Knightlife is an alternative rock band from Philadelphia, PA. Their new album, Forever Fight came out October 26th. For the occasion, we asked the band to tell us about each track. Their commentary on the album can be seen below.
“Tangerines” refers to themes of self-confidence, and the realization that you are strong enough to complete your goals. The songs shows best our damped and complicated minds - concerned with self-actualization all the time. This song was performed live on Radio 104.5, Philadelphia’s Alternative Rock Station. This performance was the first full band performance we had (all moving parts coming together). We feel like the song embodies a rising day at the beginning. It into a declaration of confidence by its close.
“Philosophy” is about feeling left behind by circumstance. This song was written amidst a complicated and frustrated time in Bruce (guitar player) ‘s life. He felt like his age, place, and interests had cost him opportunities. The bridge is powerful in its call to “flutter heart strings” and “tell bad things” - expressing the idea that new chapters in life provide good and bad. Our Thin Lizzy obsession can be heard on this track - listen for the lead guitar on the chorus’.
“Slow Down” harnesses Knightlife’s raw power. This song showcases the longest instrumental/solo section. It’s lyrical material focuses on ideas of humanity, friends, and higher powers. The ending thought is powerful, “we’ve got a lifetime to wait for a savior that never was,” highlighting the groups skepticism to pre-ordained acceptable world views.
“Insomnia” is about creativity, and the ways it can manifest itself through someone during late hours of the night. It’s lullaby like sound juxtaposes Slow Down - in many ways Insomnia is the light and Slow Down is the dark.
“Oceans” discusses location, and how we can feel stuck in our familiar situation and transformed by entering a new situation. The bridge offers a change of pace for the listener as well - we hear it as a blend between Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, and Green Day.
“Behind the Past” gets down to the pain of losing loved one’s at a young age. The effect of such is questioning reality and also worrying about misappropriation of feelings. The beginning lyric “like wallpaper under wallpaper” sets the scene for a metaphorical journey.
“Overgrown” was a late addition to the track listing. We wanted to “change up” the pace of the record. The ending lyrics of the song showcase the album’s title “forever fight” – the song speaks to nostalgia, friendships, and loss. Heroism is also a theme, “fly away like a bird” was originally “fly away like the birds” making an illusion to the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles. The sentiment remains.
“Chasin’ the Times” may provide the most energetic feeling from the album. The essence of this song has to do with relationships and their upkeep. This, along with Insomnia, are the oldest songs written by any of the members of the band. This was one of the first songs recorded for Forever Fight.
“The Long Way Down” being a witness to broken or currently breaking relationships is hard. The bridge of LWD asks us to think about personal problems and to maintain hope to overcome those difficulties.
“Molly Ringwald” other than the acoustic change up Molly provides the most light vibes on Forever Fight. The lyrics explain feelings of loneliness and romantic heartache, a happy juxtaposition for light vibes. The song gets its name from the movie Sixteen Candles and actress Molly Ringwald. The Long Way Down was jokingly called “Long Duck Dong” - a character from Sixteen Candles. Molly Ringwald’s name was then used for the stand-in title as we wrote Molly Ringwald.
“Night Time Sally” questions the essence of over-benefitting and under-benefitting romantic relationships. Who’s love is more powerful? The album concludes with the sentiment that both parties, whomever that may be, will eventually, in a forever-type-of-way, meet again. “We both know we’ll be back again.”