What makes Your Past Comes Back to Haunt You by I Killed the Prom Queen notable?

This album helped to define the sound of the Australian metalcore movement during the mid-2000s, influencing subsequent bands in the genre. It received positive reviews from critics and contributed to their rise in popularity, with tracks frequently praised for their emotional intensity and musical complexity. Released in January 2005, Your Past Comes Back to Haunt You is I Killed the Prom Queen's debut full-length album, following their earlier EPs. At this point in their career, they were establishing themselves within the Australian hardcore scene and gaining international attention, particularly from fans of metalcore and melodic hardcore.

How many songs are on Your Past Comes Back to Haunt You?

Your Past Comes Back to Haunt You has 6 tracks, running approximately 23 minutes.

Your Past Comes Back to Haunt You

I Killed the Prom Queen · 2005

23 min · 6 tracks · punk rock

A relentless fusion of metallic riffs and melodic hooks that captures the raw energy of early 2000s punk rock.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Never Never Land — Opening with aggressive instrumentals, this track sets the tone for the album with its blend of catchy melodies and harsh vocals, encapsulating the band's style.
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Choose to Love, Live or Die — This song stands out for its dynamic shifts between melodic choruses and intense verses, showcasing the band's ability to balance aggression with emotion.
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The Paint Brush Killer — At nearly nine minutes long, this closing track explores complex themes through varied tempos and intricate arrangements, highlighting the band’s artistic ambition.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

51 /100

Foothills

Higher than 34% of albums we've rated

The EP showcases strong compositions with varied vocal styles and maintains energy, though it dips in intensity at the end.

What we noticed

The first track opens with a fast-paced metallic riff that sets a high-energy tone, which is maintained through the first four tracks.
Vocal styles alternate between melodic singing and aggressive screaming, creating a dynamic contrast throughout the EP.
The final track features a slower tempo and more atmospheric instrumentation, providing a stark contrast to the preceding intensity.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Choose to Love, Live or Die

A pivotal moment occurs when the lyrics shift from confrontational statements to a vulnerable introspection about personal choices.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Never Never Land 3:08
2 Choose to Love, Live or Die 3:05
3 You’re Not Worth Saving 1:28
4 Dreams as Hearts Bleed 3:12
5 To Be Sleeping While Still Standing 4:03
6 The Paint Brush Killer 8:46

What to play next

Listen next

Music for the Recently Deceased

2006

Go back to

When Goodbye Means Forever...

2003

Full I Killed the Prom Queen discography Artists like I Killed the Prom Queen

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata