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.
human
Dismantled Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burned out memories reprise
The silent resentment
Sinking over vacant eyes
The skyline ruptures
Past the barriers of sight
Inverting silence
Climb into your concrete hole
Forget this
Deep inside the truth awakens
Pulling you away
Hey human
Do you see the grid expanding
Hey human
Do you hear the static rains washing your blood away
You say you want to live this life forever
Forever is as distant as your stars
The opening lines of Dismantled's "Human" describe a bleak terrain of inner turmoil and forgotten traumas. The "deluded whispers" suggest a self-deception, a tendency to ignore or distort reality in order to maintain some false sense of control. The "burned out memories" speak to a past that has left its mark, perhaps in the form of regrets, traumas, or failed relationships. The "silent resentment" and "vacant eyes" suggest a quiet despair, a sense of being trapped in a cycle of disappointment and disillusionment.
As the song progresses, Dismantled shifts his focus to the world outside. The "skyline ruptures" and the "barriers of sight" are broken, suggesting a moment of clarity or insight. However, this clarity quickly gives way to "streams of tainted fright," as the world outside becomes overwhelming and threatening.
The chorus of "Human" shifts back to an address to the listener, urging them to wake up and pay attention to the world around them. The grid expanding and the static rains washing away blood are both fantastic or surreal images that suggest a society out of control, destroying both itself and its inhabitants. The final lines of the chorus offer a stark contrast to this dystopian vision - the desire for immortality, for a forever that is always out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Deluded whispers
The false, misleading ideas that we tell ourselves
Burned out memories reprise
The memories that keep coming back, never leaving us, and forever burned into our minds
The silent resentment
The feelings of anger and bitterness that we keep buried beneath the surface, but can still feel inside
Sinking over vacant eyes
The emotions that keep overwhelming us, causing us to feel empty and lost
The skyline ruptures
The world is in chaos and falling apart all around us
Past the barriers of sight
The destruction is so great that we cannot ignore it or turn a blind eye
Inverting silence
The stillness that once gave us peace is gone, and now there is only noise
Into streams of tainted fright
The sounds now only bring us fear and dread
Climb into your concrete hole
Flee from reality by seeking comfort in what is familiar and unchanging
Forget this
Attempt to ignore the chaos and destruction happening around us
Deep inside the truth awakens
Deep within us, we know that what we are doing is wrong and that things cannot continue as they are
Pulling you away
Our conscience is telling us to change our ways and do what is right before it is too late
Hey human
Addressing the listener to pay attention to what is being said
Do you see the grid expanding
Do you see how our society is becoming more controlling and our freedoms are being taken away
Do you hear the static rains washing your blood away
Are you aware of the subtle ways that our society is harming us, stripping away our humanity and individuality
You say you want to live this life forever
We often cling to things we think will bring us happiness, which we believe will make life feel everlasting
Forever is as distant as your stars
However, this happiness is illusory, and the idea of living a perfect life forever is about as likely as reaching the stars
Lyrics © CTM Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TERRY LEWIS, JAMES HARRIS III
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind