The band explores many subjects, including marriage (”Last Call”), fatherhood (”As He Climbed the Dark Mountain”), and physical abuse (”Time’s Arrow”).

[5] In an interview, Rickly explained the album's title refers to humanity's shared experience, and that many of the songs were influenced by the words of his favorite poets and authors.

"[8] - Geoff Rickly, Spin.com interview On September 30, 2008, it was announced that the band had signed to independent label Epitaph Records and that their next album would be released in the spring.

Between mid-February and early April 2009, the band headlined the Taste of Chaos tour,[21] with support from Bring Me the Horizon, Four Year Strong, Pierce the Veil and Cancer Bats.

[22] During this trek, the band appeared on The Daily Habit, where they performed "Resuscitation of a Dead Man" and "Friends in the Armed Forces".

[23] Following this, the band toured Europe as part of the Give it a Name festival, and played a few standalone shows in Belgium, Italy and Switzerland.

[25][26][27] On September 15, 2009, a deluxe edition of Common Existence was released, with five bonus tracks, the music video for "Resuscitation of a Dead Man" and a digital booklet.

[28] Following this, they went on a cross-country US tour with support from the Fall of Troy, Young Widows, La Dispute, the Dear Hunter, Touché Amoré and Midnight Masses, until October 2009.

The record is somehow forward-thinking, further pushing the more atmospheric approach glimpsed at on the band's split with Envy last year, yet speckled with retro stylings of previous albums.

[46] Sputnikmusic also gave it four stars out of five and stated, "Just when Thursday seems to stir in unfamiliar, unwanted territory, they manage to find a way to make it happen.

Club gave it a B and said it was "the band’s densest, most accomplished album to date, with sonic layers and the complexity of a big-budget record, without the bloat.

"[49] Other reviews are average, mixed or negative: Blender gave it a score of three stars out of five and said it "amps up the band’s aggro guitars, cookie-monster yells and proggy ambition.

"[34] Billboard gave it an average review and said it "melds the band's hardcore influences with shoegaze and atmospheric elements, with mixed results.