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New Rome

by Twenty Million People

supported by
Steven Marston
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Steven Marston Makes their influences obvious without sacrificing originality. Heavy, groovy, and occasionally atmospheric. Favorite track: Betterland.
scottacon
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scottacon Brutal and hard-hitting throughout with plenty of unique twists that keep things engaging. Favorite track: Ghost of Joy.
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1.
something beyond us has seen you. no harm will fall on us to top the disasters had. in the factories staring everyday with dimmed and goatlike eyes, to a future waving back. motionless march to the top. sure it’s more than what you had? repeat, dumb suffering. you will never have asked any of it. sob on and off, it stings. smile’s coming apart at the seams. you’re still here. marching on. excuse me while I tend to how I feel, this life’s reserved for me. things will break, I tend to how I feel, this life’s reserved for me. so let’s steal some meaning. you say I’ll believe it. who thinks my planned escape a failure? failure, deserter.
2.
the world has moved and stripped you of your past, you’re late to the game of no-dimension chess. keep staring, stare with your empty eyes. unsmiling mouths, making dumb dimwit sounds. once again streets are dead and we’ll wait until the end thinking we’d never do it again. fear is here, fear is real. the tide is loose and the best are drowned. smile and nod for peace of mind. the center fell, it could never hold. the flood is now, who’ll remember you? drown, you coward. eleven digits, number among numbers. they brought the whole ensemble for your forced disappearance. you raised the finger, now watch as it gets mauled. labor and pain frame every fucking TV show. your worst photo adorns the missing poster right atop the please call if seen please would you number. back at home mom’s weeping bloody sparks for her number among numbers. number among numbers. nobody will ever find you.
3.
Ghost of Joy 04:22
every day, I pry open strangers’ mouths. look down throats, no words at all. hoard their stubs, breathe in their smoke. taste no tears, no laughs to spare. every day, I gorge on plastic straws to suck the warmth out of their lives. a wall of dreams divides them from the dead. go to work, read the news, I was in arms reach. mow the lawn, feed the kids, I was in arms reach. wonder how you’ll seize the day, bound and gagged with my memory. ghost of joy haunts your town, leaving gifts. ghost of joy has sealed all exits.
4.
New Rome 05:19
strange how far down the line you remained with me, breathing down my neck. and if I thought I deserved you, you’d be my enemy. tired of the fight, of the din. guess I should spend more time getting over you. and if you’re not up to changing, who am I to blame you? old town, we’ll never be alone. new rome, you’ll never let us be. all that we ought to be, blood in your body. strange how far down the line you remained with me. am I your ancient history? will people name a street after me or should I just keep paying bills? I nod and I smile and pretend that I struggle. send my thoughts to the broken. it’s been a lifetime of watching you, can I please just look away? I have no doubts anymore, no nets, no guarantees. a few words is all takes. some will abide, trying to pray away the pain, to savour the drama of the day. and I love you, but just say, why would I stay and watch you die away? those who got out early know in their bones this is all a false paradise and they’re lucky to be breathing. mired in numbers and in law’s double-talk, in mindless games and fruitless labors, grinding. dawn in new rome, pale yellow, scentless gray. sleepless commuter-folk wearing their human coats. the light is searching for angles to shine through. buried beneath bus lanes and noises. the sun, it arrives but it shines on no one, the delusional and the childish look for morning. a hope for a start and a death and a raise and a welcome change that a hand makes out of nothing. counting seconds, one by one, covered in blood that’s not mine. there must be more to life.
5.
Betterland 04:27
lately I’ve been facing this version of me. my thirties will only be spent so I won’t be a resentful, ill-tempered, all-thought-no-effort of a man. I crave what I deserve. I toiled, I broke my back. so I’ll be better off in betterland, the bitter end of bitter men, fertile lands of betterland. I’m scared I’ll turn into a laughingstock, what if my only skill is disappointing mom? she says the world owes you nothing, the world owes you nothing! and I know she’s right, work so you don’t feel like a parasite. it’s all I know, for what it’s worth, of that I can’t be sure. don’t tell me to be honest with myself. the more I see what’s there the more attention I crave. I could eat the world, still it won’t be enough. lately I’ve been facing, facing the weight of defeat. facing how selfish I’d been, halfway there. halfway, I need to get things off my chest. fall down the right set of stairs. and I know that it’s arrogant and childish to ask, but I cannot help it, I want it all. better, I’ll do better, give me better, always better, room for better, live for better, always nothing.
6.
throw the windows open, let the dead air out. dance relieved, the curtains it's hard to live an ordinary life. breeze unwraps your dark gift a barrel between your eyelids a shot is fired but the birds are still alive throw the windows open. bright future havers, drunk feckless bastards this life you have lived is lost in the fire to nowhere goers, zealous pursuers get your things, all aboard the burning train daydrinkers, nailbiters worry all over again cave dwellers, rent payers no use for lies, just kill the damn houselights. open the dark gift. break your back for beauty. throw the windows open, let the dead air out. bright future havers, drunk feckless bastards this life you have is lost in the fire to nowhere goers, zealous pursuers get your things, all aboard the burning train marching band of idiots worry all over again daydreamers, the curious tell your lies, don't kill the houselights.
7.
Chokehold 04:06
crime. here I walk, terms are met a social criminal bullets bit, lockjaw set I’ll be what I was today. outside, people stare. it’s what we do. doesn’t mean they know you’re you, stray dog. territorial crows scream the news turning heads in the pews, a fearful welcome. others, I’m trying to calm you down, stay in my lane. shoulder your way past, a fire is all I see. I don’t mind the ash, don’t mind the smoke, strain at the leash, I bite my rope. down. head down, heads up, head aflame. here I walk, the terms are met. the terms were met. I have been and can’t be a person from a place. trees are mine, so is peace. score’s on the board, who’s the undeserving? head high.
8.
damn you all I'm calling your bluff what else is left to be done? run amok, headfirst in mud no turns, steer blind crave, passions of your lost life pianos burning, books unread pay won't last the daybreak violins hung, bills due buried my youth in a cheap grave. laugh it off, it's just half your life. don't look for a clue, the story's never been about you. don't expect me to entertain you, I've stopped having fun long ago. damn you all I'm calling you out knees gave out in thirty years chewed and spat out ambitions paved over. shiver, haunted crews of missed boats brought up on yearnings future never takes shape. bite their tongues, they clean the mess still chasing the same promise. laugh it off, it's just half your life. don't you look for a clue the story's never been about you don't expect me to entertain you I've stopped having fun long ago. days, weeks, years with wings fly away with  strangers on their backs. you people have been lying to me, all this time I've been late for the wrong train. you people have been lying to me, playing games, convince me to stay here.

