Top 10 Pierce The Veil Songs

Feature Photo: Foto: Stefan Brending / Lizenz: Creative Commons CC-BY-SA-3.0 de

Our top ten Pierce the Veil songs list presents the music of an American band best known for its post-hardcore sound. Pierce the Veil was established in 2006 by the brothers Vic and Mike Fuentes. The two brothers issued the band’s debut LP, after which they welcomed guitarist Tony Perry and bassist Jaime Preciado to the band’s lineup. While the band is revered for its post-hardcore sound, some of its songs feature pop punk, emo, metalcore, experimental rock, and progressive rock influences.

Since its formation in 2006, Pierce the Veil has issued four studio albums with a fifth one scheduled for release this year. Pierce the Veil’s career serves a great purpose in the continuation of the San Diego post-hardcore scene that burgeoned in the ‘90s. Other post-hardcore bands originating from San Diego include Swing Kids, Heroin, Antioch Arrow, and Drive Like Jehu.

Pierce the Veil’s Career Beginnings

After its formation in 2006, the band signed a recording deal with Equal Vision Records. Under the label, Pierce the Veil issued its debut studio album A Flair for the Dramatic. At the time of A Flair for the Dramatic’s issue, Pierce the Veil was a two-piece act consisting of brothers Vic and Mike Fuentes. In this record, Mike plays the drums and percussion while backing his brother Vic Fuentes on the vocals. On the other hand, Vic played the guitar, bass, and keyboards while taking on lead vocals.

A Flair for the Dramatic’s production work was handled by Vic Fuentes in conjunction with record producer Casey Bates. The album was fairly successful in the mainstream, peaking at position sixty-one on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart. “Currents Convulsive,” “Yeah Boy and Doll Face,” and “Chemical Kids and Mechanical Brides” are some of the most popular songs from A Flair for the Dramatic.

Other Album Releases by Pierce the Veil

The Fuentes brothers later added extra personnel to the band’s lineup including bassist Jaime Preciado and guitarist Tony Perry in 2007. Three years later the four-piece band went ahead to issue the album Selfish Machines. Most of the songs from Selfish Machines were penned by Vic Fuentes with Tom Denney, a former member of A Day to Remember, co-writing with Vic three songs on this album.

Among the reputable additional personnel contracted to make Selfish Machines, a success is Jeremy McKinnon, the lead vocalist of A Day to Remember. Selfish Machines was a mainstream success, rising atop the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart. The album also made it to the Billboard 200, peaking at position one hundred and six. “Caraphernelia,” “Bulletproof Love,” “Disasterology,” and “Besitos” are some of the best Pierce the Veil songs from the album.

In 2012, Pierce the Veil returned with its third studio album Collide with the Sky. Collide with the Sky was the first album by the band issued through Fearless Records. Other artists/bands (once) affiliated with Fearless Records include Blessthefall, I Prevail, August Burns Red, Mayday Parade, and As It Is. Collide with the Sky saw Pierce the Veil give us a taste of its signature post-hardcore sounds with emo influences.

“King for a Day,” “I’m Low on Gas and You Need a Jacket,” “A Match into Water,” “Hell Above,” and “Bulls in the Bronx” are some of the best Pierce the Veil songs from the album. Collide with the Sky rose atop the Billboard Top Alternative Albums Chart, Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums Chart, and Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart. The album also graced the Billboard 200 rising to a peak position of number twelve. Collide with the Sky was fairly commercially successful, earning a gold certification in the US as well as a silver certification in the UK.

Misadventures, issued in 2016, marked the band’s fourth studio album and second release through Fearless Records. The album saw Pierce the Veil blend its signature post-hardcore with emo influences. Working on the production of this album was Dan Korneff, a record producer revered for his phenomenal work with My Chemical Romance, Breaking Benjamin, Papa Roach, and Paramore.

“Circles,” “The Divine Zero,” “Today I Saw the Whole World,” “Dive In,” and “Floral & Fading” are the most popular songs by Pierce the Veil from Misadventures. The album topped the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart, Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums Chart, Billboard Independent Albums Chart, and Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart. Misadventures also graced the Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart, peaking at number four and seventeen, respectively.

