"Waking the Demon" by Bullet For My Valentine-What's the story?

"Waking the Demon" by Bullet For My Valentine is all about revenge and karma. The video begins focusing on a teenager who is getting teased by another group of boys at school. As they mess with him, a girl watches, acting as if she is not impressed. After the boy is slammed into the lockers, he smirks and crosses off a day on a calendar. Bullet For My Valentine sings, "You've sealed your demise when you took what was mine." Obviously, they are suggesting that the boy will take revenge on those who are teasing him. However, what is Bullet For My Valentine referring to when they mention possession of something? This is later revealed in the video when the boy gets his revenge. Throughout the video, the boy continues to get harassed. Each day he marks off on his calendar, counting down the days. The girl who seemed uninterested at the beginning of the video is then shown, suggesting that perhaps she is that possession. This is suggested because Bullet For My Valentine sings, "Caution/ there's no limits to the boundaries you push/ I warned you but you still F*ck with my mind/ there's no escape from this rage that I feel/ nothing is real," while the girl kisses one of the boys that has been harassing the main character. When the bridge comes, the boy circles the 28 on his calendar, which is a full moon, suggesting that this is when he will get revenge. The bridge hints that something is going to happen, like he will lose control. As the song continues, the boy does get his revenge by turning into a werewolf on the 28 and killing the boy who teased him, which is suggested by the blood on his mouth, and also from the missing posters in the school. As the song concludes, the boy is teased by another, new antagonist who tries to impress the same girl. The girl is obviously the antagonist's girlfriend, however, it is hinted at that she is in conspiracy with the werewolf boy because they exchange a glance and he smirks. This video, overall, represents the way karma works. If one is treated badly by another, the other will eventually get treated badly in return.

"Undying" by Demon Hunter-What's with the empty casket?

Demon Hunter's "Undying" video is about where the members in the group will go after death. Demon Hunter is a Christian band, so they share their Christian perspective. The video opens with people assembling in a church for a funeral. As this is occurring, Demon Hunter sings about the choice they have made in their life about where they want to be after death. They each want more than just becoming part of the soil ("Cause when I made the choice to live beyond the dirt we tread/ I felt the curse of mortal limit fall before it was said.") As the video continues onto the chorus, it shows each individual that is attending the funeral service singing the chorus. The chorus explains how death will hurt some emotionally, but ultimately, it is a glorious thing for those who believe in Jesus Christ. The individuals singing are those who have "One final heart-break." However, the man who died is a believer in Jesus Christ, and therefore is going to heaven, as heard in the chorus when Demon Hunter sings, "...And blinding lights will guide our way/ free us our blind state/ they will call us by our name/ undying." During the chorus, images of stained glass windows that are pictures of angels show, signifying that the angels will come to guide the dead to heaven. The funeral continues as Demon Hunter witnesses about their faith. They explain how it is only through Jesus Christ that one can go to heaven. They relate to Jesus dying on the cross for our sins by saying, "No one can take away the blood that covers over my fall." They explain how only through believing in Jesus that one can go to heaven, as seen in the second verse; "Tearing through these days I find/ the tolerance to strive and push on/ I know what lies beyond this life for me is already won/ no one can take away the blood that covers over my fall/ without the blood of perfect life/ I know I'm nothing at all/ so now I reign forever hallowed in eternity's hand/ no man can shake me from the everlasting ground I stand." The chorus then comes, and the lead singer of Demon Hunter, Ryan Clark, steps out of a car, which could possibly be a Hurst. As he walks into the church, the people are frightened and run away because he is suppose to be the one in the casket. When he walks up to the casket, it is empty, showing that he has continued on the heaven. Each member of the band remains in the church, while they sing the bridge about being the ones who will go on to heaven. Those who ran out of the church represent non-believers who fear what may come of them after death. The term "Undying" refers to those who will continue on to heaven, which are followers of Christ.