about

Canadian trio Twenty Million People plays heavy metal music of the emotive kind. The band was started in late 2020 by singer/guitar player Bah Sarp and drummer Batu Bekmen as the next part of their musical journey after being thrown five thousand miles away from their hometown of Istanbul by the winds of politics and circumstance. The two soon crossed paths with fellow musician Brian Vincer and invited him to the fold, which he obliged by taking up the bass and singing duties. With all their bases covered, the band immediately started working towards their debut album, wanting their introduction to the scene to be fully-fledged.

Their efforts culminated in "New Rome", a collection of autobiographical stories about how things got this way, set to the tune of loud guitars, fast drums, and raging voices. Released in October 2022 by the band’s own Piss & Vinegar International, "New Rome" brings forward a diverse and ambitious sound that combines the ferocity and massive melodies of classic heavy metal powerhouses like W.A.S.P., the intricate guitarwork and grooves of modern metal masters such as Gojira and Mastodon, and unexpected moments of raw beauty inspired by the many worlds of indie music.

credits

released October 9, 2022

TWMP is

Bah Sarp - Vox, guitar
Brian Vincer - Bass
Batu Bekmen - Drums

All music by TWMP
Cover design by Duygu Topcu
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Bah Sarp at Leslie Road Studios
Drums recorded at That Mount Sure Was Pleasant Studios.

"New Rome" is a Piss & Vinegar International release.

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Twenty Million People Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver heavy metal trio.

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