The Purge

Album: Godmode (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "The Purge" captures the feeling of fear and confinement seen in the movie franchise of the same name. It was inspired by the coronavirus pandemic when we were trapped in our homes, afraid, wondering what would happen next and who we could trust - not unlike the movie The Purge.

    In This Moment frontwoman Maria Brink explained in a Songfacts interview: "The lyrics came from all the tension and all the build-up that happened. Why we had to be home and stuck in our houses. Every time I'd turn on the television or go on a social network, that's like what the lyrics are, how it all feels to me. I tried to bring it all into that song."
  • The music was written by band members Chris Howorth and Randy Weitzel along with their producer, Kane Churko. They wrote it during the pandemic, which offered a respite from the album and tour cycle. "We had no pressure on us and Chris was really starting to write a bunch of music," Maria Brink told Songfacts. "He actually wrote most of the musical-type stuff with this song – the verse and the chorus – and sent it to me randomly, and I loved it. I was like, 'What is this that you just sent?' The music was so strong to me – it gave me a really cool feeling."
  • This was the first single from In This Moment's eighth album, Godmode. The album title is familiar to gamers like Chris Howorth, but Maria Brink didn't know the reference - she just thought it sounded cool and evoked a spiritual power.
  • The music video was directed by Jensen Noen and shows Maria Brink, accompanied by her "blood girls," performing a ritual in a church-like mansion. You'll notice that she and her bandmates aren't on screen together - that's because they were on different coasts and shot their scenes separately. Brink lent her support from afar.

    "It was really cool with all of us filming in the church," she told Songfacts. "We went for two days straight and it was pretty crazy. All of it felt pretty epic and awesome. The only thing that was strange was not being with the boys when they were filming. But I actually sat with them the entire time on FaceTime and FaceTimed with them while they were doing their little parts. I FaceTimed with them trying to encourage them while they were doing their make-up and stuff, too."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.