Although the glory days of the Industrial music scene in Chicago had faded by this point, through constant touring and sheer hard work on a number of different projects the duo have since established themselves as favorites in the US underground scene.
In 1997, the band were forced to change their name due to a legal dispute with a Bluegrass band also called Acumen. Duffy and Novak split their project into two halves - the drum and bass influenced DJ? Acucrack, and the more traditional rock format of Acumen Nation.
Discography
Transmissions from Eville (Demo) (as Acumen; 1994; Robot Records), (as Acumen; 1994; Fifth Colvmn Records)
Territory=Universe (as Acumen; 1996; Fifth Colvmn)
Unkind (Unkind + Revelations Per Minute) (EP) (1997; Conscience Records)
More Human Heart (1997; Conscience)
If You Were (If You Were / Bleed for You) (EP) (1998; Conscience)
Transmissions from Eville (Remastered) (1998; Conscience)
Territory=Universe (Territory = Universe) (Universe) (Remastered) (1998; Conscience)
Strike 4 (EP) (2000)
Live Farewell 2001 (2001)
The 5ifth Column (Fifth Column) (5th Column) (The Fifth Column) (2002; Invisible Records)
Coming Down: The Bastard Remix Album (Coming Down (The Bastard Remix Album)) (Coming Down) (2002; Invisible)
Lord of the Cynics (2003; Cracknation Records)
Artifacts: 1990-1993 Volume 1 (Artifacts: 1990 - 1993 - Volume 1) (2004; Cracknation Records)
Acumen Nation Live at Double Door 08/06/2004 (Cracknation Records)
What the Fuck (What the F**k) (2005; Cracknation Records)
Anticore (2006; Cracknation Records)
Psycho the Rapist (2007; Cracknation Records)
Unbound Saga: Official Game Soundtrack (23, November 2010; Cracknation Records)
See also Cracknation Records, Cracknation Records
Official Site
http://www.cracknation.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cracknation/285988987668
The Words
Acumen Nation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It gets better - no
What goes around... - not really
How did you last this long?
Lashing down the skyward lines you use to feed yourself
Liberty and lies like so much cancer meant to binge and purge
Maybe tomorrow - I don't think so
There's got to be something - get a clue
No one's alive to save you
Lashing down the skyward lines you use to feed yourself
Liberty and lies like so much cancer meant to binge and purge
And the lasting days of this life gnawing at your feet
The worms have come to claim you as one of their own
The song "The Words" by Acumen Nation is a dark and gritty commentary on the human condition. The opening lines, "So you're alive - not long / It gets better - no" sets the tone for the rest of the song. It seems to be an acknowledgement that life is fleeting and there is no hope for it to get better. The following lines, "What goes around... - not really / How did you last this long?" further implies that there is a sense of hopelessness and despair about life. The track appears to be critiquing the idea of second chances and that the singer doesn't believe in it, stating "What about that second chance? - won't come / Maybe tomorrow - I don't think so / There's got to be something - get a clue / No one's alive to save you." Ultimately, the song is a warning to the listener that they are on their own in this world and that they need to be aware of the lies and false promises that society feeds them.
The imagery in the lyrics is also very striking. The lines "Lashing down the skyward lines you use to feed yourself / Liberty and lies like so much cancer meant to binge and purge" is a powerful metaphor for the way people rely on society's promises and are ultimately betrayed by them. The phrase "skyward lines" implies that the promises people believe in are lofty and idealistic, but they are ultimately futile and unreliable. The image of "cancer meant to binge and purge" is also very striking, as it highlights the destructive nature of these promises and how they can lead to a vicious cycle of hope and disappointment.
Line by Line Meaning
So you're alive - not long
You may be alive for now, but your time is limited.
It gets better - no
You may hope that things will improve, but unfortunately they will not.
What goes around... - not really
While the saying 'what goes around comes around' may be popular, it is not necessarily true for everyone.
How did you last this long?
Given the circumstances, it's surprising that you have survived this long.
Lashing down the skyward lines you use to feed yourself
You are using lies and false promises as a means to sustain yourself.
Liberty and lies like so much cancer meant to binge and purge
The freedom and deception you value so much are ultimately harmful, like a disease that you indulge and then purge yourself of.
What about that second chance? - won't come
The idea of getting a second chance is unlikely in your situation.
Maybe tomorrow - I don't think so
While tomorrow may bring new hope for some, you do not believe that it will for you.
There's got to be something - get a clue
You may be searching for answers or meaning in your situation, but you need to be more aware of what's really going on around you.
No one's alive to save you
There is no one else who will be able to rescue you from your troubles or save you from yourself.
And the lasting days of this life gnawing at your feet
As time passes, the weight of this existence will become increasingly unbearable and difficult to bear.
The worms have come to claim you as one of their own
You are destined to waste away and be consumed by the inevitable and inescapable reality of death.
Contributed by Jacob E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Growl And Roll
I discovered this band yesterday , now I'm binge listening to all of their material. Thank you!
Luke Goya
Wow awesome album!! industrial evil metal disco!!!good old times!!from years 1990-99!!
Gangrellium
This definitely SLAPS
RussX5Z
Awesome!! Great band!
Augusta Wickman
I was just listening to Bile Suck Pump and I ended up here. I have never heard of this band before but they're pretty awesome. The Youtube algorithm is really great.
Div303
awesome band to see live
robert roberts
This is pretty cool. The vocals sound like Alice Cooper.
haaken88 88
Looking around me these days, I really miss the 90's
Bluemoon in the Daylight
Seeing them play back in the '90s was a blast. They were great when they opened for Cubanate at The Metro. They sold out on their Gun Lover shirts, the one with the cyber-cock gun.
Christian K
fk me, 2019 and I still love it
can it be, that there is actually no other band that does so nice stuff?