Wake is not a concept album from what I can tell, but it has the general theme of death throughout most of the album, hence the name. Each song deals with a different death, and a different perspective for that death. The opening track, "Rolling Out The Red Carpet," is very short but powerful. It talks about a killer murdering someone and perhaps the killer is a narcissist who sees himself as important. It reminds me of Ted Bundy a little bit. The lyrics aren't really that powerful, but the music is great and it makes me wish that the song was longer. It sets up the next song very well, "Human Target Practice."
"Human Target Practice" talks about police brutality, perhaps specifically the Eric Garner case, and calls out the sadistic aspects of the police force. It's a very strong song that definitely affects the listener whether they like it or not. I'm not sure what news story "Black Serotonin" comes from, but it speaks of the hypocrisy of the media that advocates compassion yet perpetuates false information negatively affecting society. The song itself has a great structure, and really exemplifies the progressive aspect of Hail The Sun's progressive post-hardcore sound.
"Mourning Sickness" isn't that unique in my opinion, and is made weaker by the two amazing songs both before and after this song. That said, it's not bad, and it is about a dead person seeing their family grieve over the person. The music is very cookie-cutter compared to the rest of the album. The next song, however, combines my favorite aspects of Hail The Sun's music.
"Falling On Deaf Ears" talks about religion from a Hitchens-esque perspective. The one criticism I've heard from others about this song is that it doesn't really fit in the album, but I disagree. The narrator is an atheist or agnostic addressing the absence of God, the hypocrisy of religion, religion as a way for the greedy to make money, and the idea of eternal damnation. That last part and the follow-up song are why "Falling On Deaf Ears" belongs on Wake.
"Cosmic Narcissism" is perhaps one of the most cynical songs I've ever heard, but that doesn't really mean that it isn't wrong. It is kind've a lyrical sister to "Falling On Deaf Ears," and is from the perspective of a man whose significant other treated him poorly. It is a stark look at the mind of a person who has realized that their life and struggles are meaningless. It is one of the songs on the album that I really relate to, but I wish I didn't.
"Relax/Divide" is a really morbid love song that is disguised as a cheery love song. Honestly, I could hear it being in a wedding slideshow, with nobody batting an eye at the lyrics, much like how people really like that Third Eye Blind song. However, it is about a very anxious individual fearing that their girlfriend/boyfriend could die when they're not around. This significant other then breaks up with them over the phone. There is perhaps darker connotations, but this is just my analysis.
"Disappearing Syndrome" has a dreamy opening that contrasts amazingly well with the rest of the song. It is about the mysterious death of Elisa Lam in the Hotel Cecil, and perhaps takes some lyrical inspiration from The Shining. It's one of my favorite songs on the album, and, admittedly, it's mostly because of the subject matter. Donovan Melero's vocals on this song are at their best in my opinion.
"Missed Injections" is the most under-appreciated track on the album. Every review either skips over this song or calls it the most disappointing track on the album. I disagree. The song is a powerful and introspective look at addiction, specifically addiction with someone who supports your addiction. The lyrics are simple but effective and the breakdowns are emotional, especially at the end with the lyrics "still we pretend that our lives do not consist of chasing shit that helps us cope with how we see ourselves. Everything we say is a lie we actually believe." It commands an emotional response and it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it, which is what I like in my music.
"Hanging Revelations" is a social commentary that uses the Salem witch trials as a metaphor for religious and social persecution like Arthur Miller's "The Crucible." It's pretty much required to write a song about the Salem witch trials if you're a socially conscious band. "Jane Doe" is about someone who was murdered being forgotten by society and eventually by her family. The story is told with somber music in the background, making it kind of sound like a wake for someone that has been forgotten.
The album closes with "Anti-Eulogy." It's about a person who has had someone close to them die, but the person is glad that they're dead. For each song I imagine someone giving a eulogy, and this one is the most angry yet relatable. You don't typically speak ill of the dead, but there are a few people I would feel this way about. It's a good song that honestly deserves a few more listens from me, because every time I hear it I find something new.
