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Graffiti Renaissance

by Freak Flag

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1.
Intro (free) 00:49
There's always a battle...
2.
ABRILL Our words are scratches on the bathroom stall, A silent call, retell the stories over the firewall! We give in to the infrastructure forced so we’re fed, We’re bled, our diamonds taken and held over our head. And in the shadows of the red light, we dwell amongst the landfills, Settle for the scraps, and swallow the hard pill. Backed into the corner and left with no choice, They ripped our vocal chords out, now this can is our voice! DAMI Commercial poets compromise, Commercial puppets patronize! (HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!) Commercial poets compromise, Commercial puppets patronize! BROADCAST YOUR TAG WHERE THE CORPORATE EMBLEM STANDS! BROADCAST YOUR TAG WHERE THE CORPORATE EMBLEM STANDS! SPIT IN THE FACE OF THE ELITIST DEMANDS! BROADCAST YOUR TAG WHERE THE CORPORATE EMBLEM STANDS! DAMI Burn down the barrier, Burn down the barrier, Burn down the barrier, Burn down the barrier, Burn down the barrier, Burn down the barrier, Burn down the barrier, Burn down the barrier! ABRILL AND DAMI BURN DOWN THE BARRIER! BURN DOWN THE BARRIER! BURN DOWN THE BARRIER! BURN DOWN THE BARRIER! BURN DOWN THE BARRIER! BURN DOWN THE BARRIER! BURN DOWN THE BARRIER! BURN DOWN THE BARRIER! DAMI Commercial poets compromise, Commercial puppets patronize! (HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!) Commercial poets compromise, Commercial puppets patronize! BROADCAST YOUR TAG WHERE THE CORPORATE EMBLEM STANDS! BROADCAST YOUR TAG WHERE THE CORPORATE EMBLEM STANDS! SPIT IN THE FACE OF THE ELITIST DEMANDS! BROADCAST YOUR TAG WHERE THE CORPORATE EMBLEM STANDS!
3.
Love is lost, but you don’t understand, So you keep propagating your fantasyland. Take advantage of her loyalty as long as you can, Forever a boy and never a man! Creating more enemies than you can fight, Then turn around and blame her for your plight. A Neanderthal with self-inflicted scars, What you want to do will get you behind bars! You’re fat and delusional! Fat and Delusional! You’re fat and delusional! Fat and Delusional! Intentionally drowning in your lies, You can’t win, by poking out your eyes. I see past your tough disguise, And your terrorism won’t work this time! You could’ve left a positive reflection, But now you’re just a loud infection. Because you refuse to have peace of mind, Congratulations, you’re now a punch line! You’re fat and delusional! Fat and Delusional! You’re fat and delusional! Fat and Delusional! You’re fat and delusional! Fat and Delusional! You’re fat and delusional! Fat and Delusional!
4.
l was brought into the land of impossible ideals, Born an alien with no rights, and I can’t afford to feel! Pour my heart out, you laugh at the blood and ridicule my art Give me everything you love, and I’ll tear it apart! Shells of humanity, You roaches spawned of apathy! Shells of humanity, Count the shells, drop to your knees! Black sheep in a flock of morons, Anomaly in flames! Leave my mark in history, And you all will know my name! Idiot empire, blind them all, Keep ‘em stupid, in free fall, Idiot empire, now you win, Until I judge you for your sins! Shells of humanity, You roaches spawned of apathy! Shells of humanity, Count the shells, drop to your knees! Black sheep in a flock of morons, Anomaly in flames! Leave my mark in history, And you all will know my name! I will never fit, I will never quit, I will never fit, I will never quit, The world needs to be wasted, The worms need to be wasted, The world needs to be wasted, The worms need to be wasted, THE WORLD NEEDS TO BE WASTED! THE WORMS NEED TO BE WASTED! THE WORLD NEEDS TO BE WASTED! THE WORMS NEED TO BE WASTED! THE WORLD NEEDS TO BE WASTED! THE WORMS NEED TO BE WASTED! THE WORLD NEEDS TO BE WASTED! THE WORMS NEED TO BE WASTED!
