•
Rating:
"From The Ashes" is an album that, while remaining in its usual HC-Pennywise style, manages to unleash great emotions and lots of melody, thanks to Fletcher's gritty riffs and the usual rhythmic speed of the statuesque Byron, proving that it can still contribute significantly to the now faded worldwide punk scene. The lyrics are marked by the tragic events of September 11th, which shook American civilian life, tying back to the socio-political themes of the previous "Land Of The Free" and the passing of Fletcher's father.
It becomes clear from the very first track "Now I Know", punctuated by the usual infernal drumming accompanying Lindberg's energetic voice, that we're dealing with a truly well-crafted record. It is followed by the exhilarating triptych of "God Save The USA", a protest against the American government, "Something To Change", and "Waiting", with choruses that have a strong impact. After "Salvation" comes the beautiful "Look Who You Are", prompting us to discover our personality within our shattered society. The good momentum continues with "Falling Down", characterized by a forceful intro that paves the way for a classic HC ride, followed by "Holiday In The Sun", very fast with a beautiful solo, and "This Is Only A Test", which, besides being very beautiful, is also the band's first-ever song to use an acoustic guitar. With "Punch Drunk" and "Rise Up", they return to the old and powerful sounds, then move to the slow but still intense "Yesterdays", one of the best tracks, characterized by Lindberg's poignant vocal line. The last two tracks "Change My Mind" and "Judgement Day" are also anthems of protest and resentment towards American politics and the greater interaction of the masses with it.
Unlike the latest efforts, in this new chapter, the band has managed to compose numerous songs that never tire of being listened to; indeed, it's really hard to find even a slight falter in its overall 40 minutes. Ultimately, this album can be considered a welcome and unexpected surprise because although it has a form and sound that has become typical for this band— a sound that, after all, is their actual strong point—it perhaps represents the pinnacle of maturity from a technical/musical perspective and in terms of lyric composition, continuing positively the glimpse of semi-evolution that began with "Straight Ahead".
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 God Save the USA (03:07)
God you must be kidding me, thought this was supposed to be
The home of the brave and the free for you and me
But now there's something wrong - shit's been going on too long.
It's never gonna change, there's no way i say.
What's the CIA and the NRA?
They're all the same - just the names are changed.
Fuck - there's no excuse - any way you lose.
It's all a joke in the good old USA.
All we need is more factories pumping filth into the sky.
Corporate greed and perverted priests, it's the story of our lives.
And apathy's the national disease and there is no end in sight.
God save the USA - blame the president and say your prayers tonight.
The irony of liberty is no one here is truly free
When elections are stolen bij the G.O.P.
So watch the nightly news - find out how you are getting screwed.
What you gonna do? - there's no use i say
Fuck the industry - the aristocracy
Fuck they're all the same - just the names are changed.
Fuck ther's no excuse, any way you lose.
It's all a joke in the good old USA.
All we need is more factories pumping filth into the sky.
Corporate greed and perverted priests, it's the story of our lives.
And apathy's the national disease and there is no end in sight.
God save the USA - blame the president and say your prayers tonight.
Government hypocricy - American Idolatry - Corporate philosophy.
Nightly news of tragedies - Where no one cares what's right or wrong
Our heroes now are all long gone - The freedoms that we all abuse
The obituaries front page news
All we need is more factories pumping filth into the sky.
Corporate greed and perverted priests, it's the story of our lives.
And apathy's the national disease and there is no end in sight.
God save the USA - blame the president and say your prayers tonight.
03 Something to Change (02:41)
Another boring day just fades away a cycle that's never gonna change
Another casualty of humanity awash in my own stupidty
It's like I don't want to try
There's no reason why a cyborg that's waiting around to die
Got nothing left to prove I got no excuse a wasteoid with nothing left to lose
I'm waiting for my own salvation I got to get out - there's no time to waste
Cause I need something to change
Something to break
Some way to get away
Cause I need something to change
Something to break
Some way to get away from you
A never-ending game always the same forever spent waiting for the day
I know there's gotta be some place for me where I can escape this misery
The more and more I try it just seems that I get further from what I want in life
There's nothing I can do I got no excuse a reject who hasn't got a clue
I'm waiting for my own salvation I got to get out there's not time to waste
Cause I need something to change
Something to break
Some way to get away
Cause I need something to change
Something to break
Some way to get away from you
I need something to change
Something to break
Some way to get away
Cause I need something to change
Something to break
Some way to get away
Cause I need something to change
Something to break
Some way to get away
Cause I need something to do
Something to prove
Some way to get away you
04 Waiting (02:59)
Waiting is here
Everything in my mind is clear
Never going back to a world that sings
Never going back, never fade away
Everything's broke
Gotta get back to a place i know
Never going back to a world that sings
Never going back, never fade away
Never Fade AWAY....
Waiting!
Hoping for a getaway
Try to get home
Try to find a way inside
Waiting!
Looking for another way
Try to get home
Try to find a way inside
Waiting!
Everything changed
Life i know been re-arranged
Cant wait to make this a memory
Remebering what cant never be
Yesterdays gone
Todays the only thing i can count on
Future is the only hope for me
But until then i'll always be
I'll always be.....
Waiting!
Hoping for a getaway
Try to get home
Try to find a way inside
Waiting!
Looking for another way
Try to get home
Try to find a way inside
Good looking out this time
Waiting!
Waiting!
Hoping for a getaway
Try to get home
Try to find a way inside
Waiting!
Looking for another way
Try to get home
Try to find a way inside
Waiting!
Hoping for a getaway
Try to get home
Try to find a way inside
Good looking out this time
Waiting!
05 Salvation (02:42)
I want your salvation - we need some liberation
And I believe in history yeah
It's time to make a difference and its plain to see
I just want to live my life
Do you know what's wrong or right?