Overall, this album is one of the best post-hardcore records, it even far outdoes the recent releases from Dance Gavin Dance, widely considered to be the best band of the genre. This album cements Hail The Sun's status as one of the best bands of our time, and will likely be remembered in a few years as a crowning achievement in the genre of post-hardcore punk. Keep an eye out of my blog for the next installment of Jacob Mitchell: Iconoclast.
Rate: 18/24
"Human Target Practice" talks about police brutality, perhaps specifically the Eric Garner case, and calls out the sadistic aspects of the police force. It's a very strong song that definitely affects the listener whether they like it or not. I'm not sure what news story "Black Serotonin" comes from, but it speaks of the hypocrisy of the media that advocates compassion yet perpetuates false information negatively affecting society. The song itself has a great structure, and really exemplifies the progressive aspect of Hail The Sun's progressive post-hardcore sound.
"Mourning Sickness" isn't that unique in my opinion, and is made weaker by the two amazing songs both before and after this song. That said, it's not bad, and it is about a dead person seeing their family grieve over the person. The music is very cookie-cutter compared to the rest of the album. The next song, however, combines my favorite aspects of Hail The Sun's music.
"Falling On Deaf Ears" talks about religion from a Hitchens-esque perspective. The one criticism I've heard from others about this song is that it doesn't really fit in the album, but I disagree. The narrator is an atheist or agnostic addressing the absence of God, the hypocrisy of religion, religion as a way for the greedy to make money, and the idea of eternal damnation. That last part and the follow-up song are why "Falling On Deaf Ears" belongs on Wake.
"Cosmic Narcissism" is perhaps one of the most cynical songs I've ever heard, but that doesn't really mean that it isn't wrong. It is kind've a lyrical sister to "Falling On Deaf Ears," and is from the perspective of a man whose significant other treated him poorly. It is a stark look at the mind of a person who has realized that their life and struggles are meaningless. It is one of the songs on the album that I really relate to, but I wish I didn't.
"Relax/Divide" is a really morbid love song that is disguised as a cheery love song. Honestly, I could hear it being in a wedding slideshow, with nobody batting an eye at the lyrics, much like how people really like that Third Eye Blind song. However, it is about a very anxious individual fearing that their girlfriend/boyfriend could die when they're not around. This significant other then breaks up with them over the phone. There is perhaps darker connotations, but this is just my analysis.
"Disappearing Syndrome" has a dreamy opening that contrasts amazingly well with the rest of the song. It is about the mysterious death of Elisa Lam in the Hotel Cecil, and perhaps takes some lyrical inspiration from The Shining. It's one of my favorite songs on the album, and, admittedly, it's mostly because of the subject matter. Donovan Melero's vocals on this song are at their best in my opinion.
"Missed Injections" is the most under-appreciated track on the album. Every review either skips over this song or calls it the most disappointing track on the album. I disagree. The song is a powerful and introspective look at addiction, specifically addiction with someone who supports your addiction. The lyrics are simple but effective and the breakdowns are emotional, especially at the end with the lyrics "still we pretend that our lives do not consist of chasing shit that helps us cope with how we see ourselves. Everything we say is a lie we actually believe." It commands an emotional response and it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it, which is what I like in my music.
"Hanging Revelations" is a social commentary that uses the Salem witch trials as a metaphor for religious and social persecution like Arthur Miller's "The Crucible." It's pretty much required to write a song about the Salem witch trials if you're a socially conscious band. "Jane Doe" is about someone who was murdered being forgotten by society and eventually by her family. The story is told with somber music in the background, making it kind of sound like a wake for someone that has been forgotten.
The album closes with "Anti-Eulogy." It's about a person who has had someone close to them die, but the person is glad that they're dead. For each song I imagine someone giving a eulogy, and this one is the most angry yet relatable. You don't typically speak ill of the dead, but there are a few people I would feel this way about. It's a good song that honestly deserves a few more listens from me, because every time I hear it I find something new.
Overall, this album is one of the best post-hardcore records, it even far outdoes the recent releases from Dance Gavin Dance, widely considered to be the best band of the genre. This album cements Hail The Sun's status as one of the best bands of our time, and will likely be remembered in a few years as a crowning achievement in the genre of post-hardcore punk. Keep an eye out of my blog for the next installment of Jacob Mitchell: Iconoclast.
Rate: 18/24
