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).
Ruin Trajectory
Discordance Axis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In razor wire orchards and bar code reefs
(Where) Primary extinction communicates its intent
On a
Trajectory of
Ruin
Acrid
Stock
The Ground
Renewed
Concern
For the strontium 90 offspring
Boiling dust stands in pools of molten glass
Severe contamination of irradiated dreams
Nuclear reservations and burial gardens
Alpha particles stir in the poison breeze
Planting yellow posts
In the sand
The trail markers of irradiated dreams
Trapped in senseless illusions
Compressed to a state
Of critical mass
The lyrics of Discordance Axis's song "Ruin Trajectory" describe the aftermath of an apocalyptic event, perhaps a nuclear war or a meltdown of a nuclear facility. The "backfilled trenches" and "bar code reefs" are symbols of the destruction left in the wake of the event. The phrase "primary extinction communicates its intent" suggests that this event was a man-made disaster that could have been avoided. The repeated mention of "ruin" highlights the despair and hopelessness brought about by the disaster.
The second stanza of the song describes the contamination and the desolation of the landscape. The "acrid stock" choking the ground and the "boiling dust" standing in pools of molten glass are examples of the severe contamination caused by the event. The "yellow posts" planted in the sand are trail markers of "irradiated dreams" - a metaphor for the hopes and aspirations of those who were affected by the disaster, now reduced to rubble. The final line of the song, "compressed to a state of critical mass," suggests that the disaster was a culmination of many smaller failures and missteps that eventually led to a catastrophic event.
Line by Line Meaning
Backfilled trenches bury cancer intensive dreams
The dreams of fighting cancer are being suppressed and forgotten, and instead, the negative emotions associated with it are being buried.
In razor wire orchards and bar code reefs
The environment is hostile and unforgiving, with no room for growth or escape.
(Where) Primary extinction communicates its intent
The destruction of life is deliberate, and it is happening at an alarming rate.
On a
Trajectory of
Ruin
The direction of things is towards absolute destruction and chaos.
Acrid
The air is filled with dangerous fumes and pollutants that are harmful to all living things.
Stock
The earth is becoming exhausted of its resources, and it is only making things worse.
Chokes
The presence of pollution is overwhelming and suffocating, leaving us feeling helpless and powerless.
The Ground
The earth itself is being affected and polluted, making it difficult for life to thrive.
Renewed
There is a sense of urgency and renewed concern for the gravity of the situation.
Concern
People are finally starting to take notice and feel alarmed at the state of things, but it may be too little, too late.
For the strontium 90 offspring
The next generation is the one that will suffer the most from the damages we have inflicted upon the world.
Boiling dust stands in pools of molten glass
The environment is no longer recognizable, and the devastation is all-encompassing.
Severe contamination of irradiated dreams
The hopes and dreams of a better future have been contaminated and corrupted by the harsh effects of radiation and pollution.
Nuclear reservations and burial gardens
The places that were once considered safe and sacred are now being used as a final resting place for nuclear waste and other hazardous materials.
Alpha particles stir in the poison breeze
The air itself is toxic and dangerous, with even the smallest particles causing harm and destruction.
Planting yellow posts
Efforts are being made to mark and contain the affected areas, but it may be too little, too late.
In the sand
The hope is that future generations will be able to learn from our mistakes and work towards a better, more sustainable future.
The trail markers of irradiated dreams
The cautionary signs of the destruction of our world are everywhere, and we must heed their warnings or face the consequences.
Trapped in senseless illusions
Our belief in progress and constant growth has blinded us to the reality of the damages we are causing to the world.
Compressed to a state
The situation has reached a point where it is no longer sustainable, and something must be done to change course.
Of critical mass
The need for change is urgent and crucial if we are to prevent the complete destruction of our world and our future.
Contributed by James O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cultof Ian
These guys remind me a ton of the Beatles
Len
I'LL CALL AL
AL, I'LL TELL
ITS PRICE TAG
LET GO, AL
plzineedtogowayrn
One of the hardest songs ever
buttkrieg
Favorite DxAx track.
James Wingard
Awesome.
Nathaniel Bailey
Fuck yes