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.
I Blaspheme
Within the Ruins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It seems I am the devil's child
One look and it is clear to see
This is a mockery I was sent to poison your minds
Denounce you faith and exploit the lies.
Just take one look and its clear to see
The only one laughing is me
I've followed in those foot steps
You are my never healing soar
A cancer I can't seem to shake
Seething, breathing
Swarming, transforming
I'm merely here to speak no lies
Shed some light and open some eyes.
Not all of us are born with an open mind
And some are bred into unfair lives.
You are my never healing soar
A cancer that I can't seem to shake [x2]
It seems everyone is out to criticize
All your judging will lead to your demise
I'll never be the one to watch my
Words I will never be silenced
I live to get a rise out of you
All this is a mockery you're wasting your time
Focusing your hate on me
I'm just a man
Now turn your cheek just as you have been taught
For it is you that I blaspheme you are my never healing soar
A cancer that I can't seem to shake [x2]
The lyrics to Within the Ruins's song "I Blaspheme" seem to speak of a person who is seen as the anti-christ, with a devilish nature who is here to reject faith and expose the lies that society has been built upon. They are unapologetic about who they are, as opposed to the society that constantly tries to criticize and judge them. The person speaking in the song seems to have been persecuted and treated unfairly because society sees them as a 'cancerous sore' which cannot be shaken off. The person seems to be dwelling on the idea that society is hypocritical, forcing him/her to live under unfavourable circumstances due to the bias they have against them. The song portrays the concept of questioning fair and unfair lives as well as the concept of open-mindedness.
The lyrics convey a very clear message of someone who is not afraid to speak their mind and be true to themselves, no matter how much society may perceive them. They encourage listeners to question their own beliefs and be open-minded about how they perceive the world around them. In a way, this song is about the importance of being true to oneself, and living according to one's own beliefs, rather than conforming to society's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems I am the anti-christ
I feel like I am the embodiment of everything that is opposed to the Christian faith.
It seems I am the devil's child
I feel like I was born with an inherently evil nature that comes from Satan himself.
One look and it is clear to see
Without knowing me, you can tell just by looking at me that I am not to be trusted or respected.
This is a mockery I was sent to poison your minds
My mission in life is to undermine your faith and to turn you away from what you believe in.
Denounce you faith and exploit the lies.
I want you to reject your religion and the false truths that it teaches.
Just take one look and its clear to see
If you really examine me, you will see that I revel in my own wickedness and enjoy causing chaos and discord.
The only one laughing is me
I am the only one who finds humor in the madness and pain that I cause.
I've followed in those foot steps
I am following in the footsteps of other infamous individuals who were known for their blasphemy and heresy.
I've strayed from that broken path
I have turned away from what is considered the norm and have chosen to pursue a darker, more twisted path.
You are my never healing soar
I see you as a wound that will never fully heal, a source of pain that I can always return to and inflict more damage upon.
A cancer I can't seem to shake
You are like a cancer that is slowly killing me, but I cannot seem to rid myself of you completely.
Seething, breathing
I am simmering with anger and hatred, and these emotions are the very air that I breathe.
Swarming, transforming
I am constantly changing and evolving, like a swarm of insects that cannot be controlled or contained.
I'm merely here to speak no lies
Despite what others may think, I am not here to deceive or manipulate anyone. I am simply expressing my own twisted version of the truth.
Shed some light and open some eyes.
My goal is to shed light on what I see as the falsehoods of religion and to awaken people to what I consider to be the true nature of the world.
Not all of us are born with an open mind
I believe that some people are naturally predisposed to accepting my views, while others are too narrow-minded to do so.
And some are bred into unfair lives.
Some people are born into circumstances that make it difficult for them to see things the way that I do, and these obstacles prevent them from fully embracing the truth.
It seems everyone is out to criticize
I often feel like I am under attack from all sides, with people constantly judging and condemning me for my beliefs.
All your judging will lead to your demise
I believe that those who judge others too harshly will ultimately bring about their own downfall.
I'll never be the one to watch my words
I have no intention of censoring myself or holding back my opinions, even if they are considered blasphemy or heresy.
I will never be silenced
No matter how much others may try to silence me, I will always find a way to speak my mind and express my beliefs.
I live to get a rise out of you
I take pleasure in provoking others and stirring up controversy, as it gives me a sense of power and control over them.
All this is a mockery you're wasting your time
I believe that religion itself is a mockery, and that spending any time or energy on it is ultimately pointless.
Focusing your hate on me
I know that I am a magnet for hatred and derision, and I am able to draw people's negative emotions towards myself.
I'm just a man
Despite what people may believe, I am not some supernatural being or demon. I am simply a mortal, human like everyone else.
Now turn your cheek just as you have been taught
The idea of turning the other cheek is a core tenet of many religions, and I am mocking this concept by encouraging others to follow it blindly.
For it is you that I blaspheme you are my never healing soar
I am not blaspheming some abstract idea of God or religion - I am directly attacking the people who believe in those ideas and causing them pain and suffering.
A cancer that I can't seem to shake [x2]
Despite my best efforts to rid myself of the influence of religion, it still clings to me like a disease that I cannot fully shake off.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind