2. Antagonist are a metalcore band from Whittier, California in the United States.
In the rapidly changing and evolving world of heavy music, bands come and go faster than you can get a value meal at a fast food restaurant. Finding bands who are still slugging it out after a decade is a rare occurrence. What’s even more uncommon is finding a band who have recorded their most intense and career defining album 12 years into their career. But, that is exactly the case with Southern California’s ANTAGONIST, and their new album, “World In Decline.”
The band was formed by, then teenaged, singer/guitarist Carlos Garcia and drummer Lond Garcia in 1998 and released two albums and three EPs before signing with Prosthetic Records and releasing 2008’s “Exist.” After a few lineup changes through the decade, the current lineup features the (unrelated) Garcias, along with guitarist Roland Leonard and bassist Nick Reyes. The band hit Buzz Bomb Studios in Orange, CA earlier this year with producer Paul Miner (Thrice, Throwdown, Terror) who recorded, mixed and mastered the effort. The band’s sound has gotten tighter, more technical, and angrier on “World In Decline,” while summoning the thrash of early Metallica, the groove of Pantera and the technical death metal of At The Gates, while still holding on to the strings of melody and the guitars have never been more searing and ferocious. Carlos Garcia commented on “World In Decline;” “This is the first album to feature our newer lineup, so the songwriting is noticeably different in some areas; nothing too out of left field, but definitely some vibes different from the usual Antagonist sound. But we promise lots of shred, lots of circle pits, and lots of groove. Probably the biggest difference this time around is the clean singing (or lack thereof). This is a very pissed off album lyrically and thematically, so we thought it would only be proper to NOT include any clean singing this time around. I know some of you won’t like that, but it’s something we felt would be necessary to hopefully get our point across.
‘Exist’ had a hopeful message of working together as humans towards a better future. ‘World In Decline’ is about the realization that things will always be fucked up, people will always be selfish, and this world is going to end at any minute, and we have nobody to blame but ourselves. People grow older and figure out that life doesn’t get any easier and that our own selfishness, carelessness, and ignorance are at the core of our demise. So right now, that’s where our heads are at, which in turn, no doubt, lead to a much more aggressive and angry album. “
ANTAGONIST is in the midst of plotting a US tour in the fall, and will be on the road continuously throughout the foreseeable future. It will certainly not be a shock to their system as they’ve put countless miles on their van through continuous touring over their existence with the likes of Animosity, Light This City, The Faceless, Arsonists Get All The Girls, and more.
3. Antagonist are also a Thrash Metal band from Germany
4. Antagonist is a technical thrash metal band from Green Bay, Wisconsin. They debuted with a self-titled EP in 1994 and a second EP titled Open Face Surgery.
Hollywood
Antagonist Lyrics
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The lyrics of Antagonist's song, "Hollywood", are a scathing commentary on the state of American culture. The song describes Hollywood as the "rotting heart of a decaying nation," a place that embodies the worst aspects of contemporary society. The opening line suggests that the city is corrupt and diseased, and that its influence extends beyond the borders of California. The mention of "silhouettes" and "streetlights" implies that the city's glamour and glitz are no more than distractions that prevent us from seeing its true nature.
The band's criticism of Hollywood is perhaps most apparent in the lines "you weak motherfuckers/your living your life on your knees." Here, the song takes aim at those who aspire to be a part of the entertainment industry, labeling them as "weak" and unquestioning, and suggesting that they have given up their autonomy and integrity in exchange for the prospect of fame and fortune. "Modern culture is a disease," the song declares, arguing that the consumption of media and pop culture has become a form of self-annihilation.
The final lines of the song make clear the band's ultimate message: that Hollywood must be destroyed, both figuratively and literally. The repeated refrain "this heart won't stop beating until we burn it down" suggests that the city's influence is so pervasive that it cannot simply be ignored or tolerated. Rather, it must be actively dismantled and replaced with something new and more authentic.
Line by Line Meaning
Hollywood is the rotting heart of a decaying nation.
Antagonist sees Hollywood as the source of decay in the country, a place that symbolizes the country's worsening situation.
And this heart won't stop beating until we burn it down.
Antagonist believes that the influence of Hollywood will continue to spread and perpetuate the existing problems until it is destroyed completely.
Silhouettes, street lights you're selling yourself just distractions.
Antagonist sees the glitz and glamour of Hollywood as merely a distraction from the real issues the society is facing.
You weak motherfuckers you're living your life on your knees.
Antagonist believes that people who idolize Hollywood are weak and subservient, blindly following the toxic culture and values Hollywood promotes.
You ain't living, you're just killing.
Antagonist thinks that the destructive and toxic nature of Hollywood culture is robbing people of their true lives, turning people into killers of their own potential.
You ain't living, you're just consuming.
Antagonist sees Hollywood as a place of superficial consumption, where people consume what they are shown rather than living a true life of their own.
Hollywood is the rotting heart of a diseased population.
Antagonist believes that Hollywood is causing disease and sickness in the society, acting as an unhealthy influence that is corrupting the country.
And this heart won't stop infecting until we burn it down.
Antagonist believes that the sickness and infection caused by Hollywood will continue to spread until it is completely eradicated.
And this heart won't stop beating until we burn this city to the ground
Antagonist sees Hollywood and the city it resides in as one and the same, and believes that both need to be destroyed in order for the society to be rebuilt.
Contributed by Colin F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.