Volume III | Tracks 8-11
The last four tracks of Volume III comprise the uplifting portion of the album. Ever since learning about how requiem masses from classical music start dark and finish light, I have aimed to do the same with my albums.
“Break Away” was by far the most difficult song on the album to play, record, and produce. I wrote and recorded a version with programmed drums a few years ago. I really want to avoid relying on programmed instruments when I can these days, so I redid it with live drums. I had to slow them down and simplify them to something that I can almost play (notice how loose it is and how I flub a lot of the snare hits). Some of the vocals could also use more takes, but I didn’t want to fry my voice anymore at the time. I think the bass is also out of tune, most notably during the guitar solo… Oops. I just had to move on and leave it as is, though. Mixing this song took at least three (four? five?) major passes too… Something that went right though, is its arrangement. It’s one of my best structured songs. Though this song was very difficult and perhaps a bit too ambitious for me, I’m very happy with it.
Lyrics:
Climb up the cliffs and the mountains
Stand up to the clouds and the rain
Swim through the waves and the flood
Crawl through the smoke and the embers
Leap through the cracks and the quakes
Soar through the wind and the hail
Dig through the caves and the cages
Bound through the thunder and flames
Breathe through the loss
Breathe through the pain
Break away
“Phoenix” is also a redo of a song from a few years ago (see the title track from the “Hope” EP). This song was the second most difficult child of the album. It’s one of two songs that I’ve released for which I committed to playing live double bass. Needless to say, the drums took a lot of takes and a lot of time (more so than usual even)… Compared to the first version of the song, I think I like the outro of the original better. The original had a scream in it that’s one of the best that I’ve recorded. I’d planned to do the same scream on this version, but I decided to skip it rather than try to outdo or even match the original. Comparing the rest of the song, I like the new version better overall. I think it flows better and has better guitar riffs. Amusing note: The ending is so loud that the output limiter becomes really obvious, which gave it a cool sort of overloaded effect, I think.
Lyrics:
I will not give in
And I will rise again
“We Will Be Alright” is boldly and loudly hopeful (delusional?). Like the previous two songs, it’s a mantra of sorts for myself and anyone else with whom it resonates. I aimed to blend the vibes from 311’s “Still Dreaming,” Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” and 2000’s emo more generally. Writing and recording this one were kind of a blur.
Lyrics:
We’ve almost made it through
The darkest winter night
Just one more step
And we will find our way
To the light
There’s nothing else to do
But stand for what is right
It won’t come easily
But we will be alright
Hold on
Don’t let go
“Rest” is a bittersweet, restful closure to the album. It takes the vocal outro from “Summoner” (track seven) and expands on it. The rain and frogs (my favorite seasonal sound) were recorded one evening with my phone.
This album was painful to create. It’s also painful to hear. All the horrifying things that we’re all witnessing, and that have tragically brought many souls to far worse fates, are truly beyond words. I have to believe, no matter what might happen to our bodies, whatever cruelty we endure, that our spirits will ultimately find peace somehow, somewhere. Take care of yourselves and one another. May we all see better days.