American Metalcore band Invent Animate just released their latest single, “Fall Like Rain.” This is their first release since their EP dropped in 2023, which means more music is definitely on the way. This new track is definitely the pathway to more this year, and I cannot wait. Vocalist Marcus Vik says that this song is about his lifelong struggle with insomnia and anxiety. He recalls when he quit alcohol a few years back, and his already difficult sleeping issues worsened, making him have to face these issues head-on. The line, “I am a swarming blood red cloud,” admits that his insomnia stems from his personal anxieties of his own thoughts tormenting him and keeping him awake. In the face of these battles, he really wanted his vocals to be raw yet desperate, as these moments were just so overwhelming at the time.
Photo By: Matt GuajardoAs an insomniac and someone who struggles with anxiety, I get it. Those nights where the battle is between you and the thoughts of “what ifs” and unlikely scenarios, it’s such an exhausting time because all you want to do is sleep, but your mind is just racing a million miles a minute. I’ve been given medications that help curb those moments, but sometimes they still happen, and instead of staying awake with the feelings, they get reflected into nightmares, so the sleep ends up being restless, and I wake up even more exhausted sometimes. The amount of chaos in the vocals and this song is so dark and incredibly powerful, paired with this meaning. The words drag, and there is this desperation I get because it’s hard, and it feels like an uphill battle that one cannot win against themselves. I especially love how this pairs with the title, “Fall Like Rain,” because when it’s really storming, like a really strong downpour of rain, it’s impossible to see anything. It’s wet, heavy, and even the umbrella cannot save you from being drenched. Then being drenched makes your body heavy, and you’re just trudging through the puddles feeling hopeless.
I think the slower and quieter opening with the lyrics, “Sing me to sleep,” makes it even more invoking and hauntingly scary because sometimes that’s how it is. Before I discussed my sleep habits with my doctor and was diagnosed with insomnia, I could be worn out from a long day of work, but the second my head hits the pillow, eyes closing, suddenly I am overwhelmed with thoughts, and the way this song just kicks in creates that moment perfectly. Then the song just continues to punch and escalate because one thought leads to dozens of others, and before you know it, it’s too late to stop the overflowing storm happening in your head. Verse two of this song is also so beautifully written with the line, “I hear the red noise in voices disguised, until it dies, show me a way to fall asleep … those dreams I always dread.” They say your dreams are often influenced by your last thoughts before falling asleep. I think that is very true. I am a worrier and chronically stressed over the things that have yet to happen or will never happen. It’s just anxiety about the bad outcomes, and it results in stressful dreams.
Click The Image To Listen To Fall Like RainInsomnia sucks, and sometimes it's an inexplicable thing because most people I know sleep without issues or never remember their dreams. I seldom can recount what I dreamt, but I can recall that most nights are not pleasant, and even if they’re not nightmares, they’re stressful or lucid. I have experienced a paralysis demon a few times, and those are terrifying. Sleep is peaceful, or at least it’s supposed to be. “Fall Like Rain” goes crazy deep, and you should check it out. Invent Animate is hitting the road this spring on tour, so get a ticket and hit up a show. Otherwise, stream this song wherever you stream your music from and buckle up because I can tell that there is more coming, and if it goes as hard as “Fall Like Rain,” I am so ready.
