"We were definitely out of control on our first tour, Ozzfest 2001," Mr. Banks admits. "It wasn't enough to just play our music; we also had to fire shotguns on stage and throw pigheads at the crowd. Chalk it up to a desperate bid for attention." The Head Charge rap sheet - which also includes getting into bloody brawls with their fans, smashing equipment they couldn't afford to replace, reacquainting themselves with hard drugs and occasionally being locked up by the enraged fuzz - has served to obscure the fact that these free spirits play the shit out of their instruments and make brutally powerful music of uncommon distinction.
But this distorted (though hardly inaccurate) perception of the band will likely change with the release of The Feeding, a seething mass of avant metal, nightmare grindcore and moshpit rock that alternates between pummeling ferocity and passages of all-out grandeur. It's a stunning display of primally extreme music that's guaranteed to scare the hell out of your parents.
The album had its genesis during the limbo in which AHC found themselves after touring intensively behind their acclaimed 2001 debut, The War of Art, two years of prolonged exile from the road and ongoing internal tumult that found several band members in a virtual death match with their personal demons. Three guys in the band jumped into the chemical deep end and two of them went back to rehab, guitarist Bryan Ottoson ruefully recounts. "It got so bad I was nearly checked into a psychiatric unit for suicidal behavior."
Inevitably, their struggles begat rage, and that could've paralyzed them. But what sets Head Charge apart is an almost alchemical ability to transform their rage - at the world, each other and (perhaps most of all) themselves - into dark art. Hence, the worse their situation got, the more inspired they became, as singer Cock and bassist/guitarist Mr. Banks - now collaborating with Ottoson and keyboard manipulator Justin Fowler - stirred up a cauldron of new songs and brought them to seething life with drummer Christopher Emery. While the band's old label turned a deaf ear to their bold sonic forays, emerging producer Greg Fidelman, who'd engineered the Rick Rubin-produced first album, embraced the band's new material. The band managed to get out of their deal, and sign with Nitrus/DRT. "Rick Rubin was gracious enough to let us leave American Recordings without hassle. It could have been a litigious nightmare" adds Mr. Banks.
With Fidelman at the helm, Head Charge spent four months on the album, and it evidences an unlikely, previously dormant self-discipline. Tellingly, whereas the sprawling The War of Art ran well over an hour, as if they could barely control their wild-eyed impulses, The Feeding clocks in at a dense 41 minutes, the compression serving to intensify their fury. The opener and first single "Loyalty" sets the record's brutal tone, as Cock spews recriminations with frightful conviction while also revealing a scarred humanity in his natural voice, a captivating tenor that sounds like the troubled emanations of some fallen angel. "Dirty" would be an infectious, balls-out rocker were it not for Cock's Satanic howling, which transforms it into the soundtrack to an exorcism. "Walk Away" delivers a hyper-melodic, gloriously anthemic chorus, then proceeds to hack it to pieces in characteristically deranged fashion. Easy listening this ain't. And yet the closing "To Be Me" achieves something close to serenity, like the eerie calm after a thunderstorm - or a nuclear holocaust. "It's almost hopeful" Mr. Banks acknowledges, sounding like he can hardly believe it himself.
There's a line in "Walk Away" that perfectly encapsulates this tormented but inspired band: "We're dirty and hungry and bitter and tired and broke and bruised and battered," Cock shrieks in agony and defiance, adding, with all due irony, "so happy." Although Cock is the band's primary lyricist, it was Mr. Banks who came up with the words (he admits, quite unnecessarily, that he was in a bad state at the time). Mr. Banks recited the line his partner, who knew right away that it would drop right into the hole he was looking to fill in the song's crucial bridge section. "For a while," Mr. Banks says, "that's what we wanted to call the album - with no spaces between the words. It just says it all."
Also in the cosmic coincidence department is the filigreed, intertwined guitar figure that opens and closes the boldly provocative "Ridiculed," The Feeding's roiling centerpiece. The part is actually two guitars, and the parts were conjured up simultaneously by Ottoson and Cock - in two separate parts of the studio, out of hearing of each other. At the same moment, each of them entered the main room eager to play their new creations to the other band members and Fidelman. Only then did everyone realize that the two parts magically interlocked. Divine intervention. With this crew, that's highly unlikely - unless God has a truly twisted sense of humor (and with AHC there's plenty of circumstantial evidence to support that hypothesis).
Mr. Banks describes his band's dynamic as "a constant battle between Order and Chaos," and that's an apt description of the corrosive yet savagely beautiful sonic onslaught AHC delivers on The Feeding. In the end, Order prevails - if just barely - which is a good thing for American Head Charge and their ever-growing legion of fans. If Chaos had come out on top, this dangerously self-destructive but supremely talented band would've surely imploded, leaving nothing but wrecked gear, lost souls and mangled body parts. Instead, with all their limbs still attached and pulsing with the endorphins of catharsis, AHC will spend 2005 on the road - and this time, hopefully, not the road to perdition.
Bryan Ottoson passed away on April 19th, 2005 in his sleep on the band's tour bus while supporting Mudvayne. Many reports concluded it to be the result of an accidental prescription drug overdose. After being diagnosed with a severe case of strep throat, he was prescribed penicillin and an unknown pain killer. He, unknowingly, developed pneumonia and the strep throat got worse. He was found in his bunk after members of the band attempted to wake him before a performance.
