We're all set to make a killing 
I can't afford the luxury no more 
But we're just trying to make a living 
Can I complain with one foot out the door? 

And I've never asked for much 
But in pursuit of great endeavors 
It's hard for me to know who I can trust 

One step forward, two steps back 
I'm on the brink of death 
If all my fears come to fruition 
I'm off the hook; out of commission 

I'm no man to envy 
I'm no fool to pity 
I live a life of greed. Taking what I need 
But it took it's toll 

And I'll never live this down 
I dipped my toes to test the water, but if I tread to much I fear I'll drown 

One step forward, two steps back 
I'm on the brink of death 
If all my fears come to fruition 
I'm out of luck; trade my ambition 

Yea, I'm at the mercy of the wit of a dead man 
And he extinguished all light from my eyes 
Yet, I've been hooked by the wits of a dead man 
And you can tell from the white of my eyes 
And now I'm at your mercy, and I want out

Joshua Ihler - guitar, vocals, drums, bass, production 
Simon Nicol - engineering, production, mixing, mastering 
Co-written by Ryan Alexander 
Cover photo by Tyler Giese 
Recorded at MRX Studios

Autopilot

The ground from where I stood is barren; Home to only those who seem to stand it 
This pit from where I lay seems bleak, but it’s the greatest night of sleep I’ve had all week 
These idle hands were soon at work, in hopes to free the reaper of his worth 
Soon I found my solace in this space, then all the locals rallied in a haste to watch it burn 

I've fallen into a cliché. Save my exit for another day 

The air felt burnt as tension grew. I shift between the faces of the people I once knew. 
Across the wasteland I heard their hopes of growth, but watched as they kept pouring fuel in sacred fire 
And yet I have the itch to set it off 
Chomping at the bit to set it off 
So set it off 

I've fallen into a cliché. Save my exit for another day 

It serves me right 
I’m stumbling blind with a crutch 
All signs point in no direction; think I have a hunch 
I've got a right to know who set this sacred fire 

Descended / hallowed / reckless / shallow; at a glance it may seem that I'm at ease 

I fell to sacred fire 

I think I've hit a peak - my heads now on a stake, and I have offered nothing in it's wake.

Sacred Fire

The era of disguise 
No one knew the cost that it would hold 
We’re left to cut all ties 
The salt of the earth - left distraught inside the burdened soil 
But no one minds 

All the people look up to the sky 
Never understood the reason why 
Maybe I'm just being cynical 
Maybe I just chase a fleeting high 

May I speak out of line? 
You're all I have to spite 
So seek the moon crescent eyes 
It's tide will take you home 
May I speak out of line? 
Or believe what I’ve been told? 
The world cannot be rectified 
But I guess I'll never know

Misanthropy

Cennetenial revival, where have you gone? 
Have I been left to linger or carry on? 
The gods won't lift a finger, not that they should 
In a case of high alert I'll send my best regards 

Tend to me sickly measures. Honestly, the time is right. 
I won't bathe in holy water, but I can drink to pass the time 
Those who sleep in righteous slumber count the sheep as they pass by 

How have I wasted all these years? 
And what will I do to squander more? 
I'm losing all that I hold dear 
If I'm in the red; I'm in the clear 

The sentinels are spiteful and full of song 
Their wave of beating heat is dragging on 
"You as act as if you're broken, man" Counts all the faults on just one hand 
I know the perks of doing right and doing wrong 

My crooked spine aligned, for what it's worth 
Now I'm just another wholesome body in the dirt 
A broken man; a broken stride; who only saw in black and white, I've had my mind set on... 
...Defeat; atone 
...Deceit; atone 
...Retreat; atone 
Repent, erode 

It's the only way I know.

Deep Negatives

You’ve made a death wish; grasping at straws 
Now I have a calling, I've got a cause 
All these anxious devils with sunken grins will learn how to burrow under the skin 

Swayed in circles; made me sick. 
Spoke in tongues, but I can’t make no sense of it 
The devil's say has it's place 
No emotion weighs on my face 
Now their stay wears me down. Now they're home. 

The sweat I've earned was counterfeit, could almost taste it 
A darkened room once brightly lit; A hint of greatness 
Everyone's a cynic here, but where are all the sadists? 
Playing god and saving face has left me feeling vacant 
Everyone I'll wrong will remember me by name 
Once there's nothing left, only then they'll feel my shame

metanoia

The Devil's Say

We're all set to make a killing 
I can't afford the luxury no more 
But we're just trying to make a living 
Can I complain with one foot out the door? 

And I've never asked for much 
But in pursuit of great endeavors 
It's hard for me to know who I can trust 

One step forward, two steps back 
I'm on the brink of death 
If all my fears come to fruition 
I'm off the hook; out of commission 

I'm no man to envy 
I'm no fool to pity 
I live a life of greed. Taking what I need 
But it took it's toll 

And I'll never live this down 
I dipped my toes to test the water, but if I tread to much I fear I'll drown 

One step forward, two steps back 
I'm on the brink of death 
If all my fears come to fruition 
I'm out of luck; trade my ambition 

Yea, I'm at the mercy of the wit of a dead man 
And he extinguished all light from my eyes 
Yet, I've been hooked by the wits of a dead man 
And you can tell from the white of my eyes 
And now I'm at your mercy, and I want out