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.
Male Supremacy
Carnivore Lyrics
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The men I've killed the children slaves
And all the woman I've raped
Between my legs I've got what it takes to be called a man
Fighting, feasting, fucking all I can
Moonlight on horseback till death we will ride
Northern winds pushing us towards suicide
Mars god of war masturbating in rage
Wild libido I've freed from its cage
Male Supremacy
I eat the brains from my enemy's head
I proudly wear their scalps
I burn their towns to the ground to me the prisoners bow
Muscle, sweat, long hair and dirt leather, fur and chains
My uniform torn and worn covered with blood stains
Testosterone mates with adrenaline
Bearing a son of insane aggression
Woman will never know or understand
The power men feel to kill with their hands
After the war I come home weak and sore
I fall into your arms
We lie by the fire
You feed my desire with me safe and warm
Outside the wind blows cold
Inside the embers glow shelter from the storm
Years been away I fought night and day
For my land and my king
Woman it's true
I do battle for you, you my everything
When on the fur I make love to her
How her body sings
The lyrics to Carnivore's song "Male Supremacy" paint a picture of a man who revels in violence and aggression. He describes himself as living for war and taking what he wants, including killing men and children, owning slaves and raping women. He talks about fighting, feasting, and having sex as much as he can. The imagery of moonlit horseback rides and burning towns adds to the depiction of a wild and savage lifestyle. The man in the song seems to embrace his masculinity and view women as inferior, claiming that they will never understand the power that men feel to kill with their hands.
However, towards the end of the song, a different side is shown. The man comes back from the war and falls into the arms of a woman. The contrast between the violence described earlier and the tenderness of this moment is striking. He talks about making love to her on a fur and how her body sings. It's unclear whether this is meant to be the same person as earlier in the song or if it's a different man altogether. It's possible that this section represents a more vulnerable side to the character or speaks to the idea that even the most savage of men have a need for connection and intimacy.
Overall, this song seems to be a commentary on toxic masculinity and the idea that violence and aggression are inherent to being a man. The imagery is stark and graphic, but ultimately there is a suggestion that there is more to a person than just their ability to dominate others. Whether or not the song is an endorsement of this type of behavior is up for debate, but it certainly raises questions about the relationship between gender and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
I live to war it's in my blood if I want it I take
Fighting is part of my nature and I take what I want without hesitation
The men I've killed the children slaves
I've killed many men and enslaved children during the war
And all the woman I've raped
I've raped many women during the war
Between my legs I've got what it takes to be called a man
My masculinity is defined by my genitals rather than my character or actions
Fighting, feasting, fucking all I can
I live my life by fighting, consuming and having sex
Moonlight on horseback till death we will ride
I am prepared to risk everything, even death, for the sake of battle
Northern winds pushing us towards suicide
The harsh reality of war is pushing us towards death
Mars god of war masturbating in rage
The god of war is metaphorically masturbating with pleasure at our human violence
Wild libido I've freed from its cage
I have indulged in my sexual desires without reservation or concern for the well-being of my partners
I eat the brains from my enemy's head
I indulge in cannibalism as an act of dominance and aggression
I proudly wear their scalps
I display the body parts of my enemies as trophies to assert my dominance and prowess
I burn their towns to the ground to me the prisoners bow
I destroy entire communities and demand subservience from the survivors
Muscle, sweat, long hair and dirt leather, fur and chains
I embrace a rugged and violent aesthetic, using clothing and accessories to display my physical strength and aggressiveness
My uniform torn and worn covered with blood stains
My attire reflects the brutality of my actions and the savagery of war
Testosterone mates with adrenaline
My hormonal and physiological states are inextricably linked to my violent behavior
Bearing a son of insane aggression
My offspring also inherit a predisposition for violence and aggression
Woman will never know or understand
Women are incapable of understanding the primal and violent nature of men
The power men feel to kill with their hands
Men derive a sense of power and control from their ability to take life with their bare hands
After the war I come home weak and sore
The experience of war leaves me physically and emotionally drained
I fall into your arms
I seek comfort and solace from my romantic partner after the trauma of war
We lie by the fire
We embrace each other in a moment of intimacy and safety
You feed my desire with me safe and warm
My partner provides nurturing and affection to satisfy my emotional and physical needs
Outside the wind blows cold
The harsh reality of the outside world contrasts with the comfort and safety of my domestic life
Inside the embers glow shelter from the storm
The warmth of the fire and the comfort of home provide a refuge from the chaos and violence of the world
Years been away I fought night and day
I have been absent from my loved ones for many years, dedicating my life to war
Woman it's true
It is true that I have fought for the women I love
I do battle for you, you my everything
I am willing to fight and die for the people I love, as they are the most important things in my life
When on the fur I make love to her
I engage in sexual activity with my partner on a fur, emphasizing a connection with nature and primal instincts
How her body sings
My partner experiences intense pleasure and satisfaction during our sexual acts
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER THOMAS STEELE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind