The Strata Bible Study: Strata Presents the End of the World

Now that I’ve used Strata’s “Cocaine (We’re All Going to Hell)” as part of a youth ministry talk (click here), it’s time to write about their 2007 album, Strata Presents the End of the World, which has consumed much of my listening time since I got it last summer.

I loved Muse’s Absolution when it first got to my desk—the album swirls with a heavy Britrock, delving into just enough electronics to make it crisply European disco, while brining all of that to bear on some incredibly spiritual and apocalyptic rock.

If that’s why I loved Muse’s album, much more could be said about Strata. While hailing from California, they embody that same Britrock dance darkness, and with a title like Strata Presents the End of the World, they obviously are dealing with things from the end times and gods and devils and personal demons.

Like So Many Dynamos, the entire album inspires an entire Bible study discussion I hope to lead someday.

As in the youth ministry talk, “Cocaine” explores tragic circumstances and how we get ourselves/find ourselves there.

“Night Falls (The Weight of It)”—Use this song to explore what happens after death, how our ideas of ghosts communicating with us may be inspired by the nagging God does through our conscience, and how God reminds us that He’s always with us—which is more than we can promise in our altruistic ghost hopes.

“Hot/Cold (Darling, Don’t)”—“Don’t give up on us.” God’s compassionate desire for us like a lover.

“The Dotted Line…”—Compare the emptiness of fame in this strong scene and the empty promises of the world and the devil.

“Coma Therapy”—When you feel lost from a love, perhaps you just want to go numb. When we feel lost from God, maybe we’re also tempted to just play dead and ignore that part of ourselves.

“Poughkeepsie, NY”—Here’s a tremendous song for exploring how the devil tempts us. Plus, the song artfully leaves it as an open question as to whether the speaker will be joining the devil or returning to God.

“Stay Young”—An overwhelming fear (perhaps even a crush of adult responsibility) robs us of our passion. What fears do you face? How does Jesus free you from those fears and urge you to “stay young”?

“Love is Life”—This is a strong but meditative song about marriage as a lifetime commitment. Except for a reference to being married in eternity, this song works well to talk about what it means to protect a marriage. “Love is life” is a phrase open to seeing God’s role in a marriage, too.

“The New National Anthem”—The danger of equating current political actions with the precepts of the Bible. If you’ve been troubled that the George W. Bush Administration has couched too much of the Iraq rhetoric in biblical terms which—when compared to entire message of the Scriptures—cannot be co-opted for such a use, then this song is for you. “The country’s run by lunatics, they’re picking up their pens, writing themselves into Revelation, ‘this is how it’s gonna end!’”

“Daylight in the City”— “As I stared into my own eyes in the mirror by my bed, that’s when I realized nobody ever told me that, I’m just afraid of dying.” The realization that we’re afraid of death is helpful to discuss—especially because as Christians who believe in eternal life perhaps we feel that we can’t admit this fear (the pain, unknown, mystery, and finality of death).

Note: In January 2008, lead singer Eric Victorino left the band. His lyrics are a big part of what made Strata’s music fully formed. It is still unclear how the rest of the band members are moving forward, although they have the music to collaborate a singer who is out there somewhere dreaming of big, dark, scary things.

Strata
Wind-up Records
Eric Victorino’s new project, The Limousines