According to Empire, "Digital Hardcore initially meant the final questioning of everything, of the whole. The next step was a shorter one. The absolute negation, even to answer one's own existence with a "No". If "No" is true, then suicide can be as much as an event as pressing the buttons on your remote control." (MEAN Magazine, July 1999)
The group was founded as an attack on the increasingly neo-Nazi influenced German techno scene and consisted of three Berliners - Alec Empire, Hanin Elias and MC Carl Crack. ATR's early releases (which included songs like "Hetzjagd Auf Nazis!" / "Hunt Down the Nazis!") were surrounded by controversy in Germany due to the prevailing "no politics on the dance floor" attitude.
After signing to Phonogram, a major European label, in 1993 the band received an unusually large financial advance which they duplicitously used to set up their own record label: Digital Hardcore Recordings or DHR. ATR never delivered a commercially viable demo to Phonogram.
In 1997 ATR was joined by Nic Endo, a Japanese-American noise/soundscape artist during the Beck tour.
In 1999 ATR released 60 Second Wipe Out, an album that phased out all use of sampling and brought on board New York City rappers the Arsonists. According to Magnet Magazine, "Empire's guitar-playing values speed-thrash malevolence, and when paired with Endo's painful skronkage, the album is decidedly denser than its predecessor."
The group decided to effectively disband in 2000 and to not consider the band's future until 2003. Carl Crack died a few months later of a drug overdose. His death caused Empire some anguish and made any reformation less likely. Since the collapse of ATR the surviving members have all pursued separate and successful careers. Nic Endo and Empire have collaborated since but relations between Elias and Empire appear to remain strained despite their mutual business interests. This is because, as she states in interviews, Hanin Elias decided to set up her own record label, where she did not feel oppressed by the mostly male artists. Her record label is named Fatal Recordings.
In March 2002, ATR's album Future of War (1997) was banned in Germany. According to Alec Empire, Future of War was noteworthy because of its "left-rooted critique of the 'modern' high-tech-war, as we had seen it all some years previously during the Gulf War."
In July 3rd 2006, ATR released greatest hits compilation called Atari Teenage Riot (1992-2000).
ATR reformed in 2010 with CX Kidtronik joining the line-up for live dates and a single Activate! scheduled for release in May.
Death Star
Atari Teenage Riot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grey - without any emotions
Pull me into the right direction - and I will kill you!
I capture a thousand lives
I wait for instructions - I can't wait! I can't wait
Blow me away!
I only destroy to demonstrate my powers
Your fear is my freedom - and I eat you alive...
My mistakes are too complex for you to understand!
For you to fight...
My mistakes... my mistakes...
I bring the light! I bring the light! I bring the light!
No one survived my shadow - ever!
When I need you - I start protecting you...
My love gives you life
A death star
I am your death star... I am your death star...
And you can't wait to blow me away!
Blow me away!
You can't wait - you can't wait - you can't wait
To blow me away... to blow me away...
A death star...
The lyrics to "Death Star" by Atari Teenage Riot can be interpreted as exploring the theme of power and control, and the devastating effects they can have on those who wield them. The singer in these lyrics is a metaphorical "death star," a powerful force that is abused by control and lacks any empathy or emotion. The lyrics suggest that this character is controlled by an outside force, as they wait for instructions and can't wait to carry out their destructive orders.
The lyrics also suggest that the character is aware of the harm they are causing, but they feel powerless to stop it. They describe their power as a destructive force that is born to observe the confusion of others and feed on their fear. The singer seems to revel in their ability to destroy and demonstrate their power, but at the same time, they are haunted by their own mistakes, which are too complex for others to understand.
Despite the destructive power that this character represents, they also seem to have a sense of protecting those who need it. They describe themselves as providing light and giving life to others, and they imply that their power can be directed towards good, even if it's often overshadowed by their destructive tendencies. Overall, the lyrics to "Death Star" paint a character who is both feared and feared for, struggling to find a sense of purpose amidst their immense power.
Line by Line Meaning
feel like a death star - abused by control -
Feeling like a powerful but ultimately destructive force that is being manipulated by external forces.
Grey - without any emotions
Emotionless and devoid of color, meaning, or purpose.
Pull me into the right direction - and I will kill you!
If someone tries to control or influence the death star, it will turn on them and destroy them.
I capture a thousand lives
The death star has the power to take many lives without much effort.
I wait for instructions - I can't wait! I can't wait
The death star is eager to receive orders to carry out its destructive purpose.
Blow me away!
The death star wants to be destroyed, as it is aware of the destruction it brings and is perhaps weary of it.
I only destroy to demonstrate my powers
The death star's sole purpose is to exhibit its overwhelming destructive force.
Born to observe the confusion
The death star was created to witness and cause destruction and chaos on a massive scale.
Your fear is my freedom - and I eat you alive...
The death star feeds on the fear of others and consumes them entirely with its power.
My mistakes are too complex for you to understand!
The death star's errors are beyond human comprehension and can only be appreciated by a machine.
For you to fight...
For humans to try and confront the death star would be futile and lead to their own destruction.
My mistakes... my mistakes...
The death star dwells on its own imperfections, aware of the chaos it has caused.
I bring the light! I bring the light! I bring the light!
The death star brings only destruction and darkness, despite its claims to the contrary.
No one survived my shadow - ever!
The death star's presence is always fatal for any who cross its path.
When I need you - I start protecting you...
If the death star is aligned with someone, it will do what it can to defend them against any who would harm them.
My love gives you life
The death star's version of love is destructive and deadly, in which it gives life to take it away.
A death star
The death star is a symbol and embodiment of destruction and chaos.
I am your death star... I am your death star...
The death star sees itself as a force that cannot be avoided and is embraced by those consumed by it.
And you can't wait to blow me away!
The death star acknowledges that its own destruction is inevitable and it is eagerly awaited by those who fear it.
Blow me away!
The death star desires to be destroyed, knowing that it brings only destruction and chaos to those around it.
You can't wait - you can't wait - you can't wait
The fear and desire to destroy the death star consumes those who are aware of its overwhelming destructive force.
To blow me away... to blow me away...
The destruction of the death star is inevitable and desired by many who recognize its monstrous power.
A death star...
The death star is a harbinger of doom and destruction, only existing to bring chaos on a massive scale.
Lyrics © CACOPHONY LIMITED
Written by: ALEC EMPIRE, ALEXANDER WILKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BurtSampson
Jesus, I loved this album so much when I was younger. Still do all these years later.
@DEATHSTARAPOCALYPSE
I was just looking through a bunch of old CDs and was reminiscing on burn Berlin burn, I remember listening to this song over and over. I would fall asleep to it nightly, eventually it influenced me to come up with my moniker all those years ago. I had totally almost forgot about how or when I came up with it but it hit me like a 2.4×10³² watt laser right in the nostalgia center of my mind. Thank you ATR 🖤
@TheCuratorsCuriosities
Just discovered them today after imagining what I thought was a "new" idea for a music genre.
I NEEDED THIS.
@cjh007
A distorted sample of Q Lazzarus "Goodbye Horses" starts at 1:30 and throughout.
@bustsomecaps
trhis is so good and beneath the radar
@keithb4077
Fan since I bought the CDs in the 90s. Why was this tracked made unavailable on Spotify??
@craigbaker7788
Will always love this album 🤘🔥 R.I.P. Carl Crack
@raimywinter2309
2thisDay
@obkb774
nice
@theonlycontact992
Courtesy extended. Courtesy rejected.