The clock doesn’t wait. That’s the premise, really. Songs For A Monday Morning (Lemmis Records), the new release from long-standing Long Island hardcore unit the great lie, circles like a battered commuter train—caked in routine, running on fumes, refusing to break. It’s not poetic. It’s just true. And if it sounds bitter, it’s only because bitterness is what’s left when nothing sweet sticks.
The Great Lie have lived this. Veterans of MADBALL, MIND OVER MATTER, SILENT MAJORITY, and more, their pedigree is a timeline of East Coast hardcore’s evolution, tracked through decades of sweat and volume. Formed in 2014, the band—Kerry Merkle, Scott Martin, Mike Scarola, John Lafata—have built something that’s never tried to shine. Just hold. Just stand.
This new record is a document of endurance, a post-pandemic howl filtered through Monday fatigue and psychic hangover. It’s their third major statement after Defying Extinction (2020), which carried Martin Bisi’s rough-cut production legacy, and Vertigo (2023), mastered by Arthur Rizk. Rizk returns here, sharpening the edges again, especially on lead single “Fractured,” released March 7.
Songs For A Monday Morning offers reflection. Rage, yes, but a grown one. One that has gone to work with a headache. One that’s taken the train again and again and still notices the same dead bird by the tracks.
The band holds a mirror not to the system, but to the people just trying to function within it. It’s not about escape. It’s about surviving another day inside the machinery.
That much is clear before the full breakdown begins. To understand the depth of this record—its messages about human fracture, hollow conviction, digital noise, and the daily crawl—you’ll want to read the track-by-track commentary directly.
Read on. Then go back to work.
1. Fractured
Fractured by is an unrelenting reflection on the inherent brokenness of humanity. With driving noise rock intensity, the lyrics confront the universal struggle of picking up the pieces after life’s damage, only to find that nothing is ever quite the same. The song embraces the scars and shattered fragments as an inescapable part of existence, questioning the purpose of it all while acknowledging that this struggle ultimately defines who we are.
2. Rinse And Repeat
Rinse and Repeat is a raw, driving song about the grind of daily life and the fight to push through. With blistering riffs and unrelenting energy, the Long Island hardcore veterans channel frustration and reflection into a powerful call to survive. Gritty and urgent, the track captures the weight of routine, the passage of time, and the struggle to break free. No matter the pain, the goal remains: Make it out alive.
3. Another Way
Another Way is a song about the crushing repetition of daily life—waking up, working, and enduring the same cycle as it grinds you down. The song captures the frustration of feeling trapped, the desperate need for change, and the search for something more. While the verses reflect exhaustion and the struggle to break free, the song ultimately delivers a message of resilience. The closing lines emphasize inner strength, honesty, and staying true to oneself as the key to pushing forward, even when the world tries to wear you down.
4. Head Low
Head Low is calling out those who lack true convictions of their own. With raw intensity, the song confronts individuals who parrot beliefs without understanding, exposing their hypocrisy and self-doubt. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone unable to meet another’s gaze, weighed down by dishonesty and insecurity. The song’s driving force lies in its challenge—if their words were genuine, they wouldn’t have to hide behind them. Instead, they keep their head low, trapped by their own lies.
5. Lay Down
Lay Down takes a more melodic approach while retaining the band’s signature aggression. The song captures the struggle of pushing through the daily grind, battling exhaustion and self-doubt. With lyrics that reflect the mental tug-of-war between fatigue and perseverance, it serves as an anthem for those facing the relentless cycle of work. The song’s dynamic energy mirrors the ups and downs of the day, urging listeners to rise to the challenge despite the weight of routine.
6. Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking is a sharp critique of manipulation and control, exploring how external forces—through chemistry and psychology—shape perception and behavior. The lyrics express a growing awareness of these influences, urging vigilance and skepticism. The song warns against blindly accepting information, emphasizing the need to question what we see and hear to avoid becoming passive victims of manipulation.
