Life After Death and Taxes (Failure II)
Encyclopedia
"Life After Death and Taxes (Failure II)" is a song by Relient K
, from their fourth album Mmhmm
. It was released as a Christian radio
single in late 2006.
It is a sequel to the song "Failure to Excommunicate" from the band's second album The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek
, and includes, at the end, a string quartet excerpt from that song. Both songs include solos by drummer
Dave Douglas
.
The end of "Failure to Excommunicate" has the same string quartet music, but with more quirky noises in the background. "Life After Death and Taxes" has the static and hold-out from the last guitar chord, underlying the fact that the latter is a darker, more serious song.
Like "Failure to Excommunicate" this song is about and contains Christian
themes, like heaven, death, and Jesus Christ's help and comfort in times of pain. "Life After Death and Taxes" is more of a closer to "Failure to Excommunicate." Where "Failure to Excommunicate" says, "Know it's the world versus Jesus and you," this song says, "Never forget...death and decay can't touch us now," instilling a more sure feel to the somewhat open-ended song "Failure to Excommunicate."
The screamed vocals are preformed by David Bunton of the Christian Death Metal
band The Showdown
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
, from their fourth album Mmhmm
Mmhmm
Mmhmm is the fourth full-length album by Christian rock band Relient K, released in November 2004. This album is especially notable for two reasons: First, it marked their debut on Capitol; and second, it was Brian Pittman's last album with the band...
. It was released as a Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
single in late 2006.
It is a sequel to the song "Failure to Excommunicate" from the band's second album The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek
The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek
The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek is the second full-length album released by the Christian rock band Relient K. It was released on August 28, 2001, and peaked at #158 on the Billboard 200. On June 26, 2006, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 units in the...
, and includes, at the end, a string quartet excerpt from that song. Both songs include solos by drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Dave Douglas
Dave Douglas (drummer)
Dave Douglas is a musician, most widely known for being in the Christian music industry as the former drummer of the Christian rock band Relient K. Douglas joined the band after their former drummer, Stephen Cushman, departed in late 2000. Douglas had been playing the drums and doing background...
.
The end of "Failure to Excommunicate" has the same string quartet music, but with more quirky noises in the background. "Life After Death and Taxes" has the static and hold-out from the last guitar chord, underlying the fact that the latter is a darker, more serious song.
Like "Failure to Excommunicate" this song is about and contains Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
themes, like heaven, death, and Jesus Christ's help and comfort in times of pain. "Life After Death and Taxes" is more of a closer to "Failure to Excommunicate." Where "Failure to Excommunicate" says, "Know it's the world versus Jesus and you," this song says, "Never forget...death and decay can't touch us now," instilling a more sure feel to the somewhat open-ended song "Failure to Excommunicate."
The screamed vocals are preformed by David Bunton of the Christian Death Metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band The Showdown
The Showdown (band)
The Showdown is a southern metal/metalcore band based in Elizabethton, Tennessee. While the members of the band are Christian and the band is signed to a Christian record label, the band does not consider itself a Christian act, according to guitarist Josh Childers...