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Imperial Ashes

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  1. A Toxic Life

From the recording A Toxic Life

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A hard-hitting riff builds to an explosive chorus punctuated by call-and-response vocals that are both angst-ridden and melodic. The lyrics depict lead vocalist Rayna Elizabeth's journey as a white settler learning about the historic and ongoing atrocities against Indigenous people.

Music by N. Chiarore, D. Hallenbeck, A. Lauzon, G. Olsen, R. Slobodian (SOCAN)

Lyrics by R. Slobodian

Executive Production & Vocal Production by David Bottrill

Mixed by Michael Phillips

Drums Engineered by Michael Philips at Subterranean Sound Studios

Assistant Drum Engineer: Scott Watson Lake

Mastered by: Maor Appelbaum

Lyrics

Mosby’s research, what did it say?
Nutrition experiments hidden away
Residential schools, laboratories at play
Trauma through generations, still happening today

(And we won’t stand by)
We are connected, we’re feeling infected (a toxic life)
The treaty’s neglected, your laws are rejected (give up your fight)
Our colonial apathy, making the rivers bleed (things aren’t alright)
Your violations, stealing from nations (eating us inside)

Attawapiskat’s screaming, you cover your ears
Poisoning water, Wet’suwet’en fears
Sterilization, your genocidal sins
No concern of yours to find the M.M.I. Women

(And we won’t stand by)
We are connected, we’re feeling infected (a toxic life)
The treaty’s neglected, your laws are rejected (give up your fight)
Our colonial apathy, making the rivers bleed (things aren’t alright)
Your violations, stealing from nations (eating us inside)

(And we won’t stand by)
We are connected
You’ve lost your senses (give up your fight)
When will you wake up, grow up and stand up? (a toxic life)
We don’t have much time...

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