While anthems are meant to be uplifting, it's good to have listening options when you're in the mood to break stuff or songs to listen to when you're mad at the world, and while there are plenty of songs that fit the bill, this appears to be more of an anthem for those feeling "Anti-Eveything" with just enough aggression for some vicarious catharsis, and a chorus to give you that extra bite you might need to avoid becoming a snack.
Yes, I am aware of the similarities between Jonathan Davis and lead vocalist Joe Cotella, including the ferocity and passion, especially in the days of Korn yore. The Serenity of Suffering is a jarring concept, but the album was surprising, or merely cyclical; the band has been effective in shifting and switching up its sound the last decade and a half.
This subgenre and its unfortunate negative connotations wouldn't be the same without its fair share of songs concerning a funeral of feelings for someone, like "Dead to Me," or a declaration of detestation, where to "Disassociate" from that source of that hatred will be the healthiest of options before you reach the end of your toleration rope; which still exists in the latter.
You can "Hate Me" for saying that differentiation between tunes can be difficult at times, but detecting that passion is not at the same level. The childlike catchiness of the chorus and defiance of the sheeple mentality stand out in the latter.
Add unrequited love to the mix; the treacherous, frayed sanity, recurring torment and self-loathing variety with a "less is more" mentality when it comes to the vocabulary, but who needs verbosity when there is elegance in simplicity.
"I Exist" whether your hate does not, and again, this can serve as a different classification of anthem, but one that can still uplift, isn't that a twist? That sinking feeling, it urges you to resist. Its probably another one of my favorites.
As difficult as it can be for some who have yet to believe, the value of beauty is worth more if it's on the inside than what you can see. It stands out, not only for its lack of aggression, but for its tone and delivery ; previously we have heard the vocal protagonist at his most defiant and self-assured, yet now that confidence has shifted to the pessimistic and engaged in that self loathing that tends to arise in times of an identity crisis, or when mistakes and wrong choices can be confused with vices, or when we compare our achievements and skills to those of others' and believe we're better or worse. That in spite of our personal scars we can be still be "Beautiful" as long as that hate does not cement and contort our hearts.
As difficult as it can be for some who have yet to believe, the value of beauty is worth more if it's on the inside than what you can see. It stands out, not only for its lack of aggression, but for its tone and delivery ; previously we have heard the vocal protagonist at his most defiant and self-assured, yet now that confidence has shifted to the pessimistic and engaged in that self loathing that tends to arise in times of an identity crisis, or when mistakes and wrong choices can be confused with vices, or when we compare our achievements and skills to those of others' and believe we're better or worse. That in spite of our personal scars we can be still be "Beautiful" as long as that hate does not cement and contort our hearts.
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