Currently, Pierce the Veil is working on its fifth studio album The Jaws of Life to be issued this year. Already, the band has issued three singles off The Jaws of Life ahead of the album’s release. The three singles include “Pass the Nirvana,” “Emergency Contact,” and “Even When I’m Not with You.”

Pierce the Veil’s Legacy

Pierce the Veil is among the bands at the forefront of rekindling the love for post-hardcore sound. The band has won several awards including the 2015 Kerrang! Awards Best Fanbase accolade. Over the years, the band has toured heavily sharing stages with acts/artists such as Mayday Parade, Bring Me the Horizon, The Amity Affliction, Blessthefall, A Day to Remember, August Burns Red, and Thursday. Here we present the all-time ten best Pierce the Veil songs.

#10- The Divine Zero

Opening our top ten Pierce the Veil songs list is the outstanding hit “The Divine Zero.” The song is featured on the band’s third studio album Misadventures. Lead vocalist Vic Fuentes revealed that the song’s title was inspired by the 2014 comedy-drama film The Grand Budapest Hotel’s character of Tony Revolori, Zero.

Vic continued to reveal that “The Divine Zero” has its lyrics centered around his combats with dejection and self-harm. In a deeper explanation, the vocalist went ahead to mention that we all feel like a hero at some point, while at other times we feel quite small. However, in the moments we look down upon ourselves, there is a need to remind ourselves of our self-worth.

“The Divine Zero” made it to the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart, peaking at number twenty-one.

The song was nominated for the Song of the Year accolade in the 2016 edition of the Alternative Press Music Awards. However, Pierce the Veil lost the award to “Hallelujah” by Panic! At the Disco. Other songs that earned a nomination for the same award include “Just Like You” by Falling in Reverse, “Secrets” by State Champs, “Hey! We Ok” by Never Shout Never, and “Would You Still Be There” by Of Mice & Men.

#9- Disasterology

After quite an impressive debut studio album A Flair for the Dramatic, Pierce the Veil recruited new members—guitarist Tony Perry and bassist Jaime Preciado. Now a four-fold act, the band went ahead a short while later to issue its sophomore studio album Selfish Machines which is home to our ninth pick “Disasterology.” Lead vocalist (also the band’s primary songwriter) Vic Fuentes went ahead to reveal in an interview that the lyrics to this song are centered around a distinctive dream by a guy.

The singer went ahead to mention that the song revolves around “fun-seeking” actions (in this context drinking alcohol) and girls. However, the song also showcases the persona’s move to build a beautiful life only to pour it down the drain. The song was co-produced by Mike Green who is best known for his work with 5 Seconds of Summer, Neck Deep, Paramore, All Time Low, and Katy Perry among others.

#8- Chemical Kids and Mechanical Brides

Number eight on our ten best Pierce the Veil songs list is the hit “Chemical Kids and Mechanical Brides.” The song is among the most revered hits off the band’s debut studio album A Flair for the Dramatic. “Chemical Kids and Mechanical Brides” is enough proof of the Fuentes brothers’ solid musicianship as a duo having the two play all the instruments while Vic provided the vocals.

“Chemical Kids and Mechanical Brides” has lyrics speaking of the undeniable differences between two souls. In a nutshell, the song showcases the beauty (and struggles) of diversity amongst two people in love. Co-producing this song was Casey Bates, who has worked with other artists including Portugal. The Man, I the Mighty, Memphis May Fire, Chiodos, American Fail, Isles & Glaciers, Emarosa, and The Fall of Troy.

#7- Hell Above

By the time Pierce the Veil was issuing its third studio album Collide with the Sky, the band had earned quite a huge following in the US. However, it wasn’t all smooth for the band with some of the band’s fans finding it hard to follow Pierce the Veil in its post-hardcore journey. This was probably due to the band’s exploration of other influences apart from its signature post-hardcore sound.

After interacting with the band’s fans for quite some while, Vic decided to pen the hit “Hell Above” dedicating it to Pierce the Veil’s fans who struggled to fit in. The singer went ahead to reveal that the song alluded to finding a safe space where you can exercise freedom, especially in your youthful days. “Hell Above” was issued in late 2012, a few months before joining other acts such as Metallica, Blink-182, and Linkin Park in the Soundwave annual music festival in Australia.