"Writing On The Walls" by Underoath-Huh?

The video for "Writing On The Walls" by Underoath is one video that took numerous views to get a general idea about. Being that Underoath is a Christian band, the video has an underlying message about God. The title within itself does not appear to relate at all to the song when first heard. However, "Writing On The Walls" refers to the mind. The walls are the mind itself, while the writing is the conscience. The lyrics and video convey the message of a state of mind, and the relationship with God. The video begins with a boy and a girl sitting in a hallway talking, while the song opens up with, "Maybe we, why don't we/ sit right here for half an hour/ we'll speak of what a waste I am/ and how we missed your beat again." The video, first of all, is an analogy for a prayer of apology, confessions, and seeking. The opening lyrics are the beginning of the prayer, asking God to help and listen. The boy is talking to the girl as if she were a representation of God. The kiss signifies the beginning of his story, or his confession. As his story progresses, he explains how he tried to fit into the crowd, "How come you try...to fit the shape of...what they tell you...but mostly what they show you..." He questions God's choice to care about him. At this point in the video, the police are called because of the murder that has occurred. The neighbor who calls for help represents those who pray for others because they care. The police signify the consequences that come in life, as a result to sin. The boy is questioning God as to why there has to be consequences by saying, "I'm taking back all the things I've said." He does not want to have the consequences of his mistakes ("At this rate we can't keep up...But I sure can't just sit still."). During the bridge of the song, each individual in the video is shown as a sign that all have sinned. The bridge sings, "We walk alone," which highlights this point. The boy at this point feels as if he has strayed from his faith, and asks God to help him back on the path ("Back home/ alone, back home.") because he has realized that he does not have time to figure everything out on his own and he cannot figure it all out on his own (seen earlier in the song; "And I'm short on time"). When the woman finds the man dead, this elaborates the death of the boys relationship with God, and also, it shows that the consequences to his actions affect those around him as well. This is like the domino affect because the murder has affected not only the woman, but the boy and his relationship, the little girl, and also the neighbor, who has listened in on the whole event. By the end of the video, everyone has been affected. The boy feels awful and asks God for forgiveness, "I know there must be some way out of here." He pulls away from the kiss, which shows the end of his prayer. The last verse of the song shows that the boy has realized that no matter what, there will always be consequences ("And all of them will be waiting there."). "Them" are the consequences. The boy has realized his sin, and asks for forgiveness, which is the end of the video.

"Savior" by Rise Against-What's with the animals??

Rise Against's video for "Savior" is very confusing. At first, the video honestly did not make sense to me in the least bit. However, after watching it a couple of times and reviewing the lyrics, I have come to the conclusion that it is about a failing relationship that does not end badly. Why are the people in the video dressed as animals? The costumes are a representation of the innocence that is seen in the relationship. Both the boy and the girl in this relationship realize that it is not working, which is highlighted in the chorus, which says, "So tell me now/ if this ain't love then how do we get out?/ because I don't know/ that's when she said I don't hate you boy/ I just want to save you while there's still something left to save/ that's when I told her I love you girl/ but I'm not the answer for the questions you still have." The costumes cover the true person and his and her personality. They act as a disguise to the problems at hand in the relationship. This disguise is what makes each individual realize that there are problems in the relationship. The costumes, however, are seen not only on the couple, but also on the other "humans" in the video. The costumes are a type of persona each individual puts on, such as is seen in real life, when people are often referred to as fake. Under each costume is a real person, which is how people are in real life. It is a way of saying there is more to a person than what is seen on the outside.
The fight that occurs is a representation of the fights and difficulties that are in the relationship. The polar bear is pushed around and is hurt emotionally. She then leaves, and her "boyfriend," who is the elephant, is left in the mess of the fight, where he gets hurt as well. He is the original one who hurt her in the fight, which also relates back to the chorus. She leaves him ("...that's when she said I don't hate you boy"), and he is later hurt in the fight because he is seen limping alongside the road ("...that's when I told her I love you girl"). He is hurt because she left him. However, she sees that he is hurt and she is there for him, having the bus pick him up. In the end she holds his hand, representing a friendship and the idea of forgiveness. The firecracker that is lit can represent the idea of a full relationship and the stages that occur throughout a relationship. In the beginning of the relationship, the idea is fresh and new, like the beginning spark of the firecracker. However, as it burns down, it signifies the ending of the relationship, and how the idea of a new relationship dies down as it goes along like the flame.

