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Sanity's Unnecessary Elaborations (2018)

by Nostril Caverns

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1.
1H=NATURAL PROGRAMMING 2L=TO ENSURE A CONTINUING LIFE 3H=A SPECIFIC SET OF PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES RENDERING THE SPECIES OBSOLETE 4HL=ONE-SIDED SEXUAL ATTRACTION 5L=RARELY DO THE PIECES FIT BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE WITH THIS DISEASE 6H=LOVE IS A COMPROMISE THE INABILITY TO PURSUE 7H=TRUE DESIRE IS WHAT YOU FEEL WITHIN A BOTTOMLESS BLACK HOLE 8L=THE FEELINGS CAN'T BE IGNORED THEY MUST BE PURSUED 9L=WILL THEY TURN INTO VIOLENCE WILL YOU OBEY YOUR CONSCIENCE 10H=CLINGING TO THE DELUSION THAT YOUR FEELINGS WILL BE RETURNED FORGETTING THAT EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU IS REPULSIVE IF THESE FEELINGS ARE REAL THEN WHY WOULD THEY BE NEGATIVE 11H=SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR FAILURE ONE FAILURE AFTER ANOTHER 12L=ENDLESS POSSIBLE SCENARIOS HL=INVADING YOUR WAKING THOUGHTS AND DREAMS L=DURING A GLORIOUS ORGASM HL=PATHS GET CROSSED UNTIL YOU THINK YOU SEE 13L=TRUE LOVE 14L=CREATING H=FICTION L=HAPPINESS H=FANTASY L=REAL H=NOT REAL L=NOT REAL 15H=LIVING OUT A FANTASY IS MORE FULFILLING THAN DEALING WITH REALITY'S EVER PRESENT FLAWS 16L=CATCHING BRIEF GLIMPSES OF AWARENESS THE EMBARASSMENT PUSHES IT AWAY 17HL=YOU'RE UNWANTED YOU'RE NOT NEEDED 18H=YOU KNOW THESE FEELINGS ARE ILLOGICAL BUT YOU'RE WEAK L=YOU KNOW THESE FEELINGS ARE UNNECESSARY BUT YOU DON'T 19L=IT'S LIKE A PUZZLE HOW CAN YOU FORCE THE PIECES TOGETHER H=BUT YOU KNOW THEY'LL NEVER FIT L=BUT YOU JUST CAN'T RESIST LETTING YOUR MIND 20L=GO H=GO 21H=HER BODY IS INTOXICATING L=RIPPING OFF LAYERS UNTIL THE SKIN H=YOUR REASON FOR LIVING, WITH JUST ONE TOUCH L=STARTING OUTSIDE THEN GOING IN H=TASTING HER VERY ESSENCE L=CRAVING IT MORE 22L=AND MORE 23H=NEVER WAKE UP AGAIN LIVING THIS DREAM FOREVER 24HL=THERE'S NO ALTERNATIVE 25H=IT GETS HARDER AFTER EACH RELEASE ONLY SO MUCH PLEASURE TO BE HAD SOON IT WILL BE TIME FOR THE NEXT STEP IT'S A SHAME THIS STAGE IS AN EVENTUALITY FALLING BACK TO EARTH HL=WHY DOES IT HAVE TO END 26L=HATING YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE 27H=THERE'S NO GOING BACK, NO TIME FOR REGRET L=IT'S TIME TO SEE THIS THROUGH H=YOU'VE LET THIS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH L=ADDICTED TO REJECTION 28H=UNCONTROLLABLE SEXUAL DESIRES PORTRAYING THEMSELVES AS LOVE 29L=KNOWING YOURSELF MAKES IT EASY TO GIVE IN 30H=YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HER, SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW YOU EXIST 31H=BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PICTURES AND THE HIDDEN MEANINGS 32HL=THEY'RE FOR YOU 33H=HOW CAN THERE BE SO MANY COINCIDENCES THE WORLD IS OUT TO GET YOU L=THERE ARE NO HAPPY ENDINGS H=YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE 34L=HOW CAN YOUR JUDGEMENT BE SO FLAWED 35H=WISHFUL THINKING 36L=MAYBE TODAY WILL BE THE DAY 37H=HOW CAN YOU PROVE THESE FEELINGS ARE REAL 38H=DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD L=DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW 39H=DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW 40H=YOU LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOURSELF YOU CAN'T BLAME ANYONE ELSE WHAT DID YOU GET OUT OF IT NOTHING 41L=IMAGINE IF YOU HAD NO CONSCIENCE AND THE THINGS THAT YOU'D MAKE HER DO TO SATISFY YOUR SEXUAL URGES 42H=THAT BECOMES THE FANTASY THAT POLLUTES THE MIND THAT'S WHAT GETS YOU THROUGH EACH DAY SEEING HER SUFFER BRINGS ANOTHER KIND OF PLEASURE A PLEASURE THAT CAN BE REAL 43L=PSYCHOPATHIC TENDENCIES 44H=AHHH 45H=IF ONLY ONE COULD BE SO LUCKY TO LOSE THEIR SANITY 46L=AT LEAST YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE THE DREAMS 47H=WHY DOES LOGIC ALWAYS FAIL
