Formed in late 2000 as an experiment, the project became successful when introduced online with its over-processed vocals and intense melodic sequences. In only a short year, Dismantled was signed to both Metropolis Records in the US and Dependent Records in Europe and released the single "Dystopia" and the self-titlted album to highly positive reviews, hailing Dismantled as the newcomer of the year and as "Album of The Month" in three major German alternative magazines: Zillo, Sonic Seducer, and Orkus.
After a series of shows in the Northwest with such acts as Pigface, Hanzel und Gretyl, and Dita Von Teese, the end of 2003 saw the release of the Exit EP on Dependent Records, a somber ballad with clear vocals and a memorable piano. Included were a haunting cover of AFI's Morningstar approved by Davey Havok himself and a remix by Christian Antkow of id Software (Quake, Doom series), both long-time fans and supporters of the project. The full-length, PostNuclear, followed in 2004, upgrading the sound to be more rock-oriented and unusual with its mesh of pop and moody electronics, earning praise from industrial legends Rudy Ratzinger from Wumpscut and Daniel Myer of Haujobb.
To fully realize the vision of PostNuclear, the band set out on its first nationwide tour in 2004 with Adrian White on drums whose previous work included Delerium, Front Line Assembly, and Strapping Young Lad. The success of the tour had prompted the release of the third album in 2006, titled, Standard Issue, a sarcastic take on the simplicity and emptiness of the current musical climate. Finally getting to play in Europe at the Wave Gothic Festival after Standard Issue commercially failed in the US yet succeeded in Europe, Dismantled recorded one more album for the closing label Dependent titled "When I'm Dead," slated for 2007 and parted ways with Metropolis Records. As a result, Gary Zon is busy pursuing other projects, including the indie pop rock electro outfit Aerodrone and the female fronted electro / synth / rock band No Not Never.
Recall
Dismantled Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before the skies were
Strapped to the detonators
Before the lights all
Dimmed in their simulators
They said:
"Don't tell me what to do
Don't tell me what to choose
Just know I will never ever lose
Or even burn up
That is impossible
I followed all the rules"
"But give me all the tools
And tell me what to use
I know that I will never ever lose
As long as it works
Everything's possible
And I just can't get enough!"
And now I'm here
And they're all back where they're supposed to be
I know they fail to see the irony
As they repeat it all around
I love the way they fold around you
I love the way you're understood
I know I'll never get inside you
I know I'll never get it through
I love the way they fold around you
I love the way you prove me right
And now I'm gone
So don't remind me
To look back
The song "Recall" by Dismantled is a reflective piece on the changing times and how people have evolved over the years. The first stanza of the song reflects on a time before technology had taken over our lives, a time when skies were not strapped to detonators, and lights did not dim in their simulators. The artist looks back at a time when people were more authentic, and does not view them as cheap imitators as they do now. The second stanza reflects on the new age of technology, where people have to constantly keep up with the pace of development. They want all the tools available to them and want to know how to use them, and as long as they work, everything is possible. The artist points out the irony of this situation, where people become so engrossed in technology; they hardly look up to see the world around them.
The chorus of the song speaks of a desire to get inside somebody, to be understood by them. But the persona realizes that this may never happen, and he must accept it. The repeated line "I love the way they fold around you" is a reflection on how people conform in society, often choosing what is easy and not necessarily right, like folding into conformity. The persona accepts this fate and doesn't want to look back, as he moves on from the past.
Line by Line Meaning
And I recall
I remember
Before the skies were Strapped to the detonators
Before the situation became volatile
Before the lights all Dimmed in their simulators
Before everything became fake and artificial
Before I saw them all as cheap imitators
Before I realized that they were just copying others
They said: Don't tell me what to do Don't tell me what to choose Just know I will never ever lose Or even burn up That is impossible I followed all the rules
They claimed to be independent and sure of their success by never making mistakes or failing, but they followed a prescribed set of rules as their guide
But give me all the tools And tell me what to use I know that I will never ever lose As long as it works Everything's possible And I just can't get enough!
However, if given the right resources and guidance, they believed they could do anything and couldn't get enough of that feeling of unlimited potential
And now I'm here And they're all back where they're supposed to be I know they fail to see the irony As they repeat it all around
Now that I've moved on and left them to stick to their old ways, I see how ironic it is that they keep repeating the same behavior
I love the way they fold around you I love the way you're understood I know I'll never get inside you I know I'll never get it through
I admire how easily they conform and blend in while feeling understood, but I know I'll never be able to connect with them or make them see things from my perspective
I love the way they fold around you I love the way you prove me right And now I'm gone So don't remind me To look back
I appreciate that they continue to conform and prove me right, but I've moved on and don't want to be reminded of the past
Contributed by Eva W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
josef saint
Best song of Dismantled