Also, Christopher Emery was fired from American Head Charge onstage on the 11th of February 2006. So who is to say that Chaos isn't prevailing in the long run?
On April 3rd, 2007 American Head Charge will release a CD/DVD combo titled "Can't Stop The Machine". The DVD will feature a complete retrospective of the bands career from the early days signing to Rick Rubin's American recordings, interviews with all band member, performing live on Ozzfest 2001, worldwide tours with Slipknot, Mudvayne, Static-X, and more.
Also a look behind the scene at making both "The War of Art" and "The Feeding" Albums. It will also include all of the bands videos and a special tribute to late guitarist Bryan Daniel Ottoson. The CD will feature live recordings, remixes, and other unreleased material.
Unfortunately, due to lead singer Cameron Heacock's “inability to continue on a musical career path,” the band disbanded August 11th, 2009.
In June 2011 There were tweets on bassist Chad Hanks' twitter regarding American Head Charge reforming with a new drummer. Hanks also stated that there is a new Facebook page called American Head Charge (Official).
A King Among Men
American Head Charge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How I feel?
Any attempt will just fall short
In vain
There's only one way I can think of that makes any sense
You are a, king among men
You are a, king among men
I
Met you
I
Met you
Now everyday is different. But, the same.
We try to put this behind us
But, your memory remains
You never quite knew just what you meant to me
You are a, king among men
You are a, king among men
I
Met you
I
Met you
I just wish that you were there beside us
I just wish that you were here
The lyrics of "A King Among Men" by American Head Charge speak to the difficulty of expressing deep emotions and the longing for someone who is no longer present. The opening lines convey the struggle of finding words that truly capture the intensity of feelings, suggesting that any attempt will inevitably fall short. The singer acknowledges that there is only one way they can express themselves that will make any sense, implying that actions and presence may speak louder than words.
The repeated line "You are a king among men" serves as a tribute to the person being addressed. The singer acknowledges their greatness, perhaps highlighting their admirable qualities, character, or impact on others. It can be interpreted as a mark of respect and admiration for someone who stands out as extraordinary among others.
The second part of the song reflects on the aftermath of this person's absence. Each day may feel different, yet there is a lingering sense of sameness due to the enduring memory of the individual. The desire to move on and leave the past behind is juxtaposed with the realization that the memory of this person remains, constantly affecting the singer's thoughts and emotions. The refrain of "I met you" reinforces the significance of the encounter with this extraordinary individual, suggesting that their presence had a profound impact on the singer's life.
In the concluding lines, the singer expresses their longing for the person to be present, emphasizing the feeling of their absence and the desire for their companionship. It conveys a sense of emptiness and longing for a connection that is no longer possible.
Overall, "A King Among Men" reflects on the difficulty of expressing one's emotions, pays homage to an exceptional individual, and explores the lasting impact of their absence on the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
How can I express with meaning
I struggle to find the right words to accurately convey my emotions
How I feel?
The depth of my emotions is hard to put into words
Any attempt will just fall short
No matter how hard I try, my attempts to express myself will always be inadequate
In vain
My efforts to communicate my feelings are futile
There's only one way I can think of that makes any sense
There is only one method that seems logical to me
You are a, king among men
You possess exceptional qualities that set you apart from others
I, met you
I had the privilege of encountering you
Now everyday is different. But, the same.
Every day has changed, yet nothing feels truly different
We try to put this behind us
We attempt to move on from this experience
But, your memory remains
However, your presence still lingers in our thoughts
You never quite knew just what you meant to me
You never fully understood the significance of your impact on me
I just wish that you were there beside us
I long for your presence to be with us
I just wish that you were here
I deeply desire for you to be present in our lives
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAMERON HEACOCK, JUSTIN FOWLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Smokey Beard
Why is there barley any views or comments?These guys are far to good and legendary to have this little hype
CWeaveLyrical
It's disappointing.
Marv_ich
Is one of my favortie bands. Too bad two of them Rest in Peace and Cameron is in prison :'(
Luke Urban
This band is the best ever and deserved more credit.Songs like never get caught and dirty are life anthems._
Sy
Such a hauntingly beautiful song, even more so when you realise the meaning behind it. RIP Bryan
Hector Collazo
And Rock In Peace, Chad 😢
Blacktater1 Hill
I fought my whole life trying to find a way to excuse the way you treated us.... finally one day I seen how bad you were hurting for how you treated us. You only wanted us in your life again. We had grown bitter and resented you. I finally found a way to have a connection with you again. We grew just like a father and son should. You tried to repair the decades of damage done. I held on to the memories and scars yet let you in one more time to my life. You helped me through one of the toughest times of my life and never backed down. You were the father I finally needed and wanted. Then one weekend I hugged you and said good bye as I drove across state lines. Little did I know it would be the last time I would ever see you as a person. You would still hurt every time we left but knew we were adults and had our own lives now. Sadly something so microscopic would take you from me again. Just when I finally had you.. you were gone again.... This time forever. We roll around the time you got sick for the first time since it happened and I can only sit and hurt inside missing the childhood I wanted and remembering the few years I shared a connection with you. I wish I could have just one more hug now. I watched you take your last few breaths and said goodbye. You left me hurt more than you had ever hurt me as a child. I truly forgive you dad... I miss you so much
Rippin Scabs
Beautiful ❤
Killer Kross
Love this
KaneSMR Aussieboi
Think my father may pass in a day or two. I dedicate this to him either way.