<… Read Full Bio ↴Fifth Angel is an American heavy metal band from Bellevue, Washington.
Fifth Angel was formed in the suburbs of Seattle in late 1983, specifically, in the Bellevue area. The band's initial lineup consisted of Ted Pilot (vocals), James Byrd (lead guitar), Ed Archer (rhythm guitar), Ken Mary (drums) and Kenny Kay (bass).
John Macko replaced Kenny Kay on bass in 1987, while Kendall Bechtel replaced James Byrd on lead guitar. The group released a self-titled album Fifth Angel in 1986 on Shrapnel Records, which was re-released on Epic Records in 1988, with a re-mastered sound and a different cover. In 1989, the follow-up record, Time Will Tell, marked the end of the band, with its members going their separate ways by 1990.
Although many rumors cropped up in the 2000s about a reunion, it finally happened in 2009. Ed Archer, John Macko and Kendall Bechtel were joined by drummer Jeffrey McCormack and in 2010, the band played its first live show in its history at the Keep it True Festival, with guest singer Peter Orullian (ex-Heir Apparent).
McCormack left the group in 2011, along with announced lead singer David Fefolt (the latter performed on some demos, but never actually performed live or officially recorded with the band). The group is in the midst of demoing new material, but operates on a part-time basis as the band members' schedules allow.
The Night
Fifth Angel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our twisted minds are spinning, coming ever closer to the break
Hide your eyes, don't watch them suffer
Can't you see the action isn't real
See their face, uneasy laughter
Maybe it's a fear we really feel
There is no way to be free
You can't escape what you see
There is no end to this dream
You watch them as they're screaming, haven't we all seen them here before?
You mustn't change the channel, wait until they scream a little more
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
What is that on the corner, fighting in the darkness on the street?
Can't wait to see what happens, just like TV violence that we need
The lyrics to Fifth Angel's song The Night seem to criticize the society's increasing obsession with violence and savagery, as a result of our exposure to such content through television and other media. The first two lines of the lyrics present a somber picture of the state of our minds, as they twist and turn towards a possible breakdown by the constant exposure to the savagery and madness on our television screens. However, the following lines suggest that despite our uneasiness and discomfort with the excessive violence, we still find ourselves drawn towards it, unable to look away from the screen. The lyrics "Hide your eyes, don't watch them suffer. Can't you see the action isn't real" seem to be urging the listener to turn away from the violence and recognize that it is not real, it is not something that we should aspire to or be entertained by.
The chorus of the song amplifies the message that is being conveyed, emphasizing that there is no escape from the violence that we see on our screens. The lyrics "Through the night, you can't escape what you see. There is no way to be free. You can't escape what you see. There is no end to this dream" suggest that our obsession with violence has become a nightmare that we cannot escape from no matter how horrifying it gets.
The last verse of the song raises the question of whether our addiction to violence has seeped into our realities by drawing parallels between the violence on our screens and the fighting that happens on the streets. It suggests that we have become so desensitized to violence that we start to look at it the same way we do television violence.
Overall, The Night can be interpreted as a plea for society to take a step back and examine the harm that our fascination with violence may be causing to our collective psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
I see on television savagery and madness every day
Everyday, we consume content that is full of barbarity and insanity on television.
Our twisted minds are spinning, coming ever closer to the break
As viewers, our minds are becoming warped and our mental state is slowly breaking down due to the twisted content we watch.
Hide your eyes, don't watch them suffer
It is better to close your eyes than to watch other people suffer.
Can't you see the action isn't real
The events happening on screen are not real, but they have an effect on our psyche.
See their face, uneasy laughter
When we witness suffering, we often react with uncomfortable reactions and laughter.
Maybe it's a fear we really feel
Our reactions are often fueled by our own fears and insecurities.
Through the night, you can't escape what you see
Even at night, the violent images and ideas we've consumed linger in our subconscious mind.
There is no way to be free
There seems to be no escape from the constant bombardment of violent content.
You watch them as they're screaming, haven't we all seen them here before?
The screaming we hear on television is not new or unique, but rather a recurring motif.
You mustn't change the channel, wait until they scream a little more
We are often compelled to keep watching even though we know it's disturbing and unhealthy.
What is that on the corner, fighting in the darkness on the street?
We have a morbid fascination with violence and are often drawn to it when we see it in real life.
Can't wait to see what happens, just like TV violence that we need
We crave violence and want to see what happens, similar to how we are obsessed with violent content on TV.
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Allen Plum
I see on television savagery and madness every day
Our twisted minds are spinning, coming ever closer to the break
Hide your eyes, don't watch them suffer
Can't you see the action isn't real
See their face, uneasy laughter
Maybe it's a fear we really feel
Through the night, you can't escape what you see
There is no way to be free
You can't escape what you see
There is no end to this dream
You watch them as they're screaming, haven't we all seen them here before?
You mustn't change the channel, wait until they scream a little more
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
What is that on the corner, fighting in the darkness on the street?
Can't wait to see what happens, just like TV violence that we need
Circular Gates
Yay 5th Angel!
Muhammad Noor bin Rohani
Fifth 5th Angel is the heavy metal band in the world.
SamdeMan
They are pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread.
junior Battalha
Foda 🤘
Michael Batts
I still wonder it is humanly possible to hold notes that long. Ted Pilot makes it seem so easy!
nigel
sound engineering
Muhammad Noor bin Rohani
Best double guitars.
Muhammad Noor bin Rohani
Ken Mary is the best Drummer in the world.