[Intro- Synthesizers looping a vocal chop that sounds like a choir boy choking. Massive, fuzzy shoegaze guitars slide in.]
[Verse 1- Bass-driven groove. Vocals are half-sung, half-whispered, very dry and close]
I’m coughing up the butterflies
They died inside my stomach long ago
Now I’m just a hollow shell, a horror show
Waiting for the credits to roll.
You’ve got a Jesus complex and a heart of glass
I’m just a snake in the garden, hiding in the grass
Inject the venom, make it last
We’re driving ninety in a car that’s running out of gas.
[Pre-Chorus-Atmosphere expands. Guitars shimmer. Vocals get higher, strained]
Oh God, I think I malfunctioned
My serotonin is on strike again
So drag me through the dirt
Tell me where it hurts!
[Chorus- Huge, anthemic Wall-of-Sound. A melody you can cry and dance to]
So halo my head with the chemical dread!
I’m better off lonely, I’m better off dead!
We’re dancing at a funeral, raining on the parade
Digging up the skeletons of promises we made!
Don’t try to save me, ‘cause I don’t want to be saved!
We’re just raving to the grave!
Yeah, we’re raving to the grave!
[Verse 2- Shoegaze texture. Guitars are wobbly and chorus-heavy. Vocals are distant and reverb-drenched]
Static in the bloodstream
Pixelated love dream
Glitch me out until I can’t feel a thing.
I’m the king of the castle, king of the dust
Choking on the ashes of our mutual trust
Did you think that this was love?
[Laughs]
Honey, it’s just a rush.
[Bridge- Music drops to a minimal electronic beat. Very pop-inspired]
Tell all your friends that I’m a tragedy.
Tell all your friends that I’m the enemy.
I’m not the hero in your comic book
I’m just the monster on the hook.
[Whisper]
One... two... three... GO!
[The Breakdown- Sudden, jarring, mid-range scream. Bouncy, Nu-Metal inspired riff that makes you want to jump]
GET! OUT! OF! MY! HEAD!
[BOUNCY RIFF - PITCH SHIFTED]
THIS ISN'T A CHURCH!
THIS IS A CULT!
AND IT’S ALL! YOUR! FAULT!
[HEAVY CHUG]
SPIRIT!
SPIRIT!
LET’S HEAR IT!
[DISSONANT SQUEAL]
I’M A LOST CAUSE WITH A GOD COMPLEX!
[Verse 3- The heavy distortion cuts abruptly. A massive, gothic choir fades in—hundreds of voices harmonizing in a minor key. The drums play a slow, cinematic "war drum" beat. The lead vocals are raw]
[Choir: Ahhh-Ohhh-Ahhh-Ohhh
So light a candle for the kids in the dark!
We’re building cathedrals out of stolen sparks!
The pews are empty but the voices are loud
We’re screaming our lungs out at a mushroom cloud!
[Choir: SANCTUS! SANCTUS!]
I’m cutting the brakes, I’m cutting the ties
I found a religion in your hollow eyes!
[Chorus- Explosion of sound again. Even bigger than before]
So halo my head with the chemical dread!
I’m better off lonely, I’m better off dead!
We’re dancing at a funeral, raining on the parade
Digging up the skeletons of promises we made!
Don’t try to save me, ‘cause I don’t want to be saved!
We’re just raving to the grave!
[Long instrumental break]
YEAH!
YEAHHHH!
Yeah...
Atlantica