#6- Circles

Coming in at the sixth spot on our ten best Pierce the Veil songs list is the outstanding hit “Circles.” The song is yet another impressive cut off the band’s third studio album Misadventures. Lead vocalist Vic Fuentes revealed that the song was inspired by the November 2015 terrorist attacks at the Bataclan Theatre, in Paris. The song lyrics tell of an encounter between two allies at the Eagles Of Death Metal show.

Lead vocalist Vic Fuentes has cited “Circles” as one of his most meaningful songs ever penned. “Circles” was a mainstream success, rising to the thirty-second spot on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart. The song also made it to the Billboard Alternative Airplay Chart, peaking at number thirty-one. “Circles” had its aesthetic music video directed by Drew Russ. Drew has also worked with other artists/bands including Falling in Reverse, Breathe Carolina, The Devil Wears Prada, I Prevail, and Beartooth.

#5- Bulls in the Bronx

Collide with the Sky, the band’s third studio album is home to the fifth pick on our ten best Pierce the Veil songs list, “Bulls in the Bronx.” The song is yet another track off Collide with the Sky inspired partly by the band’s fans. Vic revealed that he penned “Bulls in the Bronx” after receiving an email from two fans of Pierce the Veil about a teenage friend of theirs who had committed suicide. The lyrics to the song were penned from the standpoint of a narrator who describes her struggle with love and attractiveness in a world filled with rejection.

#4- Bulletproof Love

“Bulletproof Love” is one of the most sought-after hits off Pierce the Veil’s sophomore studio album Selfish Machine. The song is a heartbreak fuelled track that finds the band’s lead singer Vic Fuentes struggling with moving on from a just-ended romantic relationship. Vic went ahead to reveal the song to be centered around his obsessive feelings about a past lover to a point of indulging in self-destructive behaviors.

The self-destructive thoughts about the singer aimed at the former love showcase Vic’s love for melancholic/dark lyrics. However, the singer loves his dark/morbid hits served with a tinge of pop-infused tunes just like those of Saves the Day, a band he grew up listening to. While “Bulletproof Love” failed to achieve mainstream success, it earned gold certification in the US.

#3- A Match into Water

The third pick on our ten best Pierce the Veil songs list is the imposing hit “A Match into Water.” “A Match into Water” is one of the fan-favorite picks from the band’s third and most successful studio album Collide with the Sky. Lead vocalist Vic Fuentes revealed that this hit was his gift to his ex-girlfriend who beat cancer!

It is just beautiful to see the singer move on from singing fiery heartbreak ballads to celebrating victory with those he once loved but had to part with at some point in life. “A Match into Water” finds the singer expressing his thoughts about his ex-girlfriend terming her to be the strongest girl he had ever known.

#2- Caraphernelia ft. Jeremy McKinnon

“Caraphernelia” is yet another beautiful track off the band’s sophomore studio album Selfish Machine. The song finds Vic crooning about a girl he used to date earlier. Cara, the name of Vic’s ex-girlfriend, inspired this song’s title. “Caraphernelia” results from a wordplay of the words Cara and paraphernalia.

With the song’s title inspired by the singer’s ex-girlfriend, you can bet that there are emotions traded here. The singer went ahead to reveal that after his breakup with Cara, the girl left some of her items in his room—It is these items that evoked memories of his ex-girlfriend whenever he saw them. “Caraphernelia” vocals by Jeremy McKinnon of A Day to Remember. The song was gold-certified in the US proving to have been a success.

#1- King for a Day ft. Kellin Quinn

Number one on our ten best Pierce the Veil songs list is the awe-inspiring hit “King for a Day.” The song is the band’s signature hit off the third studio album Collide with the Sky. “King for a Day” was penned by Vic Fuentes. He cited the song’s lyrics to have been inspired by the pain/anger that emanates from being treated as an underdog.

The song finds Pierce the Veil’s Vic teaming up with Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens on the vocals. “King for a Day” was a mainstream success, rising to the twenty-eighth spot on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart. The song also made it to the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart, peaking at number thirty-seven. “King for a Day” was a commercial success earning platinum certification in both Canada and the US. The song also earned silver certification in the UK.