The first album is more traditionally metal-sounding, drawing inspiration from Black Sabbath, Motörhead and 1970s Judas Priest, while the second has significant hardcore punk/crossover influence. Both are fit neatly into the speed thrash genre, however. The lyrical themes include nihilism, anti-religious sentiment, a mockery of racism, intolerance, and general human stupidity, a heap of cynicism, and explicit tongue-in-cheek depictions of gore and despair. For example, this line from "Ground Zero Brooklyn" sums up the band fairly well: "I shit my pants as I wait for the reaper!". Song titles like "Jesus Hitler", "Race War", and "God is Dead" are also representative.
The first Type O Negative album, Slow Deep and Hard, was partially composed from material originally written for Carnivore.
Several reunion shows took place over the years. One of the shows was at Wacken Open Air 2006, where they had an 1.25 hour setlist.
Original Carnivore guitarist Keith Alexander died in a biking accident on July 11, 2005.
Peter Steele died on April 14, 2010, at the age of 48.
Five Billion Dead
Carnivore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miscellaneous
Dead Me
Well I want, well I want, I want,
Someone like me,
Well I need, well I need, I need,
Someone so lonely.
And so dead, fucking dead, see?
I've got a dead brain,
It's not used, not worthy of thinking,
A fucking corpse, a love-damned corpse,
You know that's me,
I've got some cuts,
You cut me with your...
Tounge...
And, well, they're not healing.
Well I need, well I need, I need,
Someone to get me through this,
Well I want, well I want, I want,
A necropolis,
'Cause I'm bleeding,
And she's feeding on the life I'm losing,
I'm dead, see? and so fucking lonely,
The less I have the less life I have,
The more teeth she shows,
Well, I know I'm already dead,
Good God, why can't she just kill me?
The Carnivore song "Five Billion Dead" explores the theme of isolation and loneliness resulting from the pressures of trying to fit into societal norms. The Cryptkeeper addresses the listener as "dead me" and expresses a desire to find someone who understands their loneliness, someone who is like them. The repetition of the phrases "well I want, well I need" suggest that the Cryptkeeper is desperate for companionship.
The Cryptkeeper describes themselves as a "love-damned corpse" with a dead brain that is not worthy of any further thought. The reference to cuts and the lack of healing hints at a past relationship or hurtful experiences that have left the Cryptkeeper feeling void and desperate.
By the second verse, the loneliness becomes more intense, and the Cryptkeeper is looking for solace in death itself. They desire a necropolis, a city of the dead, for companionship. The line "she's feeding on the life I'm losing" gives the impression that the Cryptkeeper's loneliness is slowly eroding away their life force.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I'm dead, see? And so fucking lonely," emphasizing the central theme of the song. The Cryptkeeper is so lonely that they are willing to accept death as a companion.
Overall, the song explores the desperate need for acceptance and companionship, and the toll that societal pressure can take on an individual's mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I want, well I want, I want, Someone like me,
The singer desires to be understood and accepted by someone who shares their experiences and loneliness.
Well I need, well I need, I need, Someone so lonely.
The singer seeks someone who can empathize with their sense of isolation and alienation.
'Cause I'm lonely, And so dead, fucking dead, see?
The singer feels emotionally dead and disconnected from others, which only amplifies their loneliness.
I've got a dead brain, It's not used, not worthy of thinking,
The artist feels mentally stagnant and without purpose, and believes their thoughts have little value.
A fucking corpse, a love-damned corpse, You know that's me,
The artist perceives themselves as unlovable and worthless, like a dead body that can never be revived.
I've got some cuts, You cut me with your... Tounge... And, well, they're not healing.
The singer has been hurt deeply by someone's words, and the pain and damage continue to linger.
Well I need, well I need, I need, Someone to get me through this,
The singer desperately wants someone to offer support and help them navigate their pain and suffering.
Well I want, well I want, I want, A necropolis,
The artist seeks a place of death and decay, perhaps as a reflection of their inner turmoil and desolation.
'Cause I'm bleeding, And she's feeding on the life I'm losing,
The artist is in a destructive relationship where the other person is taking advantage of their pain and suffering.
I'm dead, see? and so fucking lonely, The less I have the less life I have, The more teeth she shows,
The artist feels like their pain and loneliness are only increasing, and their partner is only becoming more aggressive and abusive.
Well, I know I'm already dead, Good God, why can't she just kill me?
The singer is so beaten down and hopeless that they wish for death as a release from their suffering.
Contributed by Alexander O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.