With yea… Read Full Bio ↴13 Mg. is Coldwave/Industrial Rock band from Chicago, USA.
With years of being behind the production wheel of such big names as Grace Jones, Ministry, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chemlab, and the Jesus and Mary Chain, vocalist and producer H. Beno wanted to start his own project.
So by recruiting guitarists Max Edgin and Joe Callahan, bassist Cornelius Boon, and drummer Felix Miklik, and 13 Mg. was born in 1993. With their style of combining aggressive dance beats, distorted keyboard, and coarse guitar leads, 13 Mg. were soon recording their 1996 debut full-length Trust and Obey. Followed by a series tours with Sister Machinegun, Prong, and EDN and their Re-Mixes EP in 1997, 13 Mg.'s second album, Eternacate, was released on Slipdisc Records two years later.
Members:
Howie Beno - Throat noise, French Horn
Felix Miklik-Drums, Programming, Guns
Max Edgin- Guitars, Sitars, DeProgramming
Cornelius Boon- Elec Bass, Uprite Bass, Blades
Joe Callahan- Guitars, Noises, Pedal Steel
Sinister
13 Mg. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those intricate lies, her fantasy is sustained
Both feet to the floor and I count to three
And calmly state or repeat after me
Drawing words down like flies
In time you'll realize
Why stay in contact
Watching to contract
Full impact of your ways
Both feet to the floor and I count to three
And calmly state or repeat after me
How does it feel to be so real?
To be so right?
Duress trap for the criminal insane
Your body sweats, the cardinal stain
A vacuous brain, the carnal beast's respect
Reduced to threats and circling overhead
Drawing words down like flies
In time you'll realize
I come to burn and not to praise
Why stay in contact
Watching to contract
Full impact of your ways
Both feet to the floor and I count to three
And calmly state or repeat after me
How does it feel to be so real?
To be so right?
"Sinister" by 13 Mg. is a song that seems to reflect a confrontation between two people: one person who is playing a manipulative game, and the other person who is trying to expose and resist their lies. The first verse sets the stage for this game, as the person playing it relies on intricate lies to sustain their own fantasy. The second verse reveals the singer's intentions: they come to "burn and not to praise" the other person, meaning they want to expose the truth about the manipulator's actions. The repeated line "Both feet to the floor and I count to three" seems to imply a sort of countdown, as though the singer is giving the other person a chance to confess or come clean before they "draw[ ] words down like flies" and bring their lies crashing to the ground.
The chorus of the song asks the manipulator how it feels to be "so real" and "so right," which could be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be the singer sarcastically pointing out that the manipulator thinks they're in control, or it could be a genuine question about whether the manipulator believes their own lies. The final verse introduces some darker imagery, as the manipulator's "duress trap" brings out their own "carnal beast." They are reduced to making threats and "circling overhead," perhaps like a predator stalking its prey. It's unclear what the "cardinal stain" refers to, but it adds to the sense that the manipulator is somehow tainted or sinful.
Overall, "Sinister" is a song that explores the dynamics of power and deception in a relationship. The manipulator relies on lies and fantasy to control the situation, while the other person is trying to cut through the deceit and expose the truth. The repeated refrain of "Both feet to the floor and I count to three" creates a sense of tension and builds anticipation for the moment when the truth will be revealed.
Line by Line Meaning
Time is right for the game to be played
It is the opportune moment to engage in the deceitful game.
Those intricate lies, her fantasy is sustained
The complicated lies are upheld to enable her illusionary world to continue.
Both feet to the floor and I count to three
With both feet firmly planted, I prepare to take action by mentally counting to three.
And calmly state or repeat after me
In a composed manner, I verbally instruct or ask for repetition from the other party.
Drawing words down like flies
My words are powerful and effectively capture the other party's attention, akin to how flytraps capture flies.
In time you'll realize
Eventually, you will understand and comprehend the severity of the situation.
I come to burn and not to praise
I am here to confront and destroy, not to give compliments or approval.
Why stay in contact
What is the reason for maintaining communication?
Watching to contract
Monitoring until an agreement, usually unfavorable to the other party, is established.
Full impact of your ways
The consequences and repercussions of your actions are significant and far-reaching.
How does it feel to be so real?
How does it feel to exist in reality, unguarded and exposed?
To be so right?
To be validated and justified in your actions and decisions?
Duress trap for the criminal insane
A situation of intense pressure and distress for those who have lost touch with reality and morality.
Your body sweats, the cardinal stain
Your body responds with physical signs of fear or guilt, revealing your cardinal sin.
A vacuous brain, the carnal beast's respect
A lack of intellectual depth, deserving of only the primal respect given to savage animals.
Reduced to threats and circling overhead
Reduced to making empty threats and being in a state of apprehension, like a predator circling its prey.
Contributed by Eva W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.