Vae Victis, by IKILLYA

Vae Victis

by IKILLYA

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1.	Vae Victis 03:47	lyrics	buy track
The fork, the fork, the fork in the road The crossroads I find myself at again Fear has no home, no hold, no hand in this Relentless spirit fed by the need to reinvent Today our souls, Tomorrow the world Your corpse, my ladder Vae, Vae, Vae Victis Woe to the conquered Woe to, woe to you Vae, Vae, Vae Victis The failing of the failing of the right The faux life you can not bear to not believe I ride the backbeat like a viper, smarter Looking down at me your defenses follow Please under, underestimate me, it fuels the reactor within Focus on the horizon and All the burning buildings lose their glare If I can’t change the world I’ll change myself Redesign based on knowledge of the past Stronger from that which only wounded Equipped to exploit the weakness inherit The path of least resistance holds no interest At war with the failings of my own flesh So sure I’m meant to be this way, this man Despite doubt telling me how wrong I am Feet don’t fail me now If I go I remember I was born ready to die Hold firm, hold fast choose this path and never Look back Today our souls, Tomorrow the world
2.	Driven 04:14	lyrics	buy track
Driven Let’s go This small woods, backwater pond My old home of disillusioned discontent Hindsight holding hostage these years of memories I’m feeling guilt for my nostalgia all the same Smoke screens like fog Cold beer and hot ash Your dreams no longer than words And that’s just not good enough for me Not good enough Driven Retrace my steps, retrace and replay Come alive at midnight by headlight We roam the streets with cops and criminals Which one ya wanna be tonight? This pavement it, hums my name As if it knows me intimately Even when, back then I could never Imagine I would ever be here now Black on black will give you a heart attack Not prodigal, I’m never coming back These years meld comfort to genetics I might just be ok with this red neck now I’m proud these hands built everything you see A simple man who knows nothing of your simple plans This crown feels lighter the faster my charger goes If I ever gave a damn you can keep it
3.	Exhortation 03:26	lyrics	buy track
Oh, Thinking back I can't remember A time when this pain did not define me This pressure crushing my heart Centrifugal, tearing me apart Running full force for all these years Just counting the moments 'till I collapse Holding the weight of your world and mine I swear it's going to kill me I don’t need your ignorance I don’t need your cowardice Parading as my deliverance Oh, these broken blisters bleeding Through constricted hands I will not lie for you Cold, the cold, the cold that reaches my bones Like so many times it has before It's a pain I feel I must endure As if suffering gives meaning If I found the peace I dream of Would it ever be enough to calm me Am I built to be your lost soul Or do I need your hell to draw my breath The look, in your eyes. it amplifies The words, like knives, flying from your mouth The look, in your eyes, it exemplifies Everything, everything decrepit in you So sick and twisted In my own head I feel the need to punish me For not having The strength I need To hold up every wall that falls on me That falls on me
4.	Jekyll Better Hyde 05:20	lyrics	buy track
I hate my flesh even more than I hate yours If that even could be possible I’m weighed down by all of my judgment And my reluctant acceptance of it Still it seems I can’t hate myself enough Enough to just get through to you I wish I could make you feel the way that I do The way that I do when I hear you All I am Jekyll better Hyde The remains of the monster in me Protects the poison pumping heart That powers all I am No one listens when you’re louder than the rest Ego big enough to see in black and white Painfully aware of the day the rug will run away With reigns in hand there’s no hiding to be had Aching to chronicle this moment this one emotion Each previous word too inspired to better Longing to know if aliens wander the streets like I Fairly certain I’m not entirely alone on this earth Backwards world, back to me Into a corner, back from the dead Deep breaths, white knuckles Fogged eyes and muscles of stone These bridges burn and I will not stand still Friction fostering all these flames All I am Since I found the will to better myself I will find the strength to defeat you
5.	Bear Your Name 04:23	lyrics	buy track
