picking up a shirt. Thank you all for the continued support."
The band created a GoFundMe page in order to help pay for the damages to their equipment.
On November 21, 2016, Within the Ruins announced their fifth studio album, Halfway Human, and debuted a single, "Death of the Rockstar". On March 3, 2017, the band released Halfway Human. The album debuted at number 191 on the Billboard 200, selling 4,025 copies in its first week.
On February 24, 2018, it was announced vocalist Tim Goergen would be leaving the band following his final performance with the band at the 2018 New England Metal and Hardcore Festival on April 21. His replacement would be Steve Tinnon. On July 27, the band released two new singles, their first with Tinnon, "Resurgence" and "World Undone".
On September 24, 2020, the band announced that their sixth studio album, Black Heart, would be released on November 27.
Absolute Hell
Within the Ruins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To a world defiled, a black scorched earth
And a blood filled sky. this is nothing more
Than a fascination, an extremely morbid infatuation,
this is the end Of humanity existing.
painful to say, but we had this coming
In this absolute hell
Is where I thrive.
Is where I feel alive. feel alive.
Cities will crumble
And the worlds worst
Will become humble.
It seems today is the day
That you will die. so tell me how
You feel about your life.
Now imagine everything you love
Engulfed in fire.
Hopes and dreams melting
To the devil's choir.
In this absolute hell
Is where I thrive.
In this absolute hell
Is where I feel alive.
I can tell you
That I will embrace the end.
Consider my journey fulfilled.
Everything was all worth while
And as I gently smile
I become one
With a world defiled.
The lyrics to Within the Ruins’ song “Absolute Hell” depict a world that has been devastated and destroyed, leaving nothing but pain and suffering. The opening lines create a vivid image of a world that has been defiled, with a black scorched earth and a blood-filled sky. The singer indicates that this is not just a tragic event: it is a fascination and a morbid infatuation. They express a sense of familiarity and comfort in this world, claiming that it is where they thrive and feel alive, despite the destruction and devastation surrounding them.
The lyrics then turn to the devastation that has occurred, with cities crumbling and the world’s worst becoming humble. The singer invites listeners to reflect on their own lives, questioning how they feel about their existence in the face of such destruction. The chorus repeats the singer’s claim that they thrive in this absolute hell, suggesting that their embrace of destruction and chaos is not just a fascination, but a way of life. The singer then imagines a scenario where everything they love is engulfed in fire, with their hopes and dreams melting to the devil's choir. Despite this, the singer remains committed to this world of destruction, claiming that they will embrace the end and become one with the world defiled.
The lyrics to “Absolute Hell” evoke a powerful sense of bleakness and despair, with a narrator who appears to revel in the destruction around them. The song's heavy instrumentation reinforces the dark and menacing tone of the lyrics, providing a fitting match for the images of destruction and devastation that the words evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
Imagine opening your eyes
Picturing a situation where someone opens their eyes
To a world defiled, a black scorched earth
A condition of finding the earth barren and dark
And a blood filled sky. this is nothing more
A world filled with blood in the sky, which is a morbid fascination
Than a fascination, an extremely morbid infatuation,
An obsession with the sight of destruction
this is the end Of humanity existing.
The destruction led to an end of humanity
painful to say, but we had this coming
Acknowledgment that humanity brought this upon themselves
In this absolute hell
Describing the sight in front of the singer
Is where I thrive.
The artist feels invigorated in the chaos
In this absolute hell
Describing the chaotic situation further
Is where I feel alive. feel alive.
The artist feels like they are truly living in the chaos
Cities will crumble
The destruction was widespread, including cities
And the worlds worst
The people who were considered the worst
Will become humble.
The destruction forced even the worst people to be humbled
It seems today is the day
A sense of inevitability and finality to the destruction
That you will die. so tell me how
Asking the listener to reflect upon their life
You feel about your life.
Asking the listener to consider their accomplishments and regrets
Now imagine everything you love
Asking the listener to imagine their loved ones and possessions
Engulfed in fire.
Visualizing the destruction of everything they hold dear
Hopes and dreams melting
Even the deepest desires and ambitions are destroyed
To the devil's choir.
Referring to the chaos and destruction as if it were orchestrated by the devil
In this absolute hell
Reiterating the chaos and destruction that surrounds the artist
Is where I thrive.
Continuing to express how the artist feels energized in the chaos
In this absolute hell
Repeating the description of their surroundings
Is where I feel alive.
Expressing that the chaos makes the artist feel more alive than ever
I can tell you
The singer is now sharing their perspective
That I will embrace the end.
The singer is accepting of the idea that everything will end
Consider my journey fulfilled.
The singer feels like they have completed everything they were meant to do
Everything was all worth while
Reflecting on the value of everything that was done in life
And as I gently smile
The artist feels at peace with everything that has happened
I become one
A sense of unity with everything around them
With a world defiled.
The singer is now part of the chaos and destruction surrounding them.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: JOSEPH MICHAEL COCCHI, KEVIN MATTHEW MCGUILL, TIMOTHY PATRICK GOERGEN JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind