Misguided is fondly remembered as a pivotal and widely influential album both within the Christian industrial sub-scene and in the scene at large. The album blended many genres through a solid framework of industrial metal, featuring spoken word, chant, experimental electronica, horns, heavy use of samples, and even ragtime piano. In addition, the album was filled with dark, bitter lyrical themes purportedly written as catharsis for an abuse scandal at the band's church while growing up. Given the nature of the Christian music industry through which the album was distributed, the themes of the album brought much backlash against the band for being "too dark" or "not Christian enough", and the the controversy became so heated that the project was called off in 1996 before a proposed split EP with Klank could be finished.
In the summer of 1995, Argyle Park made their only live performance at the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois.
Argyle Park "reopened" in 1999, appearing on Tooth & Nail Records' roster as AP2. They released one album called Suspension of Disbelief in 2000, but once again faced some controversy due to the themes in the record. This time around, Klayton acted as producer and co-writer on only a couple of songs while Buka and Level a.k.a lvl (another one-man industrial band with a strong following in the underground, and now known to be Klayton's younger brother) created most of the album themselves. Tooth & Nail had no framework for marketing an industrial band and, due to poor sales, AP2 was dropped later that year and disbanded once again.
Long out of print, Misguided was remastered and reissued by Retroactive Records in a limited edition run of 1000. Klayton himself then remastered and rereleased the album in 2016 with many bonus tracks and one completely new track created with the help of Bret from Blue Stahli, and titled Fanny Pack (feat. Blue Stahli & Mark Salomon).
Agony
Argyle Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You made me feel I have no good to give
You've stripped away any normality
A life in hell is my reality
So many questions with NO solutions
My head is crushed under the weight
Looking for something I have yet to find
Sanity and peace of mind god knows I've tried
Above the pain the mask I'm forced to wear
Beneath the same the cross that I must bear
I will not trust I'm so afraid to feel
Prospering wound that seems will never heal
Agony
The lyrics to Argyle Park's song Agony are a confession of the singer's pain and suffering caused by another person. The first stanza reveals that this person has entered the singer's life and left them with no life to live. The second line suggests that the person has made the singer believe that they have nothing good to give. The third line explains that this person has taken away any semblance of normality, leaving the singer in a living hell. These lines create a picture of a person who has been emotionally and mentally devastated by the actions of another.
The second stanza continues the theme of suffering and despair, but also hints at a desire for healing. The singer says that they have many questions but no solutions, suggesting that they are struggling to understand why this person has caused them so much pain. The next two lines describe the weight of this pain crushing the singer's head. They express a feeling of being lost, searching for something they haven't found yet – sanity and peace of mind. The final two lines imply that the singer is wearing a mask to hide their pain from the world, but is bearing a cross beneath that mask, burdened by the injury that seems unwilling to heal.
Overall, this song is a raw and honest representation of the pain, suffering, and emotional turmoil a person can go through when someone they trusted deeply has betrayed them. It depicts the sense of isolation the singer feels and yearns for healing, but at the same time, they are too afraid to give trust or feel again.
Line by Line Meaning
You entered in left me no life to live
You came into my life and took away everything that gave me purpose and meaning, leaving me empty and hopeless.
You made me feel I have no good to give
Your actions and words have convinced me that I am worthless and have nothing of value to offer.
You've stripped away any normality
You have taken away my sense of stability and routine, leaving me in a state of chaos and confusion.
A life in hell is my reality
The constant pain and suffering caused by your presence in my life has become my truth and my existence feels like a living nightmare.
So many questions with NO solutions
I am filled with endless questions about why and how this happened to me, but no answers or solutions seem to be available.
My head is crushed under the weight
The burdens and trauma caused by your actions have become too heavy to bear, weighing down on my mind and crushing my spirit.
Of all the pain you've helped create
You have played a significant role in causing the emotional agony and suffering that I am forced to endure.
Looking for something I have yet to find
I am desperately searching for a way out of this darkness and a solution to my problems, but it seems that no answers or relief can be found.
Sanity and peace of mind god knows I've tried
I have done everything in my power to regain my sanity and find peace of mind, but my efforts have been in vain so far.
Above the pain the mask I'm forced to wear
Despite the unbearable pain and suffering caused by your actions, I am forced to conceal my true emotions and put on a brave face to the world.
Beneath the same the cross that I must bear
Underneath my facade, I am plagued by the same burdens and struggles every day, feeling as if I am carrying a heavy weight on my shoulders.
I will not trust I'm so afraid to feel
The pain you have caused me has made me unable to trust anyone, and I am terrified of opening up to anyone and feeling vulnerable again.
Prospering wound that seems will never heal
The wounds caused by your actions feel as if they will never heal, and the pain will continue to fester and grow, slowly consuming me.
Agony
This song expresses the deep and overwhelming agony that I am forced to endure due to your actions in my life.
Lyrics © FIXT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carlos Alberto Godino
(translate to spanish)
Entraste no me dejaste vida para vivir
Me hiciste sentir que no tengo nada bueno que dar.
Has despojado de toda normalidad.
Una vida en el infierno es mi realidad.
Tantas preguntas sin soluciones
Mi cabeza está aplastada bajo el peso
De todo el dolor que has ayudado a crear.
Buscando algo que todavía tengo que encontrar
La cordura y la paz que Dios sabe que he intentado.
Por encima del dolor la máscara me veo obligada a ponerme.
Por debajo de la misma la cruz que debo soportar.
No confiaré, tengo tanto miedo de sentir.
La herida que parece prosperar nunca sanará.
AGONÍA
(muestras)
"No esperas vivir en este lugar sin que deje su huella, ¿verdad?
Si lo haces, estás viviendo en un niño de ensueño.
'Puedo saborear tu dolor'
'¡Tú eres el próximo!'
Night Flame 2000
someone needs to make a game for celldweller; based on all his songs and the stories behind them.
W K Cyrokin
This was the song that got me hooked on industrial. Now I'm hooked on heavy electronic music. I'd never heard anything like this before and I haven't since. I mean, there's been similar music but I've never heard anything exactly like AP... ever.
WarriorWithin111
Old school industrial was -- and still is -- SICK! There's so many sounds and samples inserted in each track that I keep discovering new ones with every listen, which is why Klayton's older stuff never gets old for me. I regret not being able to enjoy it at the time of its original conception, but hey! Better late than never!
shamgar75
Great song - love Jyro's vocals
Chris Holmes
This seriously brought back memories of sitting around reading HM magazine while jamming to Chatterbox, Mortal, Fold Zandura, Argyle Park, AP2, C.O.D., et all. Good memories.
davidmurderbass
This was one of the first industrial albums I got was I was a kid. It still rips.
Jake
Always a good hook. Argyle Park has been and is unique. Love it, tunes in to my dark side.
Robb Noxious
always one of my fav tracks. I miss Mortal/Fold Zandura
Dwellceller
Yeah...was just playing that the other day...should have just released it under the Mortal name....Fathom is still my fav of theirs
Randy Colby
They are simply the best. They need to revitalize in 2017!