2.
3.
1H=DO YOU REMEMBER ANTHING 2HL=FROM BEFORE YOU WERE BORN 3L=THEN WHY WOULD THERE BE ANYTHING AFTER YOU'RE DEAD 4H=NOTHING NOTHING 5H=100% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BORN WILL DIE 6L=LOOK AROUND YOU, NOTHING LASTS FOREVER 7L=LIFE ISN'T A GIFT, IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY 8H=NEVER PROCREATE 9H=THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE DIE IS BECAUSE THEY WERE FORCED TO EXIST 10H=THE ONLY REASON EVIL EXISTS IS BECAUSE HUMANITY EXISTS 11L=EXTINCTION IS INEVITABLE 12HL=RESIST YOUR URGES 13L=WHO CARES IF THERE IS A GOD 14H=YOU DON'T NEED RELIGION TO HAVE MORALS YOU ONLY NEED A CONSCIENCE 15L=JUST BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF IF THERE IS A GOD THEN IT MUST BE EVIL 16H=THEY'RE ONLY TRADITIONS 17H=WHY CREATE SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW WILL FAIL 18H=WHETHER IT'S GOD OR SOMETHING INSIDE EVERY 19H=THING 19L=SOMETHING THAT DRIVES EVERYTHING TO EXIST AND GROW IF THE ONLY REASON IS BECAUSE IT 20HL=CAN 21L=THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF TRUE EVIL 22H=YOU HAVE A CHOICE 23L=TO STOP THE CYCLE NOW 24L=THE TRADITIONS ARE NO MORE 25H=NEVER AGAIN WILL THE EVIL CONTROL 26L=EXISTENCE IS UNECESSARY 27L=DISTURBING PERVERSIONS 28H=ARE WHAT AWAIT THE NEWLY CREATED 29H=NOTHING YOU EVER DO WILL MATTER IN ANY 30HL=WAY 31H=MEANINGLESS 32H=MAYBE OUR CHOICES ARE IRRELEVANT BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO TRY 33L=IT'S NO LONGER YOUR CHOICE WHEN YOU CREATE ANOTHER 34H=WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHT 35H=TO NOT EXIST 36L=THEY WILL DIE TRAGICALLY BECAUSE OF YOU H=BECAUSE OF YOU 37H=HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD RATHER TO HAVE NEVER EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE 38H=YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE DEEPLY HIDDEN TRUTHS YOU TELL YOURSELF WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR 39L=WILL YOU EVER LISTEN TO YOUR EYES 40L=THEY TELL YOU WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR 41H=WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW DEEP DOWN 42HL=AHHH 43H=TOO MANY SECRETS IN TOO MANY PEOPLE 44H=JUST BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF 45H=A CLEAR CONSCIENCE, WITHOUT GUILT, SHAMELESS 46L=YOU CAN STOP THIS UNECESSARY EVIL 47H=REMOVING THE DESIRE TO EXIST 48H=WILL REMOVE ITS DESIRE TO INFLUENCE
4.
5.
1L=INTERPERSONAL IRRATIONALITIES 2H=WHY DO THEY DO THESE THINGS 3L=TO JUSTIFY THEIR FEELINGS 4H=BORN WITH SEXUAL INSTINCTS 5H=LAYING DORMANT FOR YEARS AND YEARS 6L=THEN IT CHANGES THE BODY 7H=AND THE MIND 8H=CONVENIENT JUSTIFICATION 9L=TRYING TO LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES 10H=JEALOUSY, ANGER, DECEIT 11HL=INTERPERSONAL IRRATIONALITIES 12L=WHEN THE BODY IS ONLY WANTED FOR 13HL=SEX 14H=BUT THE MIND TRIES TO JUSTIFY THOSE BASIC DESIRES 15H=AND USES MONOGAMY AS A SHIELD 16H=TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM NEGATIVE EMOTIONS 17L=WHEN ALL YOU REALLY WANT IS TO HAVE 18HL=SEX WITH A BODY 19H=TO RELEASE THE EVIL FROM WITHIN 20H=EVEN FOR A MOMENT 21L=BUT WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE TIME BETWEEN 22H=THAT'S WHEN THE MIND PLAYS TRICKS ON YOU 23L=YOU 24H=AFTER YEARS OF BRAINWASHING 25H=CONDITIONED TO FEEL AND REACT IN CERTAIN WAYS INSTINCT AND EVOLUTION TAKE OVER 26HL=INTERPERSONAL IRRATIONALITIES 27L=DESTINED TO CARRY OUT YOUR GIVEN OBJECTIVE FULFILLING YOUR FALSE EXISTENTIAL PURPOSE 28H=AHHH 29H=DO YOU BELIEVE IT NOW 30L=OHHH 