5.
Pickless 02:56
Touch the cheek, wake her up for the trip home, Touch the arm, kiss her lips goodbye. Leave behind the dream, return to stark reality. See the world through Duality's eye. Drive ahead, rejoin the machination. Suppress the desire for now. Red dyed locks flowing through the fantasy. Predictions wrong! Absence necessary Disconnect, to connect The love that you carry Disconnect, to connect Poetry on a cell phone Disconnect, to connect Soon you will feel at home Disconnect, to connect Absence necessary Disconnect, to connect The love that you carry Disconnect, to connect Poetry on a cell phone Disconnect, to connect Soon you'll be home! Disconnect! Self-images reshaped and broken Satin covered skin, a heavenly sin Push forward, stand tall and stay strong Rehydrate the power within. History threatens to repeat Scars reopened and stitched. Wash her clean, bathe away the dead weight. She is all herself! Absence necessary Disconnect, to connect The love that you carry Disconnect, to connect Poetry on a cell phone Disconnect, to connect Soon you will feel at home Disconnect, to connect Absence necessary Disconnect, to connect The love that you carry Disconnect, to connect Poetry on a cell phone Disconnect, to connect Soon you'll be home! Disconnect! Self-images reshaped and broken Satin covered skin, a heavenly sin Push forward, stand tall and stay strong Rehydrate the power within. Drive ahead, rejoin the machination. Suppress the desire for now. Red dyed locks flowing through the fantasy. Predictions wrong! Absence necessary Disconnect, to connect The love that you carry Disconnect, to connect Poetry on a cell phone Disconnect, to connect Soon you will feel at home Disconnect, to connect Absence necessary Disconnect, to connect The love that you carry Disconnect, to connect Poetry on a cell phone Disconnect, to connect Soon you'll be home! Disconnect!
6.
On The Fence 03:05
Don't know what to do anymore, Either path is dark, I'm breaking all my promises, The blood oaths torn apart! Beliefs are starting to change and My allies turn their back. No matter what I do, I will face an attack! Foundations shaken, Can't rise against, I used to be sure, but now, I'm on the fence, I'M ON THE FENCE! I'M ON THE FENCE! I'M ON THE FENCE! Everywhere I go, there is a consequence! The sturdy house came crumbling down, I'M ON THE FENCE! Where should I go and how will this end? When will I seize my position again? Foundations shaken, Can't rise against, I used to be sure, but now, I'm on the fence, I'M ON THE FENCE! I'M ON THE FENCE! I'M ON THE FENCE! Foundations shaken, Can't rise against, I used to be sure, but now, I'm on the fence, I'M ON THE FENCE! Don't know what to do anymore, Either path is dark, I'm breaking all my promises, The blood oaths torn apart! Beliefs are starting to change and My allies turn their back. No matter what I do, I will face an attack! Everywhere I go, there is a consequence! The sturdy house came crumbling down, I'M ON THE FENCE! Where should I go and how will this end? When will I seize my position again? Foundations shaken, Can't rise against, I used to be sure, but now, I'm on the fence, I'M ON THE FENCE! I'M ON THE FENCE! I'M ON THE FENCE! Foundations shaken, Can't rise against, I used to be sure, but now, I'm on the fence, I'M ON THE FENCE!
7.
Plant your seed, but don’t expect it to grow, Where your dreams are pummeled by the undertow, The sacred structure keeps the city alive, But you have to be its slave just to survive! Sacrifice your will on the alter of Bread, The rich stay rich while the poor lay dead, You have no choice but to become listless, And condescension rules with an iron fist! I hear the call, (DAMI: I HEAR THE CALL!) The call to my exile, Charlotte is vile, I’m not welcome home! Too much to risk for destiny, When I can’t see the steps to where I wanna be, So I keep on taking this dead end road, Every day I die with the redundant