Cowards and Cold Grins

[INTRO — Fast palm-muted guitars, tight and aggressive. Drums blast in immediately, driving double kick underneath. Bass locked to the kick. No atmosphere — just velocity. 4 bars then straight into verse. No warning.] [VERSE 1 — Guitars stay tight and fast, palm-muted. Clean vocals, melodic but clipped — Beckett isn't whining, he's observing. Almost conversational over the chaos underneath.] So much for peace I opened my mouth Already surrounded Already getting swarmed Keyboards and cold grins Faces I've never seen Acting like they know me Acting like they bleed [PRE-CHORUS — Guitars open up, less palm muting, more space. Vocals rise, melody climbing. Tension building toward the drop.] You saw the light I carry And you couldn't stand the warmth So like every other mosquito You came for the source [CHORUS — Full melodic post-hardcore crash. Guitars wide and huge. Drums thundering. Clean vocals soaring pop-punk style — this is the most melodic moment in the song. Defiant not defeated.] Don't be surprised When I burn you down You came to my light Now you're on the ground I know what you are Underneath the noise A coward with a keyboard And a cold cold grin Too scared to say it To my face So you hide In your own disgrace [VERSE 2 — Pulls back slightly. Guitars still fast but tighter again. Vocals more pointed now, less observational, more personal. Beckett is done being diplomatic.] You call me the problem From behind your screen You built yourself a throne Out of borrowed things Jealous of the realness Can't manufacture that So you swarm around it Trying to drag it back [PRE-CHORUS] You saw the light I carry And you couldn't stand the warmth So like every other mosquito You came for the source [CHORUS] Don't be surprised When I burn you down You came to my light Now you're on the ground I know what you are Underneath the noise A coward with a keyboard And a cold cold grin Too scared to say it To my face So you hide In your own disgrace [BRIDGE — Everything drops to a single clean guitar and vocals. Quiet and controlled — this is the most dangerous Beckett gets, the stillness before the explosion. Deliver slow and cold.] I see you I know exactly what you are Too insecure to face it Too small to leave a scar You made me your problem So I'll be your problem Come at me And I'll say your real name [SCREAM MOMENT — The only full scream in the song. Guitars detonate. Double kick hammers. Everything red. Hold for 4 bars then pull back to a single riff.] (scream) YOU ARE THE PROBLEM — [BREAKDOWN — Single heavy guitar riff, slow and grinding after the chaos. Drums half time. Vocals return clean but low and cold.] Hide behind your cold grin I know your face Hide behind your keyboard I know your name [FINAL CHORUS — Biggest moment of the song. Guitars massive. Everything layered. Vocals clean and soaring but with raw edges, double tracked. Drums relentless.] Don't be surprised When I burn you down You came to my light Now you're on the ground I know what you are Underneath the noise A coward with a keyboard And a cold cold grin Too scared to say it To my face (building) So come at me Come at me Come at me then — *[OUTRO — Guitars cut suddenly. Single feedback note fading. Drums stop. Silence except the ring. Beckett speaks one last line over the decay, almost whispered.] I'll say your real name