Their debut album, "Embrace the Eternal", showed a change in style as Embodyment added elements of metalcore to their death metal sound (Embrace the Eternal is one of the earliest deathcore records). "Embrace the Eternal" featured re-makes of the songs "Golgotha" and "Religious Infamy", which were originally from their demos, as well as guest vocals by Bruce Fitzhugh, vocalist for seminal Christian metal band Living Sacrifice.
After the departure of Kris McCaddon on vocals, Embodyment welcomed Sean Corbray as vocalist and recorded "''The Narrow Scope of Things''", released in 2000. This album was the band's first step away from any of the heavier metal subgenres. Instead, their sound on the album was adjusted to alternative metal with hard rock influences and was the first album to feature actual singing and some screamed vocal parts rather than any form of death vocals.
Embodyment next released Hold Your Breath in 2001, an album which saw the removal of all screamed vocals and yet more slight shift away from the remaining metal influence there had been on "The Narrow Scope of Things". Their last album, "''Songs for the Living''", released under [[XS Records]] in 2002, completed the band's transition to alternative/indie rock and was originally made as an industry demo meant to get the band signed to a major label.
Embodyment later disbanded in early 2004 to the disappointment of loyal fans.
Andrew Godwin, Mark Garza and Kris McCaddon have finally resurfaced with a new band, [http://www.the-famine.com The Famine]
Critical Error
Embodyment Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shooting themselves in the feet
Let me pray before you crush my heart
And you swear that you do this in god's name
Stifling the psalms of the heart
Take your hands off my throat, let me breathe
I'm suffocating
You slash my wrist
And devoured my art
Broadcast worldwide healing those for a price
And you swear that you do this in god's name
Stifling the psalms of the heart
Casualties of a non-war
Shooting themselves in the feet
Let me pray before you crush my heart
Let me breathe
The opening lines of Embodyment's song "Critical Error" introduce the notion of a senseless conflict, one without a clear goal or outcome. The "casualties of a non-war" are victims of a struggle that may not even be real, yet they suffer the consequences all the same. The imagery of shooting oneself in the feet suggests that those involved are self-destructive, perhaps unknowingly. The lyrics suggest a larger theme of individuals and groups causing themselves harm in the name of a higher power or ideology.
The song then turns inward, with the singer pleading for release from the grip of a force that is both suffocating and violent. The repetition of the line "Let me breathe" reinforces the idea of being trapped, unable to escape. The reference to God in the line "And you swear that you do this in God's name" could be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on the context and the listener's own beliefs. It could suggest that the oppressor is using religion as a pretext for their actions, or it could indicate the singer's own spiritual struggle.
The final lines of the song, "Let me pray before you crush my heart/Let me breathe," reinforce the themes of powerlessness and oppression. The prayer suggests a last resort, a cry for help in the face of overwhelming force. The repetition of "Let me breathe" underscores the sense of suffocation and fear. Overall, "Critical Error" is a powerful indictment of violence and oppression, and a plea for freedom and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Casualties of a non-war
People are being harmed and hurt even though there is no official war happening
Shooting themselves in the feet
People are causing their own problems and pain
Let me pray before you crush my heart
I need to pray before you hurt me emotionally
And you swear that you do this in god's name
The perpetrator believes they are doing this for a greater good, in the name of religion
Stifling the psalms of the heart
Their emotions are being suppressed and silenced
Take your hands off my throat, let me breathe
Stop suffocating and controlling me
I'm suffocating
I am being overwhelmed and suffocated by this situation
You slash my wrist
You have hurt me deeply and caused me pain
Gave me a network
You provided me with a way to connect with others
And devoured my art
You took advantage of my talent and consumed it for your own gain
Broadcast worldwide healing those for a price
You are offering healing services to people, but only for a cost
Let me breathe
I need to breathe and have the freedom to live my life
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
4-UP
Even if its been 2 years this song is still boss :)
4-UP
Embodyment in my book should have received more media attention in the past decade, eventhough they were underground & a christian metal band they were electric (: There song "Critical Error" is my favorite song by them & my top 5 bands: 1.Faith No More 2.Sevendust 3.Between The Buried And Me 4.Embodyment 5.Rollins Band