YMMV / Jhariah

• Alternative Character Interpretation:
  • The final track of The Great Tale of How I Ruined It All. While he doesn't feel good about what he did, why is that? Since he "took the crown from where it fell" and has the new cult members subscribe to his philosophy, it could mean that he's no better than the old leader, since he just assumed the position and continues guiding people without giving them back their individual freedom. On the other hand, since he is genuinely trying to make a better life for everyone from what little they have, it could be Survivor Guilt since he's reflected that he was able to save everyone earlier, but he kept waiting. Even though he's doing his best now, he feels bad because he let everything get destroyed in the first place, so he could have prevented this situation altogether.
  • In "Needed a Change of Pace", it's clear that the protagonist isn't being honest; he's "not afraid to lie" about feeling guilty and the reality of the situation doesn't set in until "PRESSURE BOMB 3?!?!" or "DEBT COLLECTOR". However, there's a line that his girlfriend should never forget what he's done; if she does, he'll "do it again". Is he telling her that he needs consequences so he doesn't repeat his bad behavior? Or is it a threat, where he's hoping he can fake his death again to escape her once she forgets everything bad he's done?
  • "DEBT COLLECTOR" is a metaphor for the protagonist's past (faking his death) going to "come and drag [him] down", but one line stands out: "Kind words and lies won't save [his] head this time around!" Either it's saying that the people after him are so outraged that they will harm him and possibly kill him if they catch him; or it means that he can't clear his mind and conscience until he directly confesses to what he did.
• Awesome Music:
  • "City of Ashes" has the protagonist trying to convince everyone to save themselves and defeat the cult that's taken over the place. The line delivery and lyrics are awesome:
    Let the sun just incinerate your skin
    To start all over!
    Rebuild what they destroyed!
    Make weapons of your voice!
    Whatever they employ, I'll exploit, make null and void!
  • "Promises" is a high-energy song that represents a Heroic Second Wind in The Great Tale of How I Ruined It All. It's empowering, shows the protagonist's desire to finally make things right, and has some incredibly hardcore lyrics.
    When you tried to take the spark in our eyes
    Did you think it could go this wrong?
    I’d suggest that you raise your white flag high
    'Cause you lost when your puppets reclaimed their lives
  • The Surprisingly Gentle Song "Sunsets (Resilience)" has a Hawaiian guitar backing track, alongside some grain effects in the background. The bittersweet tone and lyrics make it quite relaxing.
  • "The Great Tale of How I Ruined It All" is a masterful Bittersweet Ending. The repeated chanting in the background and way it's sung make it clear that things won't be back to normal anytime soon.
  • "Needed a Change of Pace" is a fast-paced, slightly surreal track about the protagonist's life after faking his death, and how powerful and liberated he feels for just disappearing without a trace. The loud horns in the background and theatrical tone to the song make it one of the highlights of the album.
  • "DEBT COLLECTOR" kicks A Beginner's Guide to Faking Your Death into an even higher gear after "PRESSURE BOMB 3?!?!". The fast drums and synth in the background sell how worried the protagonist is that people are catching onto him. The lyrics capture this vibe perfectly:
    Here comes the debt collector!
    Seems you owe him again!
    Dollars and coins can't cut your check
    This time around!
  • "RISK, RISK, RISK!", a song full of awesome Badass Boasts set to an impossibly fast and catchy beat.
• Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: The second line of The Great Tale of How I Ruined It All is "The trees don't grow, they kill instead!" Despite the album's focus on continuity and story, these killer trees are never mentioned again, and don't even mesh with the theme and plot of the album.
• Friendly Fandoms: Jhariah fans get along with Save Face fans, due to their similar music styles. They even did a collaboration single together, "A Lesson in Dramatics".
• Funny Moments: In "Goodbye", the singer expresses remorse at having to leave the room he's spent the entire apocalypse hiding out in. It starts off pretty sad, but it gets funny when he starts berating himself for how overly sentimental and dramatic he's being:
  How cliché for me to carve my name
  Into the insides of this old rotten place
  I'll go away until another day
  I hate that I can miss a room this way
• Nightmare Fuel: "Knives are Dangerous, Kid, so Cut the Theatrics!" is incredibly disturbing. There's an ominous backing track that sometimes glitches out, the vocals are hushed but steady, and the straight-up screaming and Evil Laugh during the chorus don't help. The lyrics consist of a person losing a bar brawl, going into the streets, and getting abducted by a man who plans to kill him (or worse, if "you don't even know the half of what I'm gonna do" is any indication). It takes on some Realism-Induced Horror with the detailed descriptions of the tactics he uses to lure him in, such as pretending to be friendly and lying that he's going to the same destination he is.
• Signature Song:
  • "Flight of the Crows", for its emotional lyrics and tone. Special mention goes to the spectacular, theatrical finish in the final 30 seconds.
  • "DEBT COLLECTOR" has become popular for its uniquely fast-paced, high-energy tone, awesome lyrics, and use of synth and drums.