Life Is Not a Waiting Room

The group's second album Still Searching, produced by Brian McTernan, was released in October 2006.[1] In August 2007, it was reported that the band was in a studio.[2] On December 8, it was announced that bassist Mike Glita left the group on mutual terms.[3] In addition, the band revealed they had started writing for their next album the week before.[4] On January 27, 2008, it was reported that Jason Black of Hot Water Music was filling in on bass.[5]

Black heard of Glita's departure and called McTernan, who had previously produced Hot Water Music. Black queried if the band needed a bassist and asked for contact information. At the time, Brendan Brown, vocalist/bassist for The Receiving End of Sirens, was planning to join Senses Fail. Brown lived close by and was able to practice with the band whenever, whereas Black lived far away. However, Brown was unable to join when he had a kid. Nielsen subsequently contacted Black and invited him to jam.[6]

In February, the band started demoing new material.[7] Recording sessions for Life Is Not a Waiting Room took place at Salad Days Studio in Fells Point, Maryland with McTernan as producer[8] in April.[9] Paul Leavitt acted as Pro Tools engineer.[8] The July 2008 issue of Alternative Press stated that Black, still dubbed temporary bassist, was fulfilling that role during the recording.[10]

Musically, the album has been classed as post-hardcore[11] and metalcore,[12] drawing comparison to Further Seems Forever.[13] The album featured some of the band's heaviest and slowest songs. Nielsen said this was an intentional inclusion: "We always try to balance [between having heavy and catchy songs on] it as best as we can."[6] However, he found difficulty in it: "The hardest part is trying to find the best mix of what you wanna do and what you think Senses Fail are."[6] Nielsen mentioned that McTernan helped to "try and change things up" within the verse–chorus–verse structure.[6] Guitarist Heath Saraceno worked as a counterpart to guitarist Garrett Zablocki; the pair bounced ideas off each other.[6] The album features more shredding than their past releases.[14] With Black, he added the dynamic of intricate bass parts to the band, something that Nielsen said they never had.[6] Nielsen said there was "a real sense of urgency" in the songs. He added that they have "a lot of grit and power" and reminded him of how he felt when he was writing the From the Depths of Dreams (2002) EP.[15]

The album's title comes from a Charles Bukowski poem.[16] Nielsen explained that he felt he "had been living as if I was waiting for something to happen … [it] sums up the direction I want to go in, and what I want to get away from".[17] The album chronicles Nielsen's hardship in breaking up with his longtime girlfriend, and his downward spiral into a life of alcoholism and depression. A terminally ill fan of Nielsen named Marcel helped him get through his depression and also "opened his eyes to some hard truths about the reality of the human condition."[18] "Fireworks at Dawn" is a slow-tempo track that transitions into "Lungs Like Gallows".[19] The guitar parts in "Hair of the Dog" recalled U" guitarist The Edge with its usage of delay.[20] Marcel influenced the creation of "Four Years" and "Yellow Angels". The former is about the reaction to meeting Macel and needing to live in the moment. Nielsen said the latter is about being influenced by "such a life-changing [experience]" and making new decisions with his relationship.[17] "Map the Streets" toys with pop punk in the verse sections,[20] becoming reminiscent of the group's earlier material.[19]

In early May 2008, the band appeared at The Bamboozle festival.[21] On June 25, Life Is Not a Waiting Room was announced for release in October.[22] In addition, the album's track listing was revealed,[23] followed the album's artwork on July 31.[24] On August 18, "Family Tradition" was posted on the group's Myspace account.[25] On August 26, "Family Tradition" was released as a single.[25] In addition, it was also released as an EP on iTunes bundled with "Wolves at the Door", "Life Is Not a Waiting Room" and clips of every song on the album.[26] On September 15, when fans bought any item of Atticus Clothing, they were given a free download of "Wolves at the Door", which was then posted on the band's Myspace the following day. On September 22, "Garden State" was posted on the group's Myspace.[25] Life Is Not a Waiting Room was made available for streaming on their Myspace on October 1,[27] before being released on October 6 through Vagrant Records.[22] The iTunes and UK editions included bonus tracks.[27] On the same day, "Family Tradition" was released to radio.[28]

In October and November, the band went on headlining US tour with support from Dance Gavin Dance, the Number Twelve Looks Like You and Foxy Shazam.[29] On October 24, a music video for "Family Tradition" premiered through Yahoo! Music.[30] On November 13, the band appeared on The Daily Habit.[31] Between late February and early April, the band performed on the Saints & Sinners tour.[32] Further dates were added, extending the tour into mid-April.[33] Following an appearance at Groezrock festival, the band toured Europe in April and May.[34] Between late June and late August, the band performed on the Warped Tour.[35] Following the tour's conclusion, Saraceno left the band. Nielsen said Saraceno wanted to "leave the music business and pursue a career in another field."[36] In September and October, the group went on a headlining US tour with support from A Skylit Drive, Closure in Moscow and Fact.[37] Etay Pisano joined the band as a touring guitarist for the tour.[38] Saraceno returned to play the Hawlloween show of the tour, which was filmed and later released with some copies of their next album The Fire (2010).[39]

Three songs off of this album—"Family Tradition", "Lungs Like Gallows", and "Wolves at the Door"—are featured on the band's greatest hits album Follow Your Bliss: The Best of Senses Fail.[40] On September 4, 2013, the band announced the first ever vinyl pressings of the album. 500 blue and gray swirl and 500 tye-dye splatter copies of the album will be released on October 8, 2013.[41]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	76% [19]
AllMusic	[13]
PopMatters	[42]
Ultimate Guitar	8/10[20]

The album charted on 18 on Billboard 200.

All songs written by Senses Fail. Lyrics by Buddy Nielsen.[8]

Personnel per booklet.[8]

Citations

Sources

• Life Is Not a Waiting Room at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)