Vocalist Hammer departed in late 2002, replaced by US tour roadie Jimmy Rose, a Parma, Ohio native then living in Oakland. In June 2003 they recorded the Bad Reputation EP for the now-defunct DeadAlive Records.
Second guitarist Sanitate then stepped down, replaced by Cleveland native Shaun Filley. This line-up--Clise, Grande, Molino, Filley and Rose--would remain stable for some time, touring the US several times and Europe twice. The first European excursion would yeild a recording in Den Haag, Holland in May 2004 that would become the notorious II LP, followed up in January 2006 by the Cosmic Unconsciousness EP on Tankcrimes Records.
At the end of 2006, Filley and Molino left; Noel Sullivan took up the drums, and Wes Wilson joined on second guitar. This lineup recorded Annihilation Time III: Tales of the Ancient Age for Tee Pee Records at the end of 2007.
After the split Annihilation Time went on to form Lecherous Gaze.
Splash Back
Annihilation Time Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's a real American
Supports the troops with a magnet on his car
He sends his kids to college, so one day they'll go far
He goes to church every sunday
To worship his whole god of money
His family is blessed with material wealth
And he just wants to kill himself
Death in suburbia under blue skies
The grass is always greener on the otherside
Death in suburbia under blue skies
The grass is always greener on the otherside
He loves his country, he loves his wife
He's been saving money his whole life
His lovely daughter is ten years old
She believes in everything she's been sold
She studies hard to pass the test
So she can fit in with all the rest
Popularity can be exhausting, but god she tries
But still people don't always like her and so she cries
She swallows a handful of pills and she dies
Death in suburbia under blue skies
The grass is always greener on the otherside
So proud of his only son fighting for peace with a gun
Defending the American way and the honor of pride
He backs the cause 'til it's his son who has died
The lyrics to Annihilation Time's song "Splash Back" is a commentary on the facade of American patriotism and American Dream that is ever so present in many suburban households. The first verse talks about a man who is portrayed as a devoted patriot who is proud of his country, supports the troops, sends his kids to college, and goes to church every Sunday. However, beneath the surface, he is unhappy and wants to commit suicide. This reveals the emptiness of his existence and how the American dream can be a shallow and unfulfilling pursuit.
The second verse highlights the pressure that young children in suburban families face to comply and blend in with the societal norms. The man's daughter is shown as an epitome of the young children who try hard to be popular and fit in, but sometimes fail, which can have devastating consequences. She ends up dying by swallowing a handful of pills, which is a poignant commentary on the fragile nature of these young lives and the moral emptiness of suburban lifestyles.
The final verse portrays the harsh reality of war and how it can affect families. The father, who is portrayed as a supporter of wars and the American military, sees the true horrors of war when his son dies on the battlefield. The song's message is that the American dream, built on materialism and conformism, is a flawed and fragile ideal that can ultimately lead to tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a patriot and a sports fan
He has a strong sense of national pride and enjoys watching sports.
He's a real American
He strongly identifies with American culture and values.
Supports the troops with a magnet on his car
He shows his support for the military by displaying a magnet on his car.
He sends his kids to college, so one day they'll go far
He invests in his children's education to help them succeed in the future.
He goes to church every sunday
He is religious and attends church weekly.
To worship his whole god of money
His religious devotion is actually focused on material wealth.
His family is blessed with material wealth
His family is financially well-off.
And he just wants to kill himself
Despite his wealth and apparent success, he is deeply unhappy.
Death in suburbia under blue skies
Despite the idyllic setting of suburbia, death and despair still occur.
The grass is always greener on the otherside
People often believe that others' lives are better than their own.
He loves his country, he loves his wife
He is deeply devoted to both his country and his spouse.
He's been saving money his whole life
He is financially frugal and has been saving for a long time.
His lovely daughter is ten years old
He has a young daughter who he cares for deeply.
She believes in everything she's been sold
His daughter is very trusting and takes information at face value.
She studies hard to pass the test
His daughter works hard in school to succeed academically.
So she can fit in with all the rest
Her motivation for success is to be socially accepted by her peers.
Popularity can be exhausting, but god she tries
She is very focused on being popular, but it is taking a toll on her.
But still people don't always like her and so she cries
Despite her efforts to fit in, she still experiences rejection and sadness.
She swallows a handful of pills and she dies
She commits suicide by taking a lethal dose of medication.
So proud of his only son fighting for peace with a gun
He is proud of his son for serving in the military, even though it involves violence.
Defending the American way and the honor of pride
His son's military service is seen as defending American values and national pride.
He backs the cause 'til it's his son who has died
After his son dies in combat, he begins to question the causes he supported.
Contributed by Olivia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.