Before we even knew that this album would be our last, we knew we wanted to make a definitive statement with it. Our songs seem to have some loose ideological thread running throughout, but we wanted something which would bind our ideas together and encompass everything we wish to say. So, if we have one primary message to communicate, what is it? On the evidence of "Handshakes for Bullets", you could come up with a few guesses: 'Free-market capitalism can be bad' perhaps, or 'The media control our perceived reality to a dangerous degree', or' more broadly, 'This culture is messed up'. All fine, but that's a little too specific, and besides, they are pretty awful as album titles. We wanted something that goes above all of that and something that we can all agree upon.

Behind almost all of our lyrics lies some kind of story of a conflict. In order for all these conflicts to exist all around us, there must be two or more forces in opposition. Lets say one of the sides is made up of people like you and me - honest people seeking the truth, or trying to do the right thing. Then the other side must be made up of dishonest people seeking to impede or distort the truth, or trying to do wrong. For an argument to exist, at least one side must be wrong, and possibly both. Well, that's all very simple and of course life isn't nearly so clear cut. In reality, it is sometimes difficult to work out which side a person is on, even oneself. Which all leads to one conclusion, and one common factor to all of these conflicts be they personal or global.

You are being lied to. I'm sure you already knew that. I'm sure you can think of ten examples right now. It's not a particularly new or original insight, but it is certainly a statement of fact. Everything is as it is. See things for what they are and nothing more.

As a title, it can be instantly agreed with. It is not a political statement, but it could be. It is not specific to anything, but it applies to everything. It is a starting point. We are happy to leave you all at a starting point and see where we all go from here. Know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

Michael Bromley, August 2004