No longer will your legacy of hate survive I conquer, I reclaim this lineage compromised You will not, inflict me, with all your leprosy Your failed soul, has no more, has no more hold on me I, I bear your name But I will bear it better than you You’re still waiting I bear your name I’m not waiting But I will bear your name Better than you I stand tall, I hold my shoulders high You, your memory, I will eradicate It’s my life, and I will, control my destiny No sympathy for you, you’ve dug your own damn grave No sympathy for you, you’ve dug your own damn grave You’re still waiting, for me to find god I didn’t know, he was ever lost Because I, I, I have never Been
6.	Of The Most Magnificent 03:04	lyrics	buy track
And I, I believe that you were wrong all along The sky, the sky still falls And I know you were wrong Time forgets us all Black coal, golden gloves and lives lost to harder times Create all that you saw Nothing but people to endure Problems of the future Built on the backs of lives lost before History a distraction from reality Written by those wishing to not be forgotten And I, and I believe that you were wrong all along The sky, the sky still falls Yet I will be Magnificent I don’t understand Your reverence and your fear I can’t sympathize With your need for guidance I wish I could Be the light that guides you home This grave dug, bed made Long before we were either born Though I may fail, I will, I will try Simple lives lived short Pray to a god that gives you meaning and hope Yet made us all we are Superstition begets ignorant bliss The only soul I know Is the strength of will I possess To exist beyond this short-sighted existence
7.	Mission To Mars 03:09	lyrics	buy track
My bed is a stranger now Has been for years I fear This half-life dream sustained One wrong step and it’s Over the edge for us all Monitor glow in the black of Night lighting this mission to mars The stars always feel so close I can smell their fear of falling “Stay hungry” Dee’s been telling me for years Slumber just an excuse to Fall behind the pack you sheep My after-burn consumes your Lack of willingness to not Fade away Intoxicating white noise Of midnight in this city Energizing or exhausting I can never tell anyway Not that it would ever matter Just gimme one inch And I will take your life To places you never dreamed Just gimme one inch And I will make my life Everything I’ve ever known I would be Peace only to be found In death At full speed Full speed ahead
8.	Not Dead Yet 04:10	lyrics	buy track
If I plan to use these bottles To send a message to the world I better get going draining This liquid into me Trying to find the limit Oh what my what body can handle This hangover it reminds me That I still thrive And if I never felt this pain I’d have no proof I’m even alive If these bright buildings can touch the sky So surely can you and I Already lived a couple of lives And I’m not dead yet, no I’ll never believe anyone else Only I can prove it to myself What do you think of me now? Write it down and lets not forget it Time will expose liars and leaches Take a stand now or live to regret it 18 seconds until I See the sun light the choices of my Night light, creates shadows That I call home I’m comfortable feeling alone In this empty city tonight I don’t believe in luck Life is exactly what it seems If I plan to use these bottles To send a message to the world I better get going draining This liquid into me
9.	Last Breath 04:56	lyrics	buy track
A damp and muggy world greets me Mirroring the oppression in my mind It feels like this will always be all I know It feels like this will always be all I breathe Forget this hair, these boots and these tattoos If my heart hurts, I’m going to tell you And I can barely stand to comprehend The thought of your last breath 5 years gone away as I wake today Half a decade of life blessed by you My life landmarked by unwarranted pain Your name etched in stone too soon Crimson blaspheme defines me I’m always trapped in karma's darker side I’m drifting between death and reveille A paradox of freedom and captivity I’m testing everything tonight I’m racing through every yellow light I question everything that I can't feel And right now, I can't feel you Oh, I can’t feel you Resign yourself to flying With my voice beneath your wings Combine our cells, nefarious Mutant vibrant everlastings And I don't fear death But I'd rather you didn't have to Death gives life its meaning But I, would rather trust you

