Angelspit began as a duo, formed by members Destroyx/Amelia Arsenic (Amelia Tan) and Zoog Von Rock (Karl Learmont) after the two met on an online zine forum in 2002. The duo’s zine collaborations formed the lyrical inspiration for early releases. Their debut industrial EP, Nurse Grenade, was self-released for free in October 2004 and later remastered in 2007.
Angelspit’s debut album Krankhaus, a concept album with themes of grotesque horror and medical experimentation, was self-released in June 2006 to praise from critics, cementing them as an innovative up-and-coming act. A remix album, Krankhaus: Surgically Atoned was released in 2007, featuring remixes from acts like Combichrist. The band released their debut music video for the song “Vena Cava”, which provided striking, disturbing visuals for the album’s storyline.
Angelspit’s second album Blood Death Ivory was released in June 2008. It was considered a subtle evolution of their unique sound. A remix album, Black Kingdom Red Kingdom, was released in 2009, featuring remixes by acts like KMFDM and Ayria.
Angelspit’s third album Hideous and Perfect was released in September 2009, with praise towards its album artwork (which featured an unrecognizable Destroyx) and experimental and atmospheric soundscape. Two remix albums, Larva Pupa Tank Coffin and Carbon Beauty, were released in 2010 and 2011 respectively, each including additional original tracks by Angelspit.
Angelspit released their fourth album Hello My Name Is in October 2011. This album moved the band’s lyricism further towards the political, with a common theme being critique of corporate society. This was the last album to feature member Destroyx, who left in March 2014 to pursue other projects, including solo music under the name Amelia Arsenic.
Following Destroyx’s departure, Angelspit continued to make music, fronted by Zoog and taking a new focus towards collaboration with other artists and an ever-changing line-up of associated musicians. The band’s fifth album The Product was released in March 2014, and featured guest appearances from George Bikos, Miss Ballistic, Helalyn Flowers, Agent 13, Chant, and Teknocracy. In September 2015, Angelspit collaborated with The Gothsicles, under the name Hardcore Pong, to release a video-game inspired collaborative album.
Angelspit’s sixth album Cult of Fake was released in June 2016, reinventing the band’s sound and taking a larger inspiration from dance music. Its lyrics were the band’s most obviously political yet, with blunt critique of the American lifestyle, media, and the 2016 election.
Angelspit’s seventh album Black Dog Bite was released in September 2017. Its music was based on 90s cyberpunk and its lyrical themes included dystopia, consumerism, and futurism. Their eighth album Bang Operative, released in September 2019, continued these themes, creating a dark and lonely soundscape.
Angelspit’s ninth album The Ignorance Cartel was released in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by 2020’s political landscape, the album’s concept involves authoritarianism and mind-control. It features multiple guest appearances from Miss Ballistic and Ice Planet 9000, as well as appearances by Gasoline Invertebrate and Queen of the Static Opera.
Angelspit’s tenth album Diesel Priest was released in December 2021. The album received praise for its thought-provoking and deep lyrics, which continued to be inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated political landscape. Its lyrics critique America’s apathy towards violence, most notably in the single “Killed on Camera”. The album featured guest appearances from Gasoline Invertebrate, Miss Ballistic, MeteorEYES, Queen of the Static Opera, Ice Planet 9000, and May May Graves. Four remix albums were released for Diesel Priest, with three having exclusive original tracks.
In 2022, Angelspit has participated in two collaborative projects. The first, a collaboration with Ice Planet 9000, was the instrumental science-fiction concept album Sequence 1: Glass Jar, released in February. An associated audio drama was also included with digital purchases of the album. The second, a collaboration with Queen of the Static Opera, was the single “Breathing But Not Alive”, released under the name Venus of Gorgon.