load! (AH) I can’t see the end, (AH) I can’t see the end, There’s gotta be, There’s gotta be an end! I hear the call, (DAMI: I HEAR THE CALL!) The call to my exile, Charlotte is vile, I’m not welcome home! I can see, I can see the lies, I can see the lies behind her smile, I can see, I can see the lies, I can see the lies behind her smile, I can see, I can see the lies, I can see the lies behind her smile, I can see, I can see the lies, I can see the lies behind her smile! I can see the lies behind her smile, Charlotte, Charlotte is vile! I can see the lies behind her smile, Charlotte, Charlotte is vile! I can see the lies behind her smile, Charlotte, Charlotte is vile! I can see the lies behind her smile, Charlotte, Charlotte is vile! I hear the call, (DAMI: I HEAR THE CALL!) The call to my exile, Charlotte is vile, I’m not welcome home! I hear the call, (DAMI: I HEAR THE CALL!) The call to my exile, Charlotte is vile, I’m not welcome home! I’m never welcome home!
8.
9.
These structures long existent, These structures long persistent, These structures bitter cry These structures now will die!! I AM GONNA BOMB THE WALLS! YOUR REGIME IS GONNA FALL! I AM GONNA BOMB THE WALLS! YOUR REGIME IS GONNA FALL! Crawl through the cultural wasteland, Drink some concocted media poison. Transplanted tainted eyes, Suspicious prescriptions and lies! These structures long existent, These structures long persistent, These structures bitter cry These structures now will die!! I AM GONNA BOMB THE WALLS! YOUR REGIME IS GONNA FALL! I AM GONNA BOMB THE WALLS! YOUR REGIME IS GONNA FALL! The blind sheep under one logo, No one leads but you follow. This war unending swallows, Drowning damnation gallows! Patriot of my own nation, Heart of the Reject Nation! The foundation will be laid, Unleash my Spray Paint Grenade! (Guitar Solo) Crawl through the cultural wasteland, Drink some concocted media poison. Transplanted tainted eyes, Suspicious prescriptions and lies! These structures long existent, These structures long persistent, These structures bitter cry These structures now will die!! I AM GONNA BOMB THE WALLS! YOUR REGIME IS GONNA FALL! I AM GONNA BOMB THE WALLS! YOUR REGIME IS GONNA FALL! The blind sheep under one logo, No one leads but you follow. This war unending swallows, Drowning damnation gallows! Patriot of my own nation, Heart of the Reject Nation! The foundation will be laid, Unleash my Spray Paint Grenade!
10.
Two Rings 02:08
Poised for burning memories, it’s plain to see I’ve failed, Pack your bags, remember to exhale, He says, “I only make you suffer because I care.” Don’t go wrapping my heart in your chains, Make a promise than break it with ease, “I only make you suffer because I care.” Can’t sleep alone these days in the house that we built, I stare at the shadow on the side of the bed Where you used to reside… …Well, I can’t cope! WELL I CAN’T COPE! IT FALLS APART! (I fall apart!!) IT FALLS APART! (you fall apart!!) IT FALLS APART! (we fall apart!!) IT FALLS APART!! In better days, I got by on TV and pipe dreams, The story of two rings, He says, “I only make you suffer because I care.” Two rings inscribed with “real love is forever”, The words fade, they rust and they break, Everything good dies in its own way, You only suffer in this world because you care! IT FALLS APART! (I fall apart!!) IT FALLS APART! (you fall apart!!) IT FALLS APART! (we fall apart!!) IT FALLS APART!! Don’t go wrapping my heart in your chains, (It falls apart! I fall apart!! You fall apart!! We fall part!!) Make a promise than break it with ease, “I only make you suffer BECAUSE I CARE!”
11.
burn down the barrier stupidity wins again We burned down the barrier but they rebuilt it and setfire to our FLAG BLACK TOWER CONSUMES THE SKY IGNORANT SLAVES FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES our historic tag is now a corporate ad BLEED for the shackles "They own the subculture too." every rebellion fails EVERY REBELLION FAILS!!! every rebellion fails EVERY REBELLION FAILS!!! every rebellion fails EVERY REBELLION FAILS!!! every rebellion fails EVERY REBELLION FAILS!!! every rebellion fails EVERY REBELLION FAILS!!! every rebellion fails EVERY REBELLION FAILS!!! every rebellion fails EVERY REBELLION FAILS!!!