about

The sophomore album from IKILLYA

credits

released April 29, 2014

All songs written by Lekberg/Kerr/Gory/Pickard
Published by IKILLYA Ears (BMI)

Vae Victis is performed by:
Jason Lekberg: Vocals
Dave Kerr: Guitars
Mansa Gory: Bass and Horns
Jeff Gretz: Drums

Produced by Josh Wilbur
Instruments engineered by Paul Suarez
Vocals engineered by Josh Wilbur
Mixed by Josh Wilbur
Gang vocals engineered by Ryan Kelly
Pre-production by Armando Subero
Instruments recorded at Nova Studios, Staten Island, NY
Gang vocals recorded at Spin Studios, NYC
Pre-production recorded at IKILLYA HQ, NYC

Gang vocals by Otto Hoering, Matt Rosenberg, Stephanie Milner, Todd Dupree, William Berger, Paul Cibrano, Eric Jackson and Jason Lekberg

Art Direction & Design by Ken Adams www.k3n.com
Band photography by David Jackson www.davidejackson.com

IKILLYA proudly use:
Godin Guitars, DR Strings, Blackstar Amplification, Clayton Picks, EMG Pickups, Ernie Ball Music Man, Tech21, Dunlop picks, Evans Heads, Pro-Mark Sticks

IKILLYA would like to thank:
Missi Callazzo, Greg Caputo, Nicole Vitale and everyone at Megaforce Records
Jeff Cohen and Adam Mandell at Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan
Mark Scribner at Piemonte & Liebhauser
Paul Cibrano at Cibrano Media
Everyone at RED: Bob Morelli, Alan Becker, Frank Falkow, Liz Snair, Alex Brody, Tony Bruno, Chris Christian, Lisa Cohen, Joe Esposito, Rob Wetstone, Sarah Landy, Lamar Leggard, Dan Marter, Billie Jean Sarullo, Adam Zengel, Tara Wurtz, Ronald White, Shaine Weinman, Bob Weil, Patrick Volcy, Carlos Vega, Allison VanCleave, Wendy Washington, Dan Tousignant, Lauren Torresgrossa, Marc Styles, Jamel Stout, John Souchack, Darci Shellman, Lorraine Shea, Amanda Shadwell, Ava Ryerson, Catherine Rotella, Neil Ross, John Pervola, Ellena Osis, Richard Nash, Allison Moore, Pavla Mikula, Bailey McGinty, Terry McGibbon, Lisa Mastrianni, Zac Mantell, Joanne Madhere, Brendan Lustenring, Neil Lichtenstein, Seung-Hee Lee, Allison Lawton, Kelly Krueger, Rob Kordisch, Randolph Kartick, Alexandra Kamins, Mary Ashley Johnson, Tom Incorvaia, Peter Iannone, Tamara Horton, Mike Heyliger, Terra Hatch, Michelle Gayheart, Howard Gabriel, Sam Gable, Orlando Fussalva, Matt Frazier, Bridget Flynn-March, Kevin Farrell, Mitch Dudley, Felix Donato, Tommy DeBenedictis, Zach Diaz, Jamie DeFillippis, Saara DeAngelis-Jimenez, John Dabrowski, Laura Curtin, Billy Conklin, Tom Carrabba, Katie Carlson, Melinda Caffin, Scott Burton, Danny Buch, Dewayne Brown, Jasmine Brito, Robyn Brattner, Tyler Blatchley, Jaya Bhat, Ron Backer, Arielle Aslanyan, Davon Artis, Emma Applebome, Shealyn Anderson, Jake Anderson, Derek Anderson and Gazelle Alexander

This album would not have been possible without:
Gary Pickard – Thanks for the lifesaver. We owe you one, or several
Frankie Nasso – We’re in debt for all your support and passion brother
Josh Wilbur –Thank you for pushing us to our best and realizing our sound
Paul Suarez – Thanks for living with us and getting such great takes
David Jackson & Trevor Knackers – Without the visuals, we’d be half the band
Paul Cibrano – The 5th member. Thank you for holding it up when we fall down
Ryan Kelly and Armando Subero – For all the time and effort you’ve devoted. We wouldn’t have been able to get here without you
Jeff Gretz – Thank you for always being there when we needed you
Matt Zebroski – Thank you for all the hard work and fun times
Tim Borror – For making dreams come true
Larry Mazer – For the support and mentoring
And most importantly, the wives: Laurie Mucciolo, Kristine Rodriguez Kerr, Chance Gory – There’s not enough paper to write the thanks you deserve

Special thanks to our friends who helped support the creation of this album:
Andrew Iwanicki, Annalisa Lazzaro, Ben Umanov, Bob Sutton, Bobby Ingals, Brian Bason, Chris Buggelli, Chris Graham, Christian Brucculeri, Christine Wu, Cory Goonan, Dan Marshall, David Peris, Dimple Thakkar, Dmitri Kalmar, Dmitry Kostitsyn, Earl Maneein, Emily Shepherd, Evan Johnson, Gelu Sulugiuc, Greig Sills, Jacqueline Webb, Jared Wilbur, Jason Chester, Jennifer Studer, Jon Mark Deaerdorff, Jonathan Crow, Kathie Lazzaro, Kevin Rankin, Kirill Gant, Kore Rozzik, Lars Murray, Matthew Poulter, Megan Milner, Melissa Pelletier, Merja Jutila, Michael Grealy, Michael Hunter, Mike McSweeney, Nelson Wong, Otter Hoering, Patrick Chesebrough, Raj Narayanan, Ram Subramanian, Richard Bangs, Richard Mollo, Richard Sorkin, Rob Hough, Ron Moody, Ryan Kelly, Samuel P. Walters, Scott Dubbs, Stephanie Milner, Todd Dupree, Steve Anderson, Tony Stanziano, Trevor Jones, Will Vallar, William Berger and Deanna St Croix

license

about

IKILLYA New York, New York

ikillya.com

Recommendations

discography

War for an Idea

Jun 2017
Vae Victis

Apr 2014
Recon

Apr 2011

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