Life Is Not a Waiting Room

src: pre00.deviantart.net

Life Is Not a Waiting Room is the third studio album by American post-hardcore band Senses Fail. It was the last recording by the band to feature guitarist Heath Saraceno and the first recording to feature Hot Water Music bassist Jason Black, who replaced Mike Glita after he departed from the band.

Video Life Is Not a Waiting Room

Sound and theme

Singer James "Buddy" Nielsen claims:

There is a real sense of urgency in the songs we've been writing. We're just now starting to find the direction for this record and you're definitely going to hear a more aggressive side of Senses Fail. The songs have a lot of grit and power and remind me of how I felt when we wrote From the Depths of Dreams. We are all very excited to get in the studio with Brian again and make the best music we've ever made.

The July 2008 issue of Alternative Press stated that Jason Black, still dubbed temporary bassist, is filling that role during the recording of the new album.

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."

Maps Life Is Not a Waiting Room

Release

On June 25, 2008, Life Is Not a Waiting Room was announced for release in October. On August 19, "Family Tradition" was posted on the group's Myspace account. On September 23, "Garden State" was posted on the group's Myspace profile. The entire album was made available for streaming on their Myspace on October 2, before being released on October 7. The photography for the album was done by Phill Mamula. On the same day, "Family Tradition" was released to radio. 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. Between late February and early April, the band performed on the Saints & Sinners tour. Further dates were added, extending the tour into mid-April. Following an appearance at Groezrock festival, the band toured Europe in April and May.

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. 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.