Bands such as Depeche Mode, Front 242, Invisible Limits ... inspired the two founding members, which meant that the concerted effort soon bore first fruit. Within a few weeks the first songs were created, which were then sent to relevant record companies in form of a demo tape.
In January 1993 the band was signed by the Nuremberg Hypnobeat / Hyperium label as successors of Project Pitchfork, who had left the label at that time. However, it still took almost another year before the Debut-CD Human Refuse was actually released. The album came like a bomb and caused positive to enthusiastic reactions not only with the press but also with the listeners. The combination of driving rhythms and catchy tunes so typical for Evils Toy seemed to be exactly what everyone had been waiting for in vain for quite some time, and therefore it was not surprising that the band could register an increase in sales.
The band released their second album Morbid Mind in the December of 1994, which they presented live on a 12-city-tour of Germany in April 1995, which was very well-attended. “Morbid Mind” soon established itself in the alternative scene and was a must for every record collection. In the beginning of 1996 the single “Organics” was released, which climbed to number 12 in the German alternative charts, was voted single of the month by a well-known German magazine and developed into a hit in clubs world-wide. The American label partner (Metropolis Rec. / Philadelphia) demanded an exclusive remix of “Organics” to be able to promote the song via radio stations.. As a result of this Evils Toy entered all American college-radio charts and the sales numbers increased.
In the summer Volker Lutz produced the third album XTC Implant in the bands own recording studio “Evil Empire”. This album also entered the German alternative charts, placing itself between Fanta 4 and the Smashing Pumpkins. Pretty good, huh? The second successful 11-city-tour of Germany followed in April 1996 to present “XTC Implant” live. Due to lighting rented and programmed especially for the tour the concerts were not only an audio, but also a visual experience.
The band adopted this concept for all following live performances, so that the concerts received the subtitle “Visual Illusion” from the next tour onwards. Illusion was the key-word for the next longplay CD. The album Illusion clearly related the bands versatility. From soft soundtrack sound collages to the typical Evils Toy electric-thunderstorms, Illusion contains everything your heart desires and, like its predecessors, soon became a classic of the alternative genre. This album was of course also presented live on a distinct tour which took the band through 10 German cities, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium and to Sweden. As on the last tour, the specially rented lighting made each show an experience.
In the mean time Volker Lutz was composing the title music for a video series for the show-hypnotist Pharo, known for appearances on German shows such as Hans Meiser (RTL), Arabella (Pro 7), Bitte Lächeln (RTL2), Gottschalk (SAT.1). The duo became a trio in the summer of 1998. From now on, Oliver Taranczewski is to accompany Volker and Thorsten. Oliver, born in Darmstadt, had already written lyrics for Evils Toy before joining the band and now supports the band as keyboarder. “And One” (Virgin) released the song Silver Century, a song written exclusively for And One by Evils Toy, on their single Sitata Tirulala.
"Angel’s only!" is the best description for a change in trend in the Evils Toy camp. The fifth album Angels Only! shows a change of underground club hits to partly radio suitable commercial ballads, but even still Evils Toy stay true to their typical style. Melody is the key word that is the albums central thread. The album is presented live in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and the UK and successfully celebrated. Further concerts are confirmed for Spring 2000 in Mexico City, Rome and for Easter in London. Meanwhile Volker Lutz wrote a further song for the band “And One” in Autumn 1999. The song Don’t need the Drugs got released on the album “Virgin Superstar”.
Evils Toy have been in their own studio “Sonicstage” since November 1999 to produce their next album Silvertears. To ensure a professional production, the band will be working in the studios of the rockband “Franz K.”, which Evils Toy took over in January 1997 from the German Status Quo support band.
“Silvertears” is the consequent further development of “Angels Only!”. A mixture of pop, drum’n'bass and typical electro à la Evils Toy forms an energy and melancholy which could make you lose a silver tear or two. And if you can’t cry, you can at least dance – it liberates.
As of 2001 the band was renamed to T.O.Y. for further information look under that name.
The band have produced many remixes for other bands like Apoptygma Berzerk, In Strict Confidence, De/Vision and !Bang Elektronika. Volker has also undertaken many album productions in his SonicStage Recording Studios. He has worked with bands like And One, L'Âme Immortelle, Funker Vogt and Pulcher Femina.
