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.
New Holy War
Within the Ruins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The only moments of purity begin.
Seconds away from the womb.
Wretched beings brainwashed from birth.
Not ever given a chance to splurge.
Not fortunate enough to think free
We are our own worst enemy.
Knowledge can be used as a key.
Faith can lead you to find your peace.
Faith can lead you to the deceased.
Man gave man reasons to die.
Man created reasons to fight.
Man created the man in the sky.
Man created the question why.
We will end our world.
And milk it for all it's worth.
We are our worst enemy.
Your book of revelations will come true.
It will be nothing of what you once knew.
Of what you once knew.
Your fellow man will turn on you.
Say goodbye to the world you once knew.
Now prepare for the New Holy War.[x2]
Weaponize and keep your god in mind.
As you prepare to slay your fellow man.
It is all glorified in his name.
This is disorder, this is true horror.
This is a mass genocide.
A race to heavens gates with no promises of getting inside.
Weaponize keep your god in mind.[x2]
It all will end with this.
The lyrics to Within the Ruins's song New Holy War explores the idea of how humanity's inherent nature, being born into sin, has led to the creation of religion as a means to find ‘purity’ and ‘peace’. The lyrics suggest that the use of knowledge and faith has shaped the human race, but it has also led to conflict and violence. The song argues that man has created religion and wars as a means to justify their actions and as a result, has become its own worst enemy. The lyrics also suggest that the end of humanity is inevitable and that there is little hope for redemption.
The song highlights how religion, a force that is supposed to bring people together, has instead created divisions, and acts as a tool for justifying conflict and violence. It shows how the human race has come to identify with its own individual beliefs, which are often at odds with each other, leading to a never-ending cycle of holy wars. The song is a commentary on the dangerous intersection between religion and the desire for power, which often leads to conflict and tragedy.
Overall, the lyrics of New Holy War are a powerful critique of humanity and its capacity for destruction. Despite the bleak outlook, it serves as an important reminder that we have the ability to change and strive towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
We are wretched beings born into sin
Humans are born with a sinful nature that makes them deplorable creatures.
The only moments of purity begin.
The only moments of innocence are at the start of existence.
Seconds away from the womb.
The moment of birth marks the end of purity and the start of corruption.
Wretched beings brainwashed from birth.
Humans are indoctrinated with ideologies from infancy that steer them from reason and logic.
Not ever given a chance to splurge.
Individuality is suppressed and people are not allowed to express themselves without retribution.
Not fortunate enough to think free
People are deprived of the freedom to think for themselves.
We are our own worst enemy.
Humans, through their own actions, are causing their own destruction.
Knowledge can be used as a key.
Education can be a powerful tool for unlocking the truth.
Knowledge can be used as a weapon.
Education can also be misused as a means of oppression or indoctrination.
Faith can lead you to find your peace.
Belief in a higher power can bring a sense of calm in chaotic times.
Faith can lead you to the deceased.
Blind faith without understanding can lead to fatal consequences.
Man gave man reasons to die.
People use various ideologies and belief systems to justify death and destruction.
Man created reasons to fight.
Humans invent conflicts and divisions among themselves for their own gain.
Man created the man in the sky.
Mankind created the concept of a god or deity to explain the unknown forces of nature.
Man created the question why.
Humans are always attempting to understand the mysteries of life and the universe.
We will end our world.
Humans are capable of committing acts of self-destruction on a global scale.
And milk it for all it's worth.
Humans continue to exploit the world's resources with no regard for their preservation.
Your book of revelations will come true.
The idea that scripture can predict future events is still believed by some.
It will be nothing of what you once knew.
The end of the world would bring about a reality completely changed from what was known before.
Your fellow man will turn on you.
In a time of crisis, people are capable of turning on each other in acts of desperation and barbarism.
Say goodbye to the world you once knew.
The end of the world would be a farewell to a familiar existence.
Now prepare for the New Holy War.[x2]
Get ready for a new war fought with religious fervor.
Weaponize and keep your god in mind.
Use your beliefs to justify violence against others.
As you prepare to slay your fellow man.
Rampant violence and chaos are imminent.
It is all glorified in his name.
Religious zealotry is used to sanctify acts of aggression and violence.
This is disorder, this is true horror.
The chaos and destruction of war are truly terrifying and horrific.
This is a mass genocide.
The violence and bloodshed of war can result in genocide on a massive scale.
A race to heavens gates with no promises of getting inside.
The concept that the battle is fought for a reward that may not exist.
Weaponize keep your god in mind.[x2]
Use your beliefs to justify violent and destructive acts.
It all will end with this.
The human race is capable of bringing about its own doom.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jason Ross
0:12
Imagine if missiles actually made this sound.
You're in your little desert cave, looking at blueprints of the nearest American outpost, strapping explosives to vests and throwing clods of dirt at each other. Then, you hear a faint sound, kind of a "hhhhhhhhhhhhh". You look out the mouth of the cave, and you see a little dot slowly getting bigger, and the noise grows to " aaaahhhhhhhh".
You realize it's some kind of object. It's getting bigger, louder now, "Aaaauuuuuugggggghhhh". Your terrorist buddies are all in a group, staring at this little dot. They've heard this sound before. Before you have a chance to let that sink in, you know exactly what's happening.
It's a WTR ASM, hurdling at you at ludicrous speed, screaming along, " aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHH"
You are dead.
Jordan Forrer
Best album they've made
Cloud Trip
Creature was better
PowdCasts
So incredibly talented, the only band in the genre i like and i LOVE them
🖕
opened up for these guys and knights of the abyss a few years back nice to see them still tearing shit up! \m/
Photo Chemistry
The intro sounds like something I would hear in Castlevania. Love that game...
Waffles Waffs
Love that game...
vicpic666
They are perfect live!
John Lehrfeld
Extremely awesome and crushingly dam good metal band.
I've seen Within The Ruins twice.
My personal favorite time was on TGE STRONGER THAN FAITH TOUR w/opening band Path To Misery, Fit For An Autopsy, Within The Ruins, Emmure, & Suicide Silence (headlined) @ The Altar Bar Pittsburgh PA
Eric Vargas
They are awesome live.
Dj Bruda
You guys are fantastic. In an age of metal engulfed in breakdowns, you guys do the best job at separating yourselves from every other band out there. I'm a gigantic fan. Please keep making music!