Such Strange Arts are a post hardcore/alternative rock six piece formed in early 2011 by former The Verdict Is Vengenace members Lee Sanders, Connor James, former The Verdict Is Vengeance/Lights Go Red/Zzzonked and current Mudshovel member Kieran Marks, , along with Joey Drake, Stu Harvey and Jake Barber. The name of the band comes from a poem of Oscar Wilde, titled Athanasia Since the formation of the band, they have been writing and practising music, before waiting for the perfect time to break into the music scene, being now. On August 2nd 2011 the band allowed fans to listen to and download the first song (The Way To Feel Alive) from their future album, which is yet to be titled. This was spotted by Nomad Records, who signed the band soon after hearing the song.

The Way To Feel Alive - Single

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The song opens with a fast paced, fairly pop punk esqe riff, alongside simular sounding drums, before progressing into a more distorted alternative rock effect which contains the speed of the pop-punk riff, but has a rougher feel about it, revoliving around crashing symbols, before the clean vocals from Kieran Marks are heard, with a high clean tone, to mirror the music in the background, with backing vocals in a lower tone being provided by Lee Sanders.

The use of the fast paced, distorted alternative rock music is used in all of the verses, with the chorus reverting back to the pop-punk sound to allow the listener to pay more attention to the lyrics and vocals (which are sung by both Kieran and Lee) rather than the music. During the breakdown of the song, the guitars make a cliche chugging sound whilst there is a slight use of symbols and double bass pedals to back the screamed vocals provided by both Kieran and Lee, before the music reverts into a final verse, and then the chorus before the song ends with feedback from the guitars.

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"The song is basically about one of my ex-girlfriends saying loads of shit about me not being good enough, and how I wasn't even worth her thinking that I was a mistake. But then how she came to regret what she said, when once we got back togther I ended it with her, then refused to take her back in the end, it's a pretty funny story looking back at it, I hope she works out that the song is about her." - Kieran Marks

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(Italics = Kieran Marks
Plain = Lee Sanders
Underlined = Screamed
Bold = both)


You said, you said,
that I wasn't that "perfect mistake",
(perfect, mistake)
but I've lead, I've lead,
The revolution against your claims,
(againist your, against your claims)
I will refuse, to be ashamed,
Ofcourse you say that, I should take the, blame
(that I should take the blame)

(Chorus)
We know, we know (oh oh)
the way, the way to feel alive,
though you try, and you cry, to change the past,
the mistakes made, were always meant to last

So we start again, and ignore the pain,
that lasted for those months,
now that we're back together,
you're as tempormental as the weather,
like a thunder storm, crashing down on me
(crashing down on me)

We know, we know (oh oh)
the way, the way to feel alive,
though you try, and you cry, to change the past,
the mistakes made, were always meant to last

(breakdown)
I won't forgive you,
for everything you put me through
I won't let,
you turn me to regret.
this is the sound,
of me breaking out,
from your, clutches

This is the last time,
you'll need to check your phone,
for the evidence of me,
I'm history,
yeah I'm history

We know, we know (oh oh)
the way, the way to feel alive,
though you try, and you cry, to change the past,
the mistakes made, were always meant to last

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Personnel
Such Strange Arts:
Kieran Marks - clean vocals, screamed vocals, lyrics
Lee Sanders - clean vocals, screamed vocals
Jake Barber - lead guitar, backing vocals
Stu Harvey - rhythm guitar
Connor James - bass guitar
Joey Drake - drums, percussion, backing vocals

Production
Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Kieran Marks and Lee Sanders
Artwork by Valad Implar