Ruiner, released on August 16, 2005 through Nitro Records, is the second full-length album from the Massachusetts-based melodic hardcore band A Wilhelm Scream, since changing their name from Smackin' Isaiah in 2002. It received mostly very favourable reviews.
Ruiner has been released four times, three times on CD and once on coloured 12" vinyl. Two of the CD releases, the original and Japanese edition, as well as the 12" vinyl, were released through Nitro Records in the same year. The Australian tour edition was released through Shock Records a year later during A Wilhelm Scream's first Australia tour, supporting Less Than Jake, hence the name. Despite the tour starting on October 31, 2006 and the album being sold whilst on the tour, the official release date was November 11. The track listing for the Nitro Records releases are identical, whilst the Australian tour edition contains a Ruiner session b-side entitled "Bodies and Suitcases". This song is by fault listed as "Bodies as Suitcases" on the album's track listing.
Ruiner was an American hardcore punk band from Baltimore, Maryland.
On October 5, 2004, Ruiner played their first show and released their first three song demo. On May 5, 2005, they released a 7” EP “What Could Possibly Go Right…” through Firestarter and Gravemistake Records. At the end of the summer in 2005, Ruiner signed with 1917 Records.
Lyrically, Ruiner touched on personal sentiments such as disillusion with the world, desolation, lost love, self-loathing and disappointment.
Ruiner played over 200 shows in their first year and half in existence and in their second year, the band headed to Europe for 31 shows in ten different countries. The band toured all over the world including Europe six times, Australia twice, as well as tours through Southeast Asia, China, and Japan, and many tours through Canada and Mexico. Their hard work paid off when Bridge Nine Records took notice and released their critically acclaimed full-length debut Prepare To Be Let Down in 2007.
In 2009, Ruiner took a break from their time on the road and holed themselves up back in Baltimore to work on writing their new album. The band headed to the studio in July with producer J. Robbins, and recorded the tracks for what would become Hell Is Empty.
I am pride. I am discouragement.
Self loathing, but egotistical, an ignorant fuck.
An average heathen who just waits for their turn to speak.
Convinced in thinking they know when their end will be.
But I am shit no different and no better.
Similar skin stretched over similar bone.
I want answers for coming days.
I want a reason for what was and what will be.
I try to look to no god, nor any man.
I see that a weakness at best.
But in our dire moments we need something to blame.
We turn to a light we will never see
You need me more than I need you.
I wish that was true, I wish that was true.
Faith is humanities answer for the fear they can not face.