Their first two albums, "Agent Side Grinder" (2008) and "Irish Recording Tape" (2009) were rooted in post-punk, industrial and dark electro. The band quickly gained an underground following throughout Europe.
Their third album "Hardware" (2012) showed a bigger and more textured sound and was met with universal acclaim. It was named "album of the month" in Vice Magazine, topped several annual "best of-lists" including Dagens Nyheter, Metro and Time Out Paris and won the Manifest-award (Swedish indie-grammy) for best synth album in 2013.
ASG has done five European tours and played festivals such as Wave-Gotik Treffen, The Great Escape, Eurosonic, Paaspop, Les Transmusicales de Rennes, Drop Dead Festival and Arvikafestivalen. They have opened for bands such as Suicide and Cold Cave and collaborated with artists like Dirk Ivens, Kite and Henric de la Cour.
2013 saw the North American release of "Hardware" and also an extensive remix album called "SFTWR". Expect a new ASG album in 2015.
Stripdown
Agent Side Grinder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strip it down to the ritual ground
Strip it down to the scene
Where it all began
Strip it down to the skin
Further down to the chilling bone
Where you freeze the most
Strip it down to the heart
Strip it down to that bleeding stone
Strip it down to the beat
Just a metal stick
Mind is deconstructing
Mind is self-destructing
Mind is going down the drain
Body coldly burning
Pulse slowly returning
Out of ash to grow again
Strip it down to the core
Further down to the naked truth
Where you freeze the most
Where you hurt the most
Mind is deconstructing
Mind is self-destructing
Mind is going down the drain
Body coldly burning
Pulse slowly returning
Out of ash to grow again
Mind is deconstructing
Mind is self-destructing
Mind is going down the drain
Body coldly burning
Pulse slowly returning
Out of ash to grow again
The lyrics of "Stripdown" by Agent Side Grinder speak to the idea of stripping away all the layers of one's self to get to the core of who they are. The song describes stripping down to the floor, the ritual ground, and the scene where it all began - these lyrics could be interpreted as going back to one's roots, to the place where everything started. The lyrics then delve into the idea of stripping down to the skin and bone where one feels the most vulnerable and exposed. The song describes the heart as a bleeding stone, and the beat as just a metal stick, suggesting that emotions and feelings can be hard and cold. The chorus repeats the idea of the mind self-destructing and going down the drain, while the body burns and eventually returns to grow again. The song encourages the listener to confront their deepest and most uncomfortable truths to let go of the past and grow from the ashes.
In summary, "Stripdown" is a song that communicates the idea of stripping down to the core of one's self to face the truth of who they are, which can be painful but ultimately leads to growth and regeneration. The imagery of burning, freezing, and falling down the drain amplifies the emotional intensity of the lyrics and creates a sense of urgency in the listener to confront their own inner demons.
Line by Line Meaning
Strip it down to the floor
Reduce everything to its most basic level.
Strip it down to the ritual ground
Get back to the very beginning of a situation or event.
Strip it down to the scene
Focus on the detailed aspects of a particular context or environment.
Where it all began
The place or point in time where a situation first originated.
Strip it down to the skin
Expose the most intimate, raw and vulnerable aspects of yourself.
Further down to the chilling bone
Dig deeper and explore the most painful and terrifying experiences or feelings.
Where you freeze the most
The moments that paralyze or terrify you the most.
Where you feel the most
The experiences that elicit the most intense emotions within you.
Strip it down to the heart
Get to the very essence of something or someone.
Strip it down to that bleeding stone
Strip away all the superficial layers to reveal the pain or ache at the core.
Strip it down to the beat
Simplify everything to the most fundamental rhythm or sound.
Just a metal stick
Eliminate all the unnecessary complexities to the simplest form.
Mind is deconstructing
The process of breaking down one's thoughts, emotions, and experiences into smaller parts to understand them fully.
Mind is self-destructing
The act of destroying one's mental, emotional, or psychological well-being with negative thoughts or behaviors.
Mind is going down the drain
The feeling of losing control of one's thoughts or actions, often leading to a sense of hopelessness or despair.
Body coldly burning
The sensation of intense physical pain or discomfort that one experiences during an emotionally charged situation.
Pulse slowly returning
The process of calming oneself down after an intense emotional or physical experience.
Out of ash to grow again
The realization that growth can come from the aftermath of difficult events or experiences.
Strip it down to the core
Get to the most essential and raw core of something or someone.
Further down to the naked truth
Explore the absolute truth, no matter how uncomfortable or painful it may be.
Where you hurt the most
The moments, experiences or situations that cause the deepest emotional pain.
Writer(s): Johan Lange
Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mauvedragontiddies9244
When they pulled out that sax... I internally screamed.
That's like the greatest thing ever, I did not expect this at all.
@kristerkarlehem3335
it...fits....some how :)
@darkjedi4uk
Just discovered this. How can music as good as this not be on my radar. Seen that these guys are playing alongside Combichrist in some music festival. Beautiful dark 80s sound. Love it.
@darkstar7084
11/10 for putting a sax in a darkwave track lol
@davidwielsch5375
great voice + great sound + great refrain + great sax = great song
@marlesemir7163
@Mr. W bruh
@AutitsicDysexlia
You forgot the neon. Great neon.
@dachasemeister
Just freaking awesome. The dark side of the 80's revisited and totally revitalised!
@chelseaguy70
I’m addicted to their music. What a fantastic song.
@Lavinia_Garcia
Ahhh just discovered this man, gonna be listening to this on loop