12.
Flowers buried in snow, We were walking through a forest, I could tell you dying is an art, Or how I steal your face. The end it seems is always a breath away, Won’t you take my hand in yours? (Dami and Abrill): HE LIVES RIGHT THROUGH ME IN SHADES OF DEPRESSION, IN HOLES IN HEADS AND PERIPHERAL VISION! The eye of the apple, The fruit of confusion, A red face howls – false resurrection, Prayers to stay off disaster, But I’m waiting for that tower card to drop, Spindly fingers and a Halloween mask, Pried the casket open wide, Lay us down in morbid reunion, I can’t keep this smile off my face, (Dami and Abrill): HE LIVES RIGHT THROUGH ME IN SHADES OF DEPRESSION, IN HOLES IN HEADS AND PERIPHERAL VISION! Ghost of love, what I look so hard for, but cannot find in me!
13.
This holocaust began before I arrived, Disease stricken romance, daily suicides. The bombs were dropped, the country unkind, Her historic turmoil replayed in new minds. Homeland attacks came and drew me in, Vows made to cross paths and defend. Search for the foes, vengeance unquenched, Fates intertwined until they both end. There’s always a war, She constantly doubts What she’s fighting for. There’s always a war, She constantly doubts What she’s fighting for. Question my motives, question my policies, The enemies, the aftermath, chemical warfare brainwashing! The soldier’s kiss can only heal the surface, Deploy more troops until her eyes can see freedom’s purpose! Sudden alliances drawn into the conflict, Surefire roll of the dice, sanguine sacrifice, Her burdens plea for aid, Destroy the prisons in her head!
14.
Guiding light that can't be seen, I want the end, but don't know the means. Take the slate and wipe it clean, Before they bury me alive. Tree in a forest of decay, Soon we'll all be torn away, I cannot stay so feed my roots. I left the soil to rejoin you. In the middle of the demon's den, Can't tell a loss from a win! Reseal the oath that was broken In the middle of the demon's den, Lions are businessmen! Philosophy that was stolen In the middle of the demon's den, Can't tell a loss from a win! Reseal the oath that was broken In the middle of the demon's den, Lions are businessmen! The prophesy you poked holes in The douse all our burning passions, And regret follows every action! Why can I no longer see, When my fantasies were reality? I cannot stay so feed my roots. I left the soil to rejoin you. In the middle of the demon's den, Can't tell a loss from a win! Reseal the oath that was broken In the middle of the demon's den, Lions are businessmen! Philosophy that was stolen In the middle of the demon's den, Can't tell a loss from a win! Reseal the oath that was broken In the middle of the demon's den, Lions are businessmen! The prophesy you poked holes in This is my place and I'm not leaving! ESCAPE! and rise to purpose.... This is my place and I'm not leaving! ESCAPE! and rise to purpose.... In the middle of the demon's den, Can't tell a loss from a win! Reseal the oath that was broken In the middle of the demon's den, Lions are businessmen! Philosophy that was stolen In the middle of the demon's den, Can't tell a loss from a win! Reseal the oath that was broken In the middle of the demon's den, Lions are businessmen! The prophesy you poked holes inIn the middle of the demon's den, Can't tell a loss from a win! Reseal the oath that was broken In the middle of the demon's den, Lions are businessmen! Philosophy that was stolen In the middle of the demon's den, Can't tell a loss from a win! Reseal the oath that was broken In the middle of the demon's den, Reseal the oath that I've broken
15.

