The band was founded in 1992. Rather than taking the normal route of releasing Demos, DA instead recorded a multitude of limited edition split albums, though rehearsal tapes and demos were released later on various compilation sets. Some of these have such poor sound quality that they just sound like blasts of noise, whereas later releases like The Inalienable Dreamless have very clear production which revealed the complexity of the guitar riffs.
They split up in 2003 when guitarist Rob Marton developed tinnitus from standing too close to the amp during rehearsals and live shows. They gained somewhat of a cult status post-split, and are renowned as one of the foremost art-grind bands.
The band was notable both for having no bassist and for packaging most of their full-length releases in DVD cases rather than standard CD cases, presumably to accommodate the unusually large booklets (normally with liner notes for each song longer than the lyrics).
Cat's Cradle
Discordance Axis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Homogeneous nuclear family units
Holed up in external as public eye sees fit
Vaccinated against free will
Self-deluded by our nature
Or the blank scope of ourselves?
Screening decisions-integrity cremated
Better homes and gardens or killing fields
A deeper sense of nothing, of alienation.
Negotiate self as target
Of assimilation
Controllability of linear people
Autistic configuration of a cohesive identity
Inarticulate posture
Only serves to undermine self-determination
The lyrics of Discordance Axis's song "Cat's Cradle" speak of the alienation and disconnection felt in a homogeneous society where individuality is suppressed for the sake of conformity. The opening lines describe "faces pillaged of expression," suggesting a world where people have lost the ability to show emotion or convey their true selves. This is further emphasized by the reference to "homogeneous nuclear family units," indicating a society where people are expected to conform and fit into predetermined molds.
The song goes on to describe a world where people are "holed up" and "vaccinated against free will." The implication is that people have been conditioned to accept a life that is predetermined for them, with choices and decisions being made for them rather than by them. This creates a sense of self-delusion, as people struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that doesn't value or appreciate individuality.
The lyrics also touch on themes of assimilation and control, with lines such as "negotiate self as target of assimilation" and "controllability of linear people." The image of an "autistic configuration of a cohesive identity" suggests a society that prefers conformity over creativity, and values control and predictability over individuality and personal expression.
Overall, "Cat's Cradle" is a song that speaks to the experience of feeling disconnected from the world, and struggling to find meaning and purpose in a society that values conformity over individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Faces pillaged of expression
People's faces have lost their natural expression
Homogeneous nuclear family units
Our families all look the same and follow the same patterns
Holed up in external as public eye sees fit
Our lives are hidden from the outside world as society expects of us
Vaccinated against free will
Our choices are limited and we do not believe in free will
Self-deluded by our nature
We believe in things that are not true and are misguided
Or the blank scope of ourselves?
We do not know who we are or what we want
Screening decisions-integrity cremated
Our morality is gone and we make choices based on shallow reasons
Chaperoned orientation to fiscal
We are guided by money in everything we do
Better homes and gardens or killing fields
Our society is either mindlessly idyllic or dangerously violent
A deeper sense of nothing, of alienation.
We feel a profound emptiness and disconnection from the world around us
Negotiate self as target
We try to define ourselves based on what others want us to be
Of assimilation
We do this in order to fit in and be accepted
Controllability of linear people
Society wants us to conform to a set path
Autistic configuration of a cohesive identity
We are expected to have a singular identity that never changes
Inarticulate posture
We struggle to express ourselves openly and honestly
Only serves to undermine self-determination
This lack of self-expression makes it difficult for us to make choices for ourselves
Contributed by Ruby P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.