Song Of The Week: 7/12/15

Song: "Taken By The Dark"

Artist: Hawthorne Heights

Album: "Zero"

Year: 2013

Place Of Origin: Dayton, Ohio

Years Active: 2001-present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Taken By The Dark" seems to be about an inner struggle with the vocalist between following a path which is unknown or not to. Leaving everything you know behind and starting over is a difficult and major decision. It's basically saying that everything in your life up to that point may have been a lie. It's a sobering thought, one that has affected the vocalist's mental stability. But, sometimes to find the light at the end of the tunnel, you have to travel through the dark in order to find it.

HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS' DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2004 - "The Silence In Black And White" (Victory Records)
2006 - "If Only You Were Lonely" (Victory Records)
2008 - "Fragile Future" (Victory Records)
2010 - "Skeletons" (Wind-Up Records)
2013 - "Zero" (Red Entertainment Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS:

Hawthorne Heights formed as a band back in 2001. Originally called A Day In The Life, the band put out 1 full length album and 1 EP under that moniker before changing their name to Hawthorne Heights. The band's debut album, 2004's "The Silence In Black And White" has achieved platinum status thanks in part to the hit singles "Ohio Is For Lovers" and "Niki FM". Their second album, 2006's "If Only You Were Lonely", was their highest charting album, reaching #3 on the Billboard 200 charts. That time period was the band's most successful as their next 3 albums as well as a few EP's failed to attain as much success as their first two albums. Tragedy befell the band in 2007 as rhythm guitarist and original member Casey Calvert passed away on the band's tour bus. The band would write tribute songs on behalf of their fallen friend such as "Four Become One" and "Bring You Back". Hawthorne Heights' sound is a contrast of styles all lumped into one. Sometimes they are post-hardcore, sometimes they are power pop, sometimes they are emo and sometimes they are just alternate rock. Their sound is similar to bands such as Armor For Sleep, Senses Fail and Taking Back Sunday, although Hawthorne Heights is a little darker than Taking Back Sunday. By 2015, the only original members remaining in the band are vocalist/guitarist JT Woodruff and bassist Matt Ridenour. Original drummer Eron Bucciarelli left the band in 2014 and original lead guitarist Micah Carli left in 2015. Despite the loss of those two members, Woodruff has stated as recently as February of 2015 that the band are in the process of recording new material for a future release.

TEN HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. New Winter
2. Nervous Breakdown
3. Bring You Back
4. Is This What You Wanted
5. Golden Parachutes
6. Ohio Is For Lovers
7. Niki FM
8. Rescue Me
9. Taken By The Dark
10. Saying Sorry