Five Stories Falling

Released in late 2002, Five Stories Falling serves as a stopgap EP between the band's breakthrough Full Collapse and their major-label debut War All the Time. The project is primarily composed of live recordings from the 2002 Vans Warped Tour, showcasing the band's high-intensity stage presence and the raw emotionality that defined the New Jersey scene. While the live tracks provide a visceral look at their touring life, the EP is most historically significant for the inclusion of 'Jet Black New Year.' This track features Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance and remains a fan favorite for its dark, apocalyptic themes. Despite its popularity, the EP became a point of contention between the band and Victory Records; Geoff Rickly famously encouraged fans to download the new track rather than buy the EP, citing the label's exploitative release strategy. This tension adds a layer of punk-rock defiance to the record's legacy, marking it as a document of both creative peak and industry friction.