A la Mode a la Mort
Angelspit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Relieve the pain, pull a little tighter
Dandy man workin' at typewriter
Head count eaten by the grinder
Nose to the grind for 8 hours of hate
Marching to the orders of the fashionist state
smacked out pretty doll rock-a-billy tats
A la mode a la mort
Constricted bound, tied up
A la mode a la mort
Held up with a rubber cup
Perfect shape through carnal bonsai
Spank the monkey 'til she bleeds peroxide
get in line roll a dollar debase
Turn to the right, attention deface
Transdermal luxury Premium hind
Modify the body, pacify the mind
Churned out grrl-bot in Stereo
Seasonal depression material
Vanity is all right, is really all right. Little miss world
miss big bang sweetie
Vanity is all right, is really all right. Miss universe
miss the point completely
colour me by numbers I'm bound to please
beautiful and deadly, the bomb shell sleaze
Literati breeds Thigh hi dogma
Gothed out malibu muther-fucker
The song "A la Mode a la Mort" by Angelspit is a critique of the fashion industry and the societal pressure for individuals to conform to physical beauty standards. The first stanza paints a picture of a fashion-conscious individual who is willing to endure physical pain for the sake of appearance. The second stanza describes the monotonous and soul-sucking nature of working in the fashion industry, where workers are expected to follow the orders of those in power. The chorus, "A la mode a la mort," translates to "in fashion, in death," emphasizing the idea that society's obsession with physical appearance can lead to harm.
The next stanza speaks to the idea of modifying one's body to fit into societal standards. The phrase "carnal bonsai" suggests that individuals are attempting to control and shape their bodies in a way that goes beyond natural beauty. The line "spank the monkey 'til she bleeds peroxide" is a graphic metaphor for attempting to fit into societal beauty standards. The following lines suggest that individuals are willing to pay any price, even their own dignity, to fit into these standards.
The final stanza suggests that societal pressure to conform to physical beauty standards is as prevalent in the literary and goth communities as it is in the fashion industry. The lines "colour me by numbers I'm bound to please" and "beautiful and deadly, the bomb shell sleaze" suggest that even those who do not work in the fashion industry feel pressure to conform to beauty standards.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh fashionista loving you mista
Addressing someone obsessed with fashion and willing to do anything to please them
Relieve the pain, pull a little tighter
Request to tighten clothing or accessories to feel the pain that comes with ideal beauty standards
Dandy man workin' at typewriter
A man who adheres to fashionable dress codes and is a slave to his work
Head count eaten by the grinder
People falling prey to expectations of the fashion industry, losing their individuality
Nose to the grind for 8 hours of hate
Working tirelessly for a job they hate because it pays the bills
Marching to the orders of the fashionist state
Blindly following the fashion industry’s commands and trends
smacked out pretty doll rock-a-billy tats
A woman who is doped out and tattooed and resembles a rockabilly doll
Fake hair, Piercings and fries with that
A deviation from natural order to attract attention, like getting piercings, and the idea of consumption is adding fries to an order
A la mode a la mort
Fashionable styling resulting in slow death
Constricted bound, tied up
Being tied to beauty standards, stunting personal growth and freedom
Held up with a rubber cup
Attempts to enhance one's figure through uncomfortable and unnatural ways
Perfect shape through carnal bonsai
Constraining and modifying the human body to fit an ideal shape
Spank the monkey 'til she bleeds peroxide
Destroying oneself in the pursuit of an impossible ideal
get in line roll a dollar debase
Being forced to debase oneself to maintain the ideal beauty standards
Turn to the right, attention deface
Ignoring one's identity and individuality to adhere to fashion industry norms
Transdermal luxury Premium hind
Luxury products promising perfection and exclusivity
Modify the body, pacify the mind
Focusing on physical appearance to quell other internal and deeper problems
Churned out grrl-bot in Stereo
Robotic women who all conform to the same standards of beauty and are indistinguishable from each other
Seasonal depression material
Merchandising depression as a seasonal product
Vanity is all right, is really all right. Little miss world
Encouraging vanity and beauty standards as acceptable and the norm
miss big bang sweetie
A label given to describe women who conform with and fit beauty standards
Vanity is all right, is really all right. Miss universe
Emphasizing the global nature of beauty standards and highlighting the pressure that exists since it can also impact one's status and important matters in life
miss the point completely
The futility of pursuing beauty at the expense of broader goals and missing out on life's true experiences
colour me by numbers I'm bound to please
Following the same rules as everyone else and being easy to please
beautiful and deadly, the bomb shell sleaze
The emphasis on external beauty can make some attractive but can also have dangerous and negative consequences
Literati breeds Thigh hi dogma
Intelligent people who are also bound by the fashion industry's rules and ideals, with them portrayed as high-statured and indoctrinated
Gothed out malibu muther-fucker
People from different social backgrounds all falling prey to the same beauty standards, despite having different preferences and attitudes otherwise
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind