Struggling Between Good and Evil with Brand New

In 2006, after their breakthrough album Deja Entendu, Brand New holed themselves up and wrote one of the most honest albums in emo/post-hardcore/screamo history. The cover says it all. Two cloaked men wearing demon masks and a young, innocent girl standing on a doorstep. Thus the title The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me holds meaning in the image.

The honesty of Jesse Lacey's lyrics slice through the instruments and the desperation in his vocal straining convey the entire concept of the album: the battle between our good and our bad dwelling inside us. Each song addresses these themes in a unique and identifiable way.

For example, the song "Jesus Christ" (which recently had a great cover by Dustin Kensrue)  is a dialogue toward Jesus where Lacey professes his doubts about himself, if God really loves him and what heaven will be like.

"I know you'll come in the night like a thief
But I've had some time alone to hold my lies inside me.
God, I know you think that I'm someone you can trust.
But I'm scared I'll get scared and I swear I'll try to nail you back up."

It's a dialogue we may have had in our heads or possibly vocalized to our Creator as we wrestle with doubt.

The strained and desperate fact that "we all got wood and nails" speaks to our own capacity for betrayal; our own capacity to destroy the things we love.

Other classic tracks from Brand New's third album include 'Millstone', 'Degausser', and one my favorites, 'The Archers Bows Have Broken.' Regardless of the track, an entire listen through from start to finish is required to absorb the full impact of such a rare, transparent and hauntingly beautiful record.