Hundreds of AU – Life in Parallel
Life In Parallel | Hundreds of AU
Two new songs previewing Life in Parallel, the fifth records from Hundreds of AU, are now available. The first glimpse into the lineup changes on vocals and bass I was waiting for. Everything they have put out, so far, has been quite entertaining and has cemented the band’s place into the yearly playlist rotation. How could it possibly go wrong?
The first of these two songs would be Wake Today. Wasting no time. Skipping no beat.
Wake Today
Feel dawn, wake today in a fascist state
Don’t cry, wake today where nothing remains
We must make today and never relinquish
No rest. Wake today. Live just to spite them
Die just to fight them
We can’t lay down
Or close our eyes
To all of the hate
Trapped in our lives
From when we were born
‘Til whenever we die
No sleep in a police state
The awakening into what appears to be a surprise suggests the narrator did not see the changes coming. Perhaps they were sudden and they happened overnight. Or maybe they were subtle and spread over time. Perplexity hinting towards consternation describe the setting. One’s waking up becomes a wake up call to others, as no time should be allowed to mourning. Similarly to when we were kids, sleeping over at our best friend’s place, going to bed anticipating the next day and saying ‘the first one that wakes up wakes the other.’ Only this time, it is not in a day of playing around outside that awaits the subjects. It is the attempt at rectifying the wrongs.
The expected efforts required illustrate the extent of the damage done, as the impossibility to give up or rest are introduced. Success in their enterprise is at stake. If fatigue or weakness should begin to be experienced, an element of motivation is recommended, which would be the idea of retribution towards those responsible. The conviction of fighting the good fight should provide with renewed energy, worse comes to worst.
Fascism, hatred, and a police state are identified as the problems. The solution is to act and refuse to stand for them. It will be a perpetual struggle to rid the place from them.
The second song would be Scorched Earth Harvest, lifting the foot from the gas pedal just a touch.
Scorched Earth Harvest
Raise you hand violent man (for your legion)
Holy Ghost in full demand (light a candle)
All your roads become diverged (when the blood spills)
All your loved ones are enemies (all your hate burns)
We will find salvation
If we run further from the pain
Turn fiction into fodder
Plant a flag in place of grain
Our new harvest starves our spirit
The combination of violence and legion brings to mind the Roman empire, and the idea of conquest, almost automatically. The request for the ‘violent man’ to raise their hand suggests they volunteer to be a part of the legion. The context, therefore, is not one of conscription. Could an argument be made as to the presence of sarcasm?
The image of the Holy Ghost and a strong sollicitation also evoke Romans, and is combined to prayer, through the candle. If they crucified its main character, they also invested a lot of ressources in establishing their Church.
As the saying goes, all roads lead to Rome. The price paid in blood reinforces the theme of conquest. However, the lines take a more editorialistic turn, as the truthfulness of the saying is questioned. The suggestion is made that the wars of conquest are the source for an empire losing its way. When the ‘loved ones are enemies’ is combined to a devastation caused by hatred, the narrator appears to imply an internal struggle. The empire has turned on itself.
The proposal is to adopt a more compassionate stance. Focus should be placed on building, rather than destroying. What good would claiming further geography if the population cannot sustain and thrive? Harvesting destruction and desolation may not be conducive to elevation.
Two songs that are indicative of the good things to come from the Hundreds of AU camp. The changes made in the lineup do not trigger any alarm. They will be in Montreal, at Turbo Haus, on July 18th. Do yourself a favor.
