They haven't had as much success as some major thrash bands have, but they have toured with Megadeth and have a devoted fan base.
Formed way back in the 80s by lead vocalist and guitarist Kenn Nardi, Anacrusis combined classical thrash metal with diverse progressive components, shifting time signatures, a strong melody sense and killer riffs. Focused on a combination of listenability and high grade technicality, their most popular album, "Manic Impressions" (1991), was far ahead of its time (with a spectacular cover version of New Model Army's "I Love The World"). However, with metal in a temporary decline and long-time drummer Chad Smith leaving due to financial difficulties, the band was never able to gain the commercial success that it deserved. In spite of this, they remain a true underground tip for lovers of more complex, yet heavy metal.
All four of their albums can be downloaded for free at their site.
Note: It is a common misconception that Anacrusis shared a member with the famous Red Hot Chili Peppers. While both bands had a drummer by the name of Chad Smith, these are two different people.
Imprisoned
Anacrusis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Silence whispering unspoken rage
To lend a hand but not in force
To speak our minds in free discourse
[Chorus]
Keep closed our eyes
Blind us from the fools unseen
Drain emotion to plant the seed
Keep closed our minds
Turn innocence to ignorance
Keep closed the mouths
Mute the verbal dissonance... Always
Use not, o'youth, the spoken word
Here to be seen and not to be heard
Thinking red-handed we are caught
Arrest the growth of human thought
[Chorus]
A hell is upon us now this day
Silence whispering unspoken rage
How can we grow with bars about?
Imprisoned in a cell of doubt
[Chorus]
How can we grow with bars about?
Imprisoned in a cell of doubt
[Chorus]
Always
Always
The lyrics to Anacrusis’s song, Imprisoned, highlight the theme of cognitive and emotional enslavement. The first verse describes the feeling of being trapped in a situation that is engulfed by a hellish aura. The lines, “Silence whispering unspoken rage / To lend a hand but not in force / To speak our minds in free discourse” suggest an inner turmoil where individuals feel helpless and struggle to find their voice. The chorus emphasizes the idea of shutting one’s eyes, heart, and mind to keep oneself away from being victimized by unseen “fools”. Similarly, it also urges a conscious effort to stop speaking out loud to avoid getting caught in a difficult situation.
The second verse begins with the advice to refrain from speaking out loud, which translates into the fear of judgment and punishment. The lines, “Thinking red-handed, we are caught / Arrest the growth of human thought” imply that the society that they are in, does not tolerate free-thinking and punishes those who go against the norm. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the concept of being trapped and the inability to grow because of the constraints in the surroundings. The song ends with the lines “Imprisoned in a cell of doubt / Always”.
Line by Line Meaning
A hell is upon us now this day
There is chaos around us currently
Silence whispering unspoken rage
People are angry but choosing not to express it
To lend a hand but not in force
Help others without being too pushy
To speak our minds in free discourse
Expressing ourselves and having open discussions
Keep closed our eyes
Ignorance is bliss, so don't pay attention
Blind us from the fools unseen
Prevent us from being seen as fools ourselves
Keep closed our hearts
Suppressing our emotions to avoid vulnerability
Drain emotion to plant the seed
Repressing emotions to create a false sense of growth
Keep closed our minds
Not being open to new ideas
Turn innocence to ignorance
Making innocent people ignorant by shutting down new perspectives
Keep closed the mouths
Silencing people by refusing to listen to them
Mute the verbal dissonance... Always
Never allowing disagreements or differences of opinion
Use not, o'youth, the spoken word
Young people should remain quiet and unheard
Here to be seen and not to be heard
People should remain out of the spotlight and not speak up
Thinking red-handed we are caught
Being punished for having independent thinking
Arrest the growth of human thought
Stifling new ideas and preventing progress
How can we grow with bars about?
It's impossible to progress in this environment
Imprisoned in a cell of doubt
Being unable to have confidence in oneself or one's ideas
Always
This current state is always present and doesn't seem to be changing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: K. NARDI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DyingCr0w
Ken has been one of my favorite vocals ever, along with king diamond and messiah. I busted my ass training to do his screech, i did, and can still do it. Just alike :) i was 15 back then, it's been 25 years. Anacrusis are one of the best metal bands ever. It's impressive how a band got so much better with maturity - Anacrusis and Cadlemass are the only 2 that NEVER disappointed me.
BrecMadak
simply can't be as good as how old bands were at the time, cause 99% of nowadays bands do not rely on songwriting !
Régis Blanc
this first album rips to hell , it's still agressive technical and melodic in the same time the other albums are much more mellow progressive metal even eerie psychedelic but i much prefer this masterpiece !!! a top ten of that genre ... superbely crafted stuff !!!
paul auclair
first time hearing anything off suffering hour... impressive!
arkee71
i saw em live...they were cool
Heatwave
when speed and thrash unite.awsome band
RarusAvis
How can you say municipal waste is bad? Thrash don't mind if I do. They have brought new blood to this great genre even if said blood is saturated in beer.
EchoOfHope
@scenekidacide add evile and bonded by blood to the good bands list for sure, cus they've carved out a unique niche while paying homage to old bands like forbidden and, obviously, slayer and exodus.
JeffreyKuntae94
EPICNNESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
J Smith
@EchoOfHope There's almost endless bands to add Vindicator, Aggression, Sarcasm, Cross Examination, Lazarus A.D.