This top-notch emo band came to us from Florida (members called both Tallahassee and Orlando home). They released two singles and two full-length albums in the short span between their formation in 1999, and calling it quits in 2006. But that’s not the full story.
Forever Changed stood out from the seemingly limitless pack of faith-based emo bands in the late 90s/early 00s, in a number of ways. They were incredibly musical–complex arrangements, fitting production, and capable instrumentation. And their lyrics/songwriting skills matched the music. They were open and bold in expressing their faith, but achieved the rare feat of not sounding trite, preachy, or platitudinous. It just seemed like an honest expression of faith that was both sincere and also well-read.
I was re-listening to their debut album, 2005’s The Need to Feel Alive this week, and the second track, “Encounter” smacked me in the face and heart with both its musicality and lyrical punch:
We’ve got a lot to learn
Why do we always run away?
The time to fight is now
The silent voice is of no use
We’ve got to rise up
And so, the story’s not over
The war hasn’t been won
All that’s left is understanding the enemy is alive
There is a war at hand
It’s a battle to choose truth over pleasure
And so, the story’s not over
The war hasn’t been won
All that’s left is understanding the enemy is alive
We see him all the time
He’s beat us down for so long
It’s time we stand up for what’s right
He’s beat us down for so long
Let’s stand up for what’s right
All that’s left is understanding the enemy is alive
There is only one truth out there:
We will win the fight
Check out the official video for the song below.