What started as social commentary on the growing divide in our society became very personal when our founding guitarist (Cody Conrad) passed of suicide and then soon after, my father of cancer. We went back in to re-write much of the album and in a lot of ways used it as therapy to cope with the experiences. Although intimate, at its core Anti-Melody is centered around the universal theme of separation on many levels.

Writers Block Party

"Writers Block Party" serves as a prologue to Anti-Melody. It's the first song on the album that we had music for but the last that I wrote lyrics to. It's a glimpse into my anxiety of writing an album with a much more personal narrative. It's not "punk" to say it but the truth is, the further you put yourself out there, the more it feels you have to lose. That said, there's an urgency and a vulnerability in these songs. Writer's is about overcoming the things that you feel limit you, disregarding trends and making your own path. Following your passion and expecting nothing in return other than the experiences along the way. We didn't go in to write the fastest, heaviest or most technical album. We didn't think of how a riff would go over with a certain crowd or if a lyric would be considered "cool". We just wanted to do something that was honest and true to us.

"Step outside, find your light. When the scavengers come, be ready to fight. The promise is now at the edge of a knife and when the blood spills, you'll know you're alive."

Carpe Diem, Tomorrow

"Carpe Diem, Tomorrow" is the fear of taking a different path. The fear of change. The fear of being open to a new way of thinking. Do something that scares the hell out of you every day of your life.

"Time marches on to early graves that haven't been dug. I've got the shovel but what I lack is motivation."

Church Burner

"Churchburner" explores the visceral reaction to biases. Whether on grand scale such as politics, religion and nationality or even at the level of our art communities and the sub-categories within them. We as a people choose to create further divisions in which to base judgement. We live with tribe mentality but preach individuality. We're surrounded by nuance but are are force fed into believing everything is black and white. We create our own divide.

"Fear is the fashion they parade down the aisle. Fear is the fashion and it ain't ever going out of style."

Bartenders Without Wings

"Bartenders Without Wings" addresses how we approach conflict. Our desire to place blame rather than find a solution. Everyone believes their way of thinking is inherently right so to truly make progress we must first understand where the other person is coming from, build common ground then go from there.

"I want to believe that fear is only skin deep and when staring at the beast, what's looking back is no more than I am. We're both trying to understand."

Danger Music #9

"Danger Music #9" is a commentary on the state of our healthcare system. The need to put people over profit. To find the root of the problem instead of just treating the symptoms. My mother was the victim of overprescribed pills which heavily impacted my upbringing and life today. I've also know multiple others close to me who have passed as the result of adverse drug reactions. Each of which were preventable if they and their illness were treated as an individual case and not another face in the crowd.

"When people become numbers we'll live counting our dead and die watching a clock from our hospital bed."

Cancer Eater

My father passed suddenly in November of 2015. Although he knew something was wrong, he refused to go to the doctors or tell anyone, including myself. He worked construction right up till the day that he was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer. He only let me know because he wanted an extra set of clothes so he didn't have to be in a hospital gown. "Cancer Eater" deals with the experience of spending the last days at the hospital with him. The feeling of mortality that I gained from it and the resulting thoughts that I try to build distraction from.

"We're taken hostage by the ones we love that leave us behind."

Broken Culture

"Broken Culture" delves into the role that media plays in today's environment. The ability a headline has to shape our beliefs and the echo chambers that incentive based views and social media algorithms create. Rather than using the internet to expand our way of thinking, we use it to validate what we already feel is right. 

"We don't need another branded revolution or rehashed poetry. We don't need another echo in the hall with no one to disagree."

Chicago Overcoat

Cody Conrad, our founding guitarists and good friend took his life in August of 2015. He was 23, too young and too talented to leave this world. He had a passion for his art that could be unmatched. Anxiety and depression got the best of him and our lives and those of the ones he touched will forever be changed because of it.

"The pain doesn't end when we cease to exist, it's inherited by the ones we leave behind."