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.
Sound The Alarm
Anacrusis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear, but still, I don't see
Just where the actions meet the words
You just sound the alarm
Racing pulse and boiling blood
At fever-pitch
Another finger-pointing mob
With stones to throw
But if it truly mattered
And if you truly cared
It would be altogether different
Let the sirens scream
But leave me alone to decide
And leave me to what I might find
Starving to understand
You swallowed the lies
Eager to spit them out
To feed the masses
And the guilt they hide
Answer me honestly
No more false transparencies
Just where does motive meet concern?
You just sound the alarm
Spreading fear to bury trust
To distract
Until, lost and scared
Frustration forces blame
Starving to understand
You swallowed the lies
Eager to spit them out
To feed the masses
And the guilt they hide
Answer me honestly
No more false transparencies
Just where does motive meet concern?
You just sound the alarm
Spreading fear to bury trust
To distract
Until, lost and scared
Frustration forces blame
Sound the alarm!
Sound the alarm!
Sound the alarm!
Sound the alarm!
Starving to understand
You swallowed the lies
Choking to spit them out
To rid this guilt inside
The lyrics of Anacrusis’s “Sound The Alarm” explore issues of honesty, trust, and fear. The song begins with the line “Lie to me honestly,” which immediately sets up a contradiction, suggesting that the singer is aware that they are being deceived, but unable to see through the lies. The rest of the verse discusses the division between words and actions, suggesting that the people around the singer are not living up to their promises. The chorus calls for the “alarm” to be sounded, but questions the motives behind it, suggesting that the people responsible for the alarm may be attempting to distract or manipulate others.
The second verse calls for a more honest communication, calling for an end to “false transparencies” and for the singer to understand the true motives of those around them. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the call to action. The final verse suggests that the singer is struggling with guilt, having “swallowed the lies” and attempting to “spit them out” to feed the “masses” and alleviate their guilt. The final repetition of the chorus is more forceful, suggesting that the initial call to action has been heeded and that the alarm has been sounded.
Overall, the lyrics of “Sound The Alarm” explore themes of trust, honesty, and fear, suggesting that the people around the singer are not living up to their promises and that the singer is struggling to understand the motives behind the alarm.
Line by Line Meaning
Lie to me honestly
Tell me the truth, even if it hurts
I hear, but still, I don't see
I'm aware of what you're saying, but I don't understand the actions behind it
Just where the actions meet the words
I want to see actions that match the words being spoken
You just sound the alarm
You're spreading fear without providing real solutions
Racing pulse and boiling blood
Feeling anxious and angry
At fever-pitch
At a high level of intensity
Another finger-pointing mob
A group of people blaming and accusing each other
With stones to throw
Ready to attack and harm others
But if it truly mattered
If it was really important
And if you truly cared
If you genuinely felt concern
It would be altogether different
The situation would be handled differently
Let the sirens scream
Let the warning signals go off
But leave me alone to decide
Allow me to make my own choices
And leave me to what I might find
Let me discover things on my own
Starving to understand
Desperately wanting to comprehend
You swallowed the lies
You believed false information
Eager to spit them out
Ready to expose the lies to others
To feed the masses
To provide them with information
And the guilt they hide
And the shame they're trying to conceal
Answer me honestly
Tell me the truth
No more false transparencies
Don't pretend to be open and honest when you're not
Just where does motive meet concern?
Where does genuine care for others intersect with personal motivations?
Spreading fear to bury trust
Causing panic and hysteria that destroys faith in others
To distract
To divert attention away from the real issue
Until, lost and scared
Until people feel confused and frightened
Frustration forces blame
Feeling angry and powerless leads to blaming others
Sound the alarm!
Raise the alarm!
Starving to understand
Desperately wanting to comprehend
You swallowed the lies
You believed false information
Choking to spit them out
Feeling overwhelmed and suffocated by the falsehoods
To rid this guilt inside
To alleviate the shame that comes with being deceived
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NARDI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DapperHesher
Probably the most underrated metal album of all time. This song was my 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' back in the day, just as much rage, but so much more pragmatic and self aware.
@Jioti_Parcharides
I bought this album back in 1992 or 1993, I don't remember exactly. I never bought a CD so fast as I did this day in the record shop from an unknown band ever before. Just listened to the first 30 seconds and grabbed my copy. Everyone around me listened to this Nirvana stuff but I remember myself walking around, always alone, with my headphones on, listening to this song, with rage and melancholy in my stomach. Strange teenage days...
@DapperHesher
It's kinda the same sentiment of frustration and disenfranchisement, just articulated WAY better via Anacrusis than Nirvana.
@claudiocruzat4624
+Ryan Miller better?..different
.not better
@PygmaApril
Dont ever put Anacrusis and Nirvana on the same sentence please. This album is pure art.
@isaacarellano5319
Same. I hated Nirvana but found this tape threw BMG music club and fucking loved it!
@ShreddinThrash
love the way anacrusis stick the bass up loud and the way the vocalist dares to be so various in styles. 'Prog Thrash' at its best.
@mtrammell1999l
ShreddinThrash Ken Nardi is such an underrated vocalist.
@tonling1318
Great band that should have gotten more attention. It seems like many great bands remain in the obscurity like Coroner, Deathrow (from Germany), Mayfair (from Austria) and Depressive Age (from Germany). I am so glad I have Anacrusis three first albums on original vinyl.
@NujillicAx
love this song after first hear!