All we get is talk from you
Imagine a life without rules
I want your savlation - I need your creation
I don't want to die an abomination
Why can't you see - I got to be free
I'm never gonna stop being me
I want some indication and we need consideration
We're all the sum of humanity
How long will it take before you hear our pleas?
We just want to live our lives
Is there any hope in sight?
Can't you see our point of view?
How long can you hide from the truth?
What you want you might never get it
till you try -so reach and grab it
Live your life for no real reason
I can't believe all the things I'm seeing
Represent it stands to reason all your life I call it treason
So live your life for no real reason
I can't believe all the things I'm seeing
06 Look Who You Are (03:06)
I seek out the will
You didn't know till its too late till now
Divided by the things you could not see
The land of the free
There is no safe heaven now
Because you don't want to try
You don't want to die
You've got everything in life
But the answer's
Why you don't really know how it's gonna be
So pretend it'll be ok
Look who you are just a member of society
In a tragic harmony
Pretending it will be ok
Look who your are just a product of a history
Another face as nobody
Pretending it will be ok
Look who you are
A rat in a cage
Accept the things you can't deny, do you?
Recognize the lie you've become
Like everyone
You're afraid to face the truth
And now you can't get away
The fortune of fame
And the answers you seek all will slip away
You don't really care
You don't have a prayer
Your escape will be your grave
Look who you are just a member of society
In a tragic harmony
Pretending it will be ok
Look who your are just a product of a history
Another face says casualty
Pretending it will be ok
Look who you are
So you just give up
Yea you just give in
You gotta sleep in your dream at night
At the life that might have been
When you've had enough
How much can you take?
Just try to be yourself
Everything will be ok
It will never be ok
Look who you are just a member of society
In a tragic harmony
Pretending it will be ok
Look who your are just a product of a history
Another face as nobody
Pretending it will be ok
Look who you are
08 Holiday in the Sun (03:06)
How dose it feel to be one of those with your back against the wall
The wrong way down a one way street and your headed for a fall
You got no hope and no way to go and there's no one to call a friend
Your only prayer is that someone cares enough to helping hand
There's no way your not gonna see it
you better you better believe it
Lets leave this fun
It's a holiday in the sun
A life so serene for you not me
Yeah we got it all, no problems my friend
We're oblivious because it's us not them
Everyday in the USA its a life of luxury
Are we so blind not to satisfy to your each and every need
And we don't care about the world out there we just go about out our lives
So self absorbed we can just ignore the hate outside out eyes
There's no way your not gonna see it
you better you better believe it
Lets leave this fun
It's a holiday in the sun
A life so serene for you not me
Yeah we got it all, no problems my friend
We're oblivious because it's us not them
Isn't it nice when you have everything you need
Just before you close your eyes
It's nice for you and me, nice for you and me
Lets leave this fun
It's a holiday in the sun
A life so serene for you not me
Yeah we got it all, no problems my friend
We're oblivious because it's us not them
10 Punch Drunk (03:10)
Punch-drunk intoxification
There are jackals in power we feed on frustration
Sheer will you move it or lose it
There's power in numbers when we are gonna use it
Collateral damage with innocents' dying
The leaders are suspect man you don't know who's lying'
Don't know what 'caused it - it's so hard to swallow
They tell us what to think and they laugh as we follow
We all bleed - We all die
You don't believe it but it happens right before your eyes
It won't stop - Just give in
It's the new genocide - What a terrible sin
Function - diminishing value
They're draining the banks now but no one will tell you
Cut rates and tax breaks the bosses
They're crashing their stocks in - you're cutting your losses
Conspiracy theory - you think what you want to
If you don't believe it then they already got you
With human lives yeah their playing games now
11 Rise Up (02:47)
Well it's up to you what you really want to do - take time - to find a way
Focus on your vision you're on a secret mission ignore what the masses say
Well it's up to me what I really want to be and I'm still searching for the day
We got to fight we got to feel we got to know that this is real
If we're going to win this race
We gotta rise up open our eyes up
Take this vision and stop another casualty
You want it all for free then you'll get nothing
That's the way its gotta be
Well your point of view it belongs to you - no one - can take it away
Dare to envision hold on to your decision take control of each passing day
Well it's plain to see all the loss and tragedy you can watch the worlds slow decay
Or we can change our destiny our visions never gonna change
Well it's up to you what you really want to do - take time - to find a way
Focus on your vision you're on a secret mission ignore what the masses say
Life's not free yeah who you gonna be yeah another victim of society
But you don't listen - you're on a mission - searching for another way
We gotta rise up open our eyes up
Take this vision and stop another casualty
You want it all for free then you get nothing
That's the way its gotta be
12 Yesterdays (03:34)
Up from the ashes and over the hill
We knew more then than we ever will
Back when the days passed by so slow
And now we'll never know
That sence that tomorrow was far away
And our dreasm they will never fade
We never thought the good times could end
Can we go back to those days-When everything was simple then?
And nothing could ever change
Can we go back to those days-We didn't have a care at all
I wish i could remain- Back in Yesterday!
Pictures of another place and time
They seem like scense from a different life
We didn't notice as the days went past
We knew it couldn't last
But looking back I wouldn't change a thing
The memories shared they'll slaways stay with me
We never thought the good times would end
Can we go back to those days-When everything was simple then?
And nothing could ever change
Can we go back to those days- we didn't have a care at all
I wish i could remain- Back in Yesterday!
Can we go back to those days-When everything was simple then?
And nothing could ever change
Can we go back to those days- we didn't have a care at all
I wish i could remain- Back in Yesterday!
Back in yesterdays
Back in yesterdays
Back in yesterdays
Loading comments slowly