In 2004 Volker made a song for the German radio play "The three investigators"-Song contest. Also in 2004, the computer game giant Konami used a special remix done by T.O.Y. on the new PS2 & Xbox release: "Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2". Bands like Neuropa, Echo Image, Alien#Six13 or Midihead have also contributed to the soundtrack.
In 2005 Oliver released an album under the name Yavin 4 in the US. An album sounding more like the older Evils Toy releases mixed with modern dance and drum & bass elements. Also he produced the Cruciform Injection album "Aftermath" that has been released in 2006
After weak split rumours concerning the future of T.O.Y. they are, in fact, working on new songs. All such songs are more or less raw demos, some with vocals, some without, but represent the kind of music fans expect to hear on the next T.O.Y. release.
In May 2009 Oliver left the band for good. Obviously there were different opinions concerning the direction of T.O.Y. and the new songs. Volker will finish the album which will be released in autumn 2009 on his own.
Do Dreams Bleed?
Evil's Toy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Left alone
I'm feeling sad
Remembering the words you said
Empty words which make me mad
Memories which come to mind
And I see that I was too blind
Betraying myself
With pictures of you which will never fit
I'm reaching out for the stars
Too far away to get them
Wasting time on unimportant things
Like our lost relationship
You wanted everything but gave nothing in return
You've been the lesson I had to learn
You've been a headgame I don't need
You've been the one making my dreams bleed
The lyrics of Evil's Toy's song "Do Dreams Bleed?" express a deep pain caused by a relationship that has fallen apart. The singer appears to have given everything they had to the relationship but found nothing in return. The first verse describes the pain of being left alone, feeling sad, and remembering the empty words they had been told. The memories of the past relationship make the singer feel betrayed and regretful, as they realize their own blindness towards the situation.
The second verse shows the singer struggling to move on, reaching out for the stars but failing to get them. They waste their time on insignificant things, unable to let go of the pain caused by the lost relationship. The chorus declares that the person who hurt them wanted everything but gave nothing in return. They were a painful lesson that the singer had to learn, a headgame they did not need, and the one who made their dreams bleed. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been deeply hurt, unable to forget the pain or move on from the relationship.
Overall, "Do Dreams Bleed?" is a melancholic and emotional song that expresses the pain and regret of a failed relationship. The lyrics are powerful and filled with vivid imagery that perfectly capture the singer's emotional turmoil. The song's haunting melody and dark tone add to the emotional impact of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
The first time it hurt so bad
The first time we experienced heartbreak, it was extremely painful.
Left alone
After the breakup, we were left on our own to deal with the pain.
I'm feeling sad
Our emotions are consumed by sadness.
Remembering the words you said
We can't shake off the memory of the hurtful things you said to us.
Empty words which make me mad
The empty promises you made us angers us.
Memories which come to mind
The memories of our time together keep flooding back.
And I see that I was too blind
Upon reflection, we realize we were foolish and naive not to see through your actions and words.
Betraying myself
We are filled with regret for betraying ourselves and our intuition about you and our relationship.
Like a little kid
We feel like helpless children still clinging to the hope that you will come back to us.
With pictures of you which will never fit
We are holding onto images and fantasies of you that don't match up to who you really are.
I'm reaching out for the stars
We are yearning for something out of our grasp.
Too far away to get them
What we desire is impossible to attain, no matter how much we strive and reach for it.
Wasting time on unimportant things
We are wasting our time on things that don't matter in the grand scheme of things.
Like our lost relationship
The biggest waste of all is the time and energy we're putting into mourning our lost relationship.
You wanted everything but gave nothing in return
You were selfish and took everything from us, but gave us nothing in return.
You've been the lesson I had to learn
Our experience with you was a painful but necessary lesson we had to learn.
You've been a headgame I don't need
Your manipulative ways and mind games were toxic, and we know we don't need that kind of negativity in our life.
You've been the one making my dreams bleed
You were the reason behind our shattered dreams and heartbreak.
Contributed by Maria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@andersjansson6629
Yes dreams bleed, one of my favorite songs of ET🖤
@m3po137
I love it.
@spacemunkey2012
Love it!!
@davidveri9758
6yy
@zonze661
Que722