about

“We came to bring a war.”

Freak Flag began in 2008 when Charlottesville, VA resident / indie filmmaker / strange bastard Abrill Macbeth decided to create some old-school punk rock to counter-balance the folky hippie fodder of his hometown. “Our goal, if nothing else, is to make a little bit of noise, cause a little bit of chaos, maybe even inspire people to follow in our footsteps…bring a little more rock to Charlottesville,” says Macbeth. “REAL rock. Not the watered-down, radio-friendly, bull crap rock.”

Long-time friend / guitar shredder / nightly unabomber Hunter Crossfire joined Macbeth, and together, their first batch of songs became the Rejects Unite EP. But it wasn’t until the duo found local drummer / Wisconsin-born UVA boy / Magic gamer Shaver, and Goth punk / music phile / David Bowie worshipper Dami Maddoc that the band’s chemistry was complete. The combined creative output of the four, along with the best songs from Rejects Unite, became the group’s debut full-length, Graffiti Renaissance.

“I wanna make people think,” says Maddoc, co-lead singer and co-bassist. “I wanna wake them up from their stupor.”

The band’s desire to wake people up is evident in the more aggressive material off of Renaissance, such as the title track “Graffiti Renaissance Part 1” and “Anthem of a School Shooter”. “Charlotte Is Vile”, an obvious pun on the name of the band’s stomping grounds, serves as a hymn for anyone feeling disenfranchised and alienated by the city. “Suspicious Prescriptions” is a forceful poem delivered almost like a rap-rock version of Henry Rollins, expressing the ubiquitous punk theme of dissatisfaction with the status quo.

But the subject matter on the album isn’t all about revolution and punk angst. Both Maddoc and Macbeth explore personal subjects as well. Each penned songs inspired by relationship turmoil (Maddoc’s “Two Rings”, and Macbeth’s “The Crimson Muse Conflict”) and relationship whimsy (Macbeth’s “Pickless” and Maddoc’s “Red Face Howls”).

As a complete package, Renaissance is a diverse collection of songs that reveals Freak Flag’s desire to stretch their songwriting muscles as wide as possible. “We never want to get locked into sounding like one thing,” says Macbeth. “We don’t want all of our songs to sound the same.”

“The band started off as a punk band, and we still carry a lot of the punk roots,” Maddoc continues. “We love T.S.O.L., Minor Threat, and The Germs are a huge influence. But the band also has separate influences. Abrill’s very into metalcore and screamy stuff. I have a fond love for Goth music. Rozz Williams, Bauhaus…all that stuff. David Bowie is my god, though.”

Essentially, a punk band with this wide a range of influences equals one with no rules…which was the point of punk rock when it first began, before there was an unwritten rulebook of what is and isn’t punk.

“We list ourselves as punk because we have the mindset of anyone could do it, and also the open-mindedness. You look at bands like Public Image Limited, The Clash, The Damned…those are the bands that survived. And the reason they survived is because they got outside the three chord thing that The Ramones and The Misfits did.”

A nod to the three-chord style is still made in the form of “Fat and Delusional”, a Minor Threat-esque, minute and thirty second rant from Macbeth directed toward the jealous ex of his girlfriend.

On the other side of the spectrum is the experimental, scream-laden “Graffiti Renaissance Part 2”, a sequel to the fists-in-the-air first part with a tragic conclusion. Macbeth and Maddoc repeatedly belt, “Every rebellion fails!” over a blast of drums and distorted bass, which recalls memories of old Killing Joke tracks.

At the end of the disc is a search for meaning and truth in the form of “Rage Against The Dying Of The Light”, a track that takes its title from the Dylan Thomas poem. While Freak Flag’s name is a statement of how proud they are to be different, “Rage” expresses a sentiment anyone with a pulse should be able to relate to. “Guiding light that can’t be seen / I want the end but don’t know the means,” Macbeth croons at the song’s open, reaching out for a lost sense of purpose. But by the song’s conclusion, it sounds as if Macbeth and Maddoc know where they want, and indeed need, to be. “Escape and rise to purpose,” Maddoc whispers as Macbeth states, “This is my place, and I’m not leaving.”

Indeed, Freak Flag have no intentions of deviating from the course they have set for themselves. As they set out to find their fan base and establish themselves in a local (and possibly national) music scene lacking anything close to their sound, they will do so never losing sight of why they came in the first place.

“We came to bring a war.”

credits

released March 30, 2009

Freak Flag is:
Abrill Macbeth - mediocre monotone singer / screamer / bass commander
Dami Maddoc - snotty punk with a goth complex / bass lieutenant
Shaver - bang that shit, drummer boy!!
Hunter Crossfire - guitar shredder by day, unibomber by night / a little bit of
every other instrument when needed. He’s a fucking machine!

Produced and Engineered by David Dillehunt
Recorded at Untouchable Studios, Charlottesville, Virginia
Mixed by David Dillehunt
Mastered by Channel Fuse Media

All songs written and performed by Freak Flag
All lyrics by Abrill Macbeth and Dami Maddoc
Art Direction and Design by Abrill Macbeth
Songs and sporadic moments of insanity are trademarked!
If you steal our stuff, we WILL find you!

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