The meaning in the actual song, is about the band as best friends – they’re practically like family to each other. Meaning they need to shelter each other when a storm comes around, they protect each other, and look after one another.
The meaning behind the video is another take on a view of the genre of music that the Cancer Bats relate to. The Cancer Bats are known for heavy metal music, and also screamo. This meaning that those who are more focused on a different genre, look to the Cancer Bats are people who dress in black, and have no fun. The video is a view into the lives of the band.
It takes them around their hometown Toronto, in Ontario, Canada. Showing what the band get up to regularly, for example visiting the fast food restaurant, visiting the hairdressers, and also the ‘Okey Doke’ tattoo shop. The actions that the bands make when the video jumps to a shot of the alley way where they’re all stood singing at the camera, represent a more mainstream genre such as rap. In rap videos the singer often stands in front of the camera, making himself seem bigger by opening his arms, and moving them around in time to the beat. The band copy this action in a way that is almost mocking the more mainstream music genres. Another clue about the band mocking the genre, is the dollar sign which represents the ‘S’ in the word ‘Brick’ at the beginning opening credits to the video.
As for the editing in the video, the main edit used is a straight cut, this being used to change from one view to another, and also to jump from one location to another location. There is an almost reverse than forward edit used when the guitarist slides his hand down the next to create this almost distorted sound. The edit jumps from one shot, to another, then back to the same shot in a second. This creating a good effect on the video, as well as being in sync with the actual song playing over the top of the visuals.
At one point in the video, there is a scene which relates back to the actual heavy metal genre of the song. This being the scene outside of the tattoo shop when the singer [Liam Cormier] grabs onto a passing stranger, and drags him back into the wall. This action representing the movements that take place during the concerts for the band, this being a ‘mosh pit’. Which is when the fans dive around in a circle, fighting each other to the music, but almost in a non-hateful way. The tattoo shop scene also reflects back to the genre of the song, as bands who create heavy metal music are often featured to be covered in tattoos, this idea being pretty much correct.
The cinematography in the video varies to the different shots used, and also the location. A low angle shot is used when the CN Tower is in view. The CN tower being a famous landmark, as one of the tallest buildings in the world. This featuring in the video due to its location, and symbolism to the band and the city itself. The camera is also used to fit one of the members of the band in the shot, who is pictured singing with the tower in the background. Tracking movements are also used for the shots when the band are seen singing in the van, the movement of the camera is going backwards. Which can show the journey of the band around the town, once again representing their everyday lives, and what is normal to them. The camera also uses forward tracking movements to follow the band members when they’re walking down the street, or into a shop.
The mise-en-scene of the music remains fairly basic as they’re wearing clothes which suit their genre of music, and their style. This being the black clothes, Vans brand shoes, and other forms of band t-shirts. The location sticks to areas around the city of Toronto. Motorcycles are also displayed in the alleyway where the band are singing towards the camera. The motorcycles can represent such historic groups like the ‘Hell’s Angels’, or general bikers. Bikers often being picked are muscular, threatening, wearing black, and covered in tattoos – which once again relates back to the genre of the song playing above the visuals in the video.
