The Past Is Dead Explained

The Past Is Dead
Cover:	The Past Is Dead song.jpg
Type:	single
B-Side:	Skin
Artist:	Beartooth
Album:	Below
Recorded:	2020
Studio:	Capital House Studio, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Genre:	Rock heavy metal
Length:	3:36
Label:	Red Bull
Producer:	Caleb Shomo Oshie Bichar
Prev Title:	Devastation
Prev Year:	2021
Next Title:	Hell of It
Next Year:	2021

"The Past Is Dead" is a song by American rock band Beartooth. The song was released on March 25, 2021, as the second single from their fourth studio album Below. It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in September 2021.^[1]

Background

The song was released on March 25, 2021, as the second single from their fourth studio album, Below, a week after the first single "Devastation".^[2] A music video was released the same day,^[3] featuring footage of the band performing the song among pyrotechnics and the band battling a surreal demon.

Frontman Caleb Shomo noted that "The Past Is Dead" was one of the earliest songs written for the Below album. The band worked on the song for over two years, eventually settling on the version that was included on the album, which ended up setting the tone for the rest of the album as well.^[4]

A vinyl press of the single was released in August 2021, featuring "Skin" as the track's B-side and is limited to 500 copies.^[5]

Themes and composition

The song is noted for maintaining the high energy commonly present in their music, but emphasizing emotive and melodic vocals rather than aggressive screaming.^[6] It contains metalcore guitar riffs and breakdowns with extensive guitar layering and overdubbing.^[7] The song's sound was described as more "anthemic", creating a juxtaposition between an uplifting sound and dark lyrical matter.^[8] Lyrically, the song is about the inability to move on from traumatic situations in life,^[2] inspired by Shomo's own mental strain he experienced over the course of 2020.^[9] The song's music video is meant to be a visual representation of the mental strain written about in the song.^[10]

Music video

The music video for "The Past Is Dead" premiered on March 26, 2021.^[11] The video was directed by Wyatt Clough.^[12]

Personnel

• Caleb Shomo – vocals, all instruments

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format	Label
Various	March 25, 2021		Red Bull	^[14]
United Kingdom	August 2021	Vinyl		^[15]

Notes and References

1. Beartooth Chart History (Mainstream Rock). Billboard. September 14, 2024.
2. Web site: Beartooth Drop Another New Song Called 'The Past Is Dead' + Album #4's Title Revealed!. Paul 'Browny'. Brown. March 25, 2021. Wall Of Sound.
3. Web site: Beartooh Announces 'Below' Album; 'The Past Is Dead' Music Video Available. March 26, 2021. Blabbermouth.net.
4. Web site: Beartooth announce fourth album Below; unleash new single/video, The Past Is Dead. Kerrang!. Emily Carter. March 26, 2021.
5. Beartooth 'The Past Is Dead'/'Skin' 7". Revolver. September 14, 2024.
6. Web site: Beartooth Drop Anthemic 'The Past Is Dead' + Announce New Album. Loudwire.
7. Web site: Beartooth Drop "The Past is Dead," Announce New Album, Below. March 26, 2021. MetalSucks.
8. Web site: Beartooth announce new album Below with anthemic new single The Past Is Dead. Metal Hammer.
9. Web site: Hear Beartooth's Anthemic New Song "The Past Is Dead". March 26, 2021. Revolver.
10. Web site: Beartooth announce new album Below, share "The Past Is Dead": Stream. Consequence.net. March 26, 2021.
11. Web site: Video Alert: Beartooth – 'The Past Is Dead'. Alt 105.1. March 26, 2021. September 14, 2024.
12. Web site: The Past Is Dead - Behind The Scenes. YouTube. September 14, 2024.
13. Web site: Germany — Alt. Singles. Deutsche Alternative Charts. September 14, 2024.
14. Web site: The Past Is Dead - Single by Beartooth. Spotify. September 14, 2024.
15. Web site: Beartooth – The Past Is Dead / Skin. Discogs. September 14, 2024.