"My Friend (So Long) by DC Talk-Death of faith?

DC Talk's "My Friend (So Long)" is a thought-provoking video, to say the least. The gist of it is that DC Talk is questioning the values of other artists and their music. The beginning of the song talks about an interview that this artist had with Rolling Stone magazine, and also how this artist has made it to the Top 40 count down. DC Talk sings, "...You found a quicker way/ to scale the wall of fame," meaning that this artist denied what he stood for to rise to the top and acquire publicity. This is illustrated in their video by the ambulance ride. This artist is in critical condition because he is straying away from his beliefs. DC Talk is a Christian band, and, as such, is questioning this artist's faith and walk with the Lord. As the video continues, this artist is brought to the hospital, where doctors try to revive him of life. This is an analogy to prayer and ministry. By praying for others, their life can be changed. Also, witnessing to others can lead them to God. When people find God, and accept Him in their life, they become saved, just like the doctors are trying to save the artist. By the end of the video, however, the artist dies, hence the dancing men in suites. They represent a funeral service. The nurses are angels. DC Talk sings, "The situation's awfully dim/ should we up and go with him?/ no way (no way 1, 2, 3, 4)." This ties into the idea of the artist dying. Since his friends did not stick with him and try to witness to him while he was going astray, his faith died (represented by his death). Throughout the entire video, the artist is played by Toby McKeehan, Kevin Max Smith, and finally Michael Tait, who are the members of DC Talk. At the end of the video, all three come back to life. What is the meaning behind that? It is a sign that sticking together and helping each other when one or another strays from the path, will save each other. DC Talk highlights this near the end of the video when the artist dies by singing, "The moral of the story is/ to stick with your friends." Hence, the idea of the video is to stay together and support each other in difficult times because it could save someone's life.

"Empty Walls" by Serj Tankian-Political protesting or what?

"Empty Walls" by Serj Tankian sounds like just a pretty awesome song, right? However, viewing the video, there is obviously more to it than just a cool sound. The lyrics combined with the music video underline a strong message regarding politics and how they are affecting the younger generation. The video is set in a childcare facility to add affect to the message Tankian is trying to convey. While he is singing, the children act out important worldly events that have occurred since the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. This shows that the younger generation is learning all the bad that is occurring in the world, which they believe is okay or acceptable. This also conveys the idea that this war that is occurring in the Middle East will eventually become the children's war if these politicians do not open their eyes and see what is going on. That idea is elaborated in the chorus, in which Tankian sings, "...I want you to be left behind those empty walls/ told you to see from behind those empty walls/ those empty walls/ when we decline from the coffins of our minds/ don't waste your time on coffins today." The "empty walls" refer false beliefs that our world is not in a mass of chaos. They can be considered the sheltered life that many live by, trying to believe that there is nothing wrong with the state of how we are living as a society. Also, as shown in the video, these "coffins of our mind" are the denial of how our society is affecting the younger generation. Tankian shows that our morals are set wrong by stating in the bridge, "I loved you yesterday/ before you killed my family." This relates back to world events, such as the attack on the Two Towers. Also, in the music video, when Tankian sings the bridge, the children break into a civilians home as if they were soldiers, mimicking the real life happenings that occur every day in the Middle East. The video highlights this reality by concluding with a thought-provoking scene of a funeral service of a fallen American solider. Tankian is drives his message home with this final scene, by showing the reality of the world.