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.
Sex and Violence
Carnivore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in my groin a swollen gland
tonight perform brain surgery
or some gynecology
clockwork orange fast becoming
rampant street gangs overrunning
after darkness raging war
what do they keep living for?
Sex and Violence
I love to hear you scream in vain
splattered blood and semen stains
rape and murder lesson learned
meaning of life? - Pain and sperm
prey upon the old and helpless
reconditioning is useless
ultra-violent offsprings of gore
what do they keep living for?
Sex and Violence
If you can't eat it or fuck it...
then kill it!
Sexual deviation
Religious desecration
Civil mutilation
Violent procreation
Bleed for me
The lyrics to Carnivore's song "Sex and Violence" are a dark and disturbing commentary on the state of society. The first verse describes the singer's desire to perform either brain surgery or gynecology, suggesting a twisted fascination with the human body. This is followed by a reference to the movie "A Clockwork Orange," which explores themes of violence, free will, and psychological conditioning. The chorus declares the central message of the song: "sex and violence." It seems that, to the singer, these are the only things that give life meaning.
The second verse depicts a scene of violent sex and murder, with the singer reveling in the pain and suffering of others. The line "prey upon the old and helpless" suggests a predatory nature, while "ultra-violent offsprings of gore" invokes images of a society gone mad. The chorus repeats the message of the first, driving home the idea that sex and violence are the only things that matter. The final lines, "If you can't eat it or fuck it...then kill it!," are perhaps the most disturbing of all, suggesting a complete lack of empathy or humanity.
Overall, "Sex and Violence" is a bleak and nihilistic song, offering a brutal critique of contemporary culture. Its imagery is graphic and unsettling, painting a picture of a world in which the most base and primitive instincts reign supreme. It is a strong indictment of the excesses of modern society and a call to arms for those who seek to rise above its darkest impulses.
Line by Line Meaning
Money wrench in my hand
I hold a tool to attain wealth
in my groin a swollen gland
My sexual desire is strong
tonight perform brain surgery
I plan to cause harm to someone's mental state
or some gynecology
I plan to harm a woman's reproductive system
clockwork orange fast becoming
Society is quickly becoming violent and chaotic
rampant street gangs overrunning
Gangs are taking over the streets
after darkness raging war
Violent conflict is happening after dark
what do they keep living for?
What motivates these people to continue living in such a violent world?
I love to hear you scream in vain
I derive pleasure from causing others pain
splattered blood and semen stains
I indulge in violent and sexual acts
rape and murder lesson learned
I believe that rape and murder are necessary to understand the meaning of life
meaning of life? - Pain and sperm
I believe that the meaning of life is to experience pain and sexual pleasure
prey upon the old and helpless
I target those who are vulnerable and unable to defend themselves
reconditioning is useless
Attempts to reform or rehabilitate me are ineffective
ultra-violent offsprings of gore
I am a product of extreme violence and bloodshed
what do they keep living for?
What motivates people in this violent society to keep living?
If you can't eat it or fuck it...
If something cannot bring me pleasure, then it's worthless
then kill it!
The only value I see in something is if I can derive pleasure from its death
Sexual deviation
I indulge in taboo sexual acts
Religious desecration
I take pleasure in violating religious beliefs and practices
Civil mutilation
I enjoy causing harm to society and its structures
Violent procreation
I believe that violence and sex go hand in hand
Bleed for me
I derive pleasure from causing others pain and violence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER THOMAS STEELE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind