Chemlab broke up in 1997, and reformed in 2004 with Jared as the only original member. Working with the members of Acumen Nation, old touring guitarist Greg Lucas and Julian Beeston (Nitzer Ebb, etc), he recorded and released an album entitled "Oxidizer". Recently, after a massive seven year hiatus from the stage, Jared and a backing band comprised of the members of Electro-Industrial group Mindless Faith has taken Chemlab back on the road again. They have performed around the country at a number of festivals and are planning tours for 2007. The album "Rock Whore vs Dance Floor", a varied collection of remixes from "Oxidizer" by Die Warzau, 16Volt, Cubanate and many others, was released in late spring, 2006.
Jared Louche announced on stage during a performance on September 7th 2012 in Chicago, that it would be the band's final show
In the spring of 2018, it was announced that Chemlab would return for Cold Waves VII in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles to perform Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar in its entirety to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the album's release. The band also performed at Cold Waves VIII, along with a number of other standalone shows. The band later released the compilation Tape Decay in 2019. This release includes unreleased tracks from the East Side Militia, Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar and 10 Ton Pressure cassette demos as well as new songs. The band performed at the Oriental Theater in Denver with Pop Will Eat Itself and Scifidelic from September 21 to 22, 2019. '
For more in-depth information go to: www.hydrogenbar.com as well as: www.myspace.com/chemlab
Chemical Halo
Chemlab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burning bright in a sodium haze
All meaning is lost
But this confusion remains
I'm going to tear myself apart
If I can't get myself together
And spread my pieces around like waste
And give my gift of stormy weather
Every time I laugh I feel like maybe I'm choking
I know you'd laugh too but it's not that funny anymore
I kissed the floor on my way down
A match head burning out on the frozen ground
I just want to thank every one of you
For all the things that you don't do
For the stab in the back
For the kick in the face
For the pain in the neck
And all the shame and disgrace
For the spit in the eye
And all the things you say
And all the head games you play
For the agony and the parody
For the pain infliction and drug addiction
You give them so much strength
When you show you're weak
Please don't rattle your chains
It's better when you're meek
Here comes another bad trip
Another life of no sleep
Another storm in the dark
With the sky pouring down
Every creature will drown
This time there will be no Noah's Arc
The song Chemical Halo by Chemlab is a powerful and intense expression of the pain and confusion that can arise from addiction and toxic relationships. The "chemical halo" is a metaphor for the haze and confusion that surrounds the singer as a result of their substance abuse and the toxic behavior of others in their life. Despite this confusion, however, the singer is aware of the harm that is being done to them and to others, and expresses a desire to break free from these destructive patterns.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's struggles, with striking imagery such as "Every time I move I feel like something's broken," and "I kissed the floor on my way down." The repeated references to "stormy weather" and "another storm in the dark" suggest the destructive power of addiction and the chaos that it can create in one's life. Meanwhile, the refrain that thanks others for the pain and betrayal they have inflicted on the singer is both bitter and resigned, capturing the cycle of abuse that can be so difficult to break free from.
Overall, Chemical Halo is a powerful and moving portrayal of the struggles of addiction and toxic relationships, painted in vivid and evocative language that captures the intensity of these experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Chemical halo
Refers to the distorted perception that the singer has due to chemical influence.
Burning bright in a sodium haze
The singer's experience of intense sensations and distorted perception caused by chemicals.
All meaning is lost
The singer feels that their perception of reality has been altered to the point that they cannot comprehend the world around them.
But this confusion remains
Despite the loss of meaning, the artist is still overwhelmed by confusion and disorientation.
I'm going to tear myself apart
The artist feels that their sense of self and identity is being destroyed by drug addiction.
If I can't get myself together
The singer acknowledges that they are responsible for their own condition and need to take control of their life.
And spread my pieces around like waste
The singer contemplates giving in to addiction and destroying themselves.
And give my gift of stormy weather
The artist recognizes that their addiction brings chaos and turmoil to those around them.
Every time I move I feel like something's broken
The artist feels physically and emotionally damaged by their addiction, leading to a sense of constant pain.
Every time I laugh I feel like maybe I'm choking
The artist feels as if they are being suffocated by their addiction, with no relief even in the few moments of happiness.
I know you'd laugh too but it's not that funny anymore
The singer recognizes that the humor they once saw in their own self-destruction is now gone and replaced by a sense of desperation.
I kissed the floor on my way down
The artist hit rock bottom with their addiction and lost everything.
A match head burning out on the frozen ground
The singer's life is compared to a short-lived and insignificant flame, soon to be extinguished.
I just want to thank every one of you
The singer is sarcastically thanking those who hurt them.
For all the things that you don't do
The singer acknowledges that those around them did nothing to help them in their addiction.
For the stab in the back
The artist has been betrayed by someone close to them.
For the kick in the face
The artist has suffered a humiliating and painful experience at the hands of those around them.
For the pain in the neck
The singer's addiction has caused them physical and emotional pain.
And all the shame and disgrace
The singer feels ashamed of their addiction and the way it has affected their life.
For the spit in the eye
The artist has been insulted and disrespected by those around them.
And all the things you say
The artist has been hurt by the words and actions of those around them.
And all the head games you play
The artist has been subjected to psychological manipulation by those around them.
For the agony and the parody
The singer has experienced both incredible pain and a sense of surreal, detached humor in their addiction.
For the pain infliction and drug addiction
The artist recognizes that their addiction is self-inflicted pain, yet they still cannot stop.
You give them so much strength
The singer acknowledges that their addiction enthusiasts are empowered by their weakness.
When you show you're weak
The singer is aware that their addiction and desperation make them vulnerable to exploitation.
Please don't rattle your chains
The singer is warning others not to use their addiction to hold power over them.
It's better when you're meek
The artist suggests that it's easier to cope with addiction when you don't fight back or resist it.
Here comes another bad trip
The artist is aware that their addiction will lead to another painful and destructive experience.
Another life of no sleep
The singer's addiction disrupts their life and makes normal sleep impossible.
Another storm in the dark
The singer is aware of the chaotic and destructive nature of their addiction.
With the sky pouring down
The artist is acknowledging how they feel completely overwhelmed by the storm of addiction.
Every creature will drown
The artist predicts that, if they don't find a way out of their addiction, they will be consumed and destroyed by it.
This time there will be no Noah's Arc
The artist is suggesting that, unlike the biblical story where Noah was given an escape, they will have no escape from their addiction.
Contributed by Callie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.