31H=TO BE ALONE, TO BE NOTHING 32H=UNTIL YOU DIE 33H=TRYING 34L=TRUE LOGIC DICTATES THAT LIFE ISN'T RIGHT HL=EXISTENCE IS WRONG 35L=IGNORANCE IS TRULY BLISS IN THIS CASE 36H=UNLESS YOU'RE TRAPPED IN A BOTTOMLESS HOLE 37H=BUT TO BE AWARE WILL SHIELD YOU FROM 38HL=THE FACADE 39L=THE SIGNS ARE ALL AROUND US 40L=LIFE AND DEATH, BEGINNING AND END H=NOTHING LASTS FOREVER 41HL=INTERPERSONAL IRRATIONALITIES 42H=ROMANTIC LOVE EVOLVED FROM OUR INSTINCTUAL NEED FOR SEXUAL INTERCOURSE AND ACCIDENTAL PROCREATION TO KEEP WHATEVER'S INSIDE US EXISTING FOR AS LONG AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE 43HL=IT'S NOT GOD IT'S CODED INSIDE US 44L=THIS IS REALITY 45H=DO YOU GET IT 46HL=NOW? 47H=SOMETHING INSIDE US IS CODED TO EXIST 48L=AND WE'VE EVOLVED FROM THAT BASE 49L=CODE 50H=EMOTIONS ARE STRONG BUT PRIMITIVE CAN YOU REMOVE THEM WITHOUT HARMING YOURSELF 51H=BUT IF YOU WERE AWARE, IT WOULDN'T MATTER ANYWAY 52H=THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS NOW L=IS DEFYING THE EXISTENTIAL DRIVE H=NEVER TO BE CONTROLLED AGAIN L=FOR THE SIMPLE REASON 53L=OF BEING
6.
7.
1H=THE SHADES ARE DRAWN L=TO HIDE THE LIGHT H=INTOXICATED BY HER SCENT L=SHELTERED SAFETY H=UNFORGIVING L=LANGUISHING BEHIND 2HL=FAILED ATTEMPTS TO LURE HER IN 3H=DREAMING OF HER NAKED BODY, BOTH OUTSIDE AND IN L=REACHING SO FAR INSIDE TO GRAB THE SOUL 4L=HAND GLISTENING 5H=NO TOOLS REQUIRED 6L=STARING FOR MINUTES AT A TIME H=WHAT WAS WARM AND MOIST TURNS STICKY AND COLD 7HL=TO BE FULLY ENCASED IN MUCUS FAILED ATTEMPTS TO LURE HER IN 8L=RANDOM THOUGHTS H=TURN INTO DESIRES L=SHAPING A POSSIBLE FUTURE H=THE SHADES ARE DRAWN L=TO HIDE THE LIGHT H=INTOXICATED BY HER INSIDES L=THERE'S NOBODY ELSE THAT THINKS OF HER IN THIS WAY H=DEEP DOWN SHE WANTED THIS, BUT NOT IN THIS WAY 9HL=BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS 10H=AHHH 11L=OHHH 12H=AHHH L=THE CHOICES OF TWO PEOPLE LEAD TO THIS H=YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST BLAME YOURSELF L=IT'S TOO LATE FOR SECOND GUESSES H=JUST RELAX YOUR MUSCLES L=JUST LET IT HAPPEN 13L=OHHH
8.
1H=ACCEPTING PAST REALIZATIONS PREPARING FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD YOU ARE ALONE 2L=NO NEED FOR FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS LOGIC WILL STEER YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION 3HL=YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS 4H=STARING UP AT THE SKY THE VASTNESS PUTS EVERYTHING INTO PERSPECTIVE THE SIGNS ARE ALL AROUND YOU 5L=BEGINNING AND END 6H=TO BE AWARE GIVES A STRONGER SENSE OF PURPOSE NOT RELYING ON FAITH AND STORIES TO TRULY HAVE CONTROL OF YOUR OWN EXISTENCE 7L=AND ANTICIPATING THE END 8H=AHHH 9H=SENTIENCE IS OVERRATED LIFE IS NEGATIVE TO CHOOSE UNEXISTENCE HL=IS A BASIC SENTIENT RIGHT 10H=AHHH
9.
1H=AS THE END DRAWS NEAR NO TIME FOR REGRETS LEAVING YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS BEHIND TO EVENTUALLY BE FORGOTTEN BE PROUD OF YOUR LIFE IT WAS MEANINGFUL AT THE TIME MORALS WERE NEVER COMPROMISED ENDING THE LINE WITH YOU 2L=TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYONE ELSE'S MISTAKES IT'S TIME TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT NOTHING WILL MATTER WHEN YOU'RE GONE SO JUST ACCEPT IT AND MOVE ON 3H=IGNORE THE INSTINCTUAL SADNESS L=EMBRACE YOUR NEWFOUND LOGIC H=THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU'LL EVER DO L=THE IMPORTANCE OF A CLEAR HEAD H=SAVOUR EVERY LAST MOMENT L=BE THOUROUGH AND TRIPLE CHECK H=AHHH 4H=TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYONE ELSE'S MISTAKES IT'S TIME TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT NOTHING WILL MATTER WHEN YOU'RE GONE 5HL=AHHH SANITY'S UNNECESSARY ELABORATIONS

about

LIVE GUITAR/DRUMS RECORDING VIDEO OF TRACK 1 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSMDMDco-QY

- guitars written in 2016
- drums and keyboards written in 2017
- lyrics written in 2018
- guitars, drums, and keyboards recorded in 2017
- vocals recorded in 2018
- mixdowns finished on January 29, 2018

I started this album in 2016 when I wanted to write more songs with complex and elaborate song structures where the music and riffs change constantly (like on my "Repressed Memory Games (2016)" album), but for this album I wanted to challenge myself even more, so I added a rule that 3 songs must have "100 sections" and none of the sections can repeat later in the song (meaning, each section only occurs once). By "section", I mean a music staff in Power Tab. The length of each section didn't matter - some sections only had a few notes in them, other sections had so many notes that I had to zoom out in Power Tab so they'd all fit in the staff. The only thing that mattered was that there were 100 of them. As I started writing the first song, I added another rule where each new section had to have a different tempo from the previous section (though, I think there may be one or two sections where the tempo doesn't change).

Writing so many riffs wasn't a problem, it was actually pretty fun, but the really challenging part was memorizing a full song and recording the guitars and drums live in a full take from beginning to end without any post-editing. I memorized one song at a time - I started by playing guitar along to the Power Tab file I created and memorized 10 sections at a time. Once I could play those 10 sections without many mistakes, I went to the next 10 sections, etc. I often had to go back to previous sections for more practice. Once I had the entire song structure memorized, I began writing the drum part while playing drums along to the Power Tab file, section by section. Once I wrote the entire drum part, I practiced it until I was ready to record the drums in a full take. Once the drums were recorded, I went back to the guitar and practiced until I was ready to record. Once the guitars were recorded I started memorizing the next song in the same way. Starting to memorize a new song was pretty daunting. Sitting there practicing guitar along to the Power Tab file while being 30 sections into the song and continuing to make mistakes was pretty discouraging, but I stuck with it and am really proud of my performances on the album and what I accomplished.

Even though I nicknamed this "the 100 sections per song album", only 3 songs follow that theme. Track 1/3/5 each have 100 sections. Track 2/4/6 are ambient synth interludes. Track 7/8/9 have more traditional song structures.

Guitars and drums recorded in a full take with no overdubs, punch-ins, timing manipulation, copy/paste, etc. No triggers or samples were used on the drums.

credits

released February 2, 2018

Chris Balch - guitars, drums, keyboards, vocals

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Nostril Caverns Milton, Ontario

NOSTRIL CAVERNS is Chris Balch since 1997.

CORA CANNING is Dave and Chris since 1999.

death/black/grind/
math/experimental/
tech/prog/improv/
avantgarde/jazz/rock

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