Aftermath
Front Line Assembly Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

He's a freak
not a man
antihero
a syncopant?

after dark
comes the man?
masked invader
feel the hand

New horizons
endless thoughts
self will burnout?
transmits ?

Through a black hole
while you speak
supernova
sight is weak

"I fear life. I mate, I die. Thank you, F**k. Big Asshole, No."
"I fear life. I mate, I die. Thank you, F**k. Big Asshole, No."

Hes a freak
not a man
antihero
lives in a can

after dark
somewhere ?
masked invader
feel the hand

kill the man
feel the hand





kill the man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Front Line Assembly's song "Aftermath" are enigmatic and suggest a dystopian world where the boundaries between human and machine, hero and antihero, life and death are blurry, if not completely dissolved. The opening lines describe a character who is a "freak" rather than a man, an "antihero" who does not follow the norms and expectations of a hero, and a "syncopant" whose rhythm is off-beat or out of sync. The second stanza introduces another mysterious figure, a "masked invader" who comes out "after dark," evoking a sense of danger and clandestine operations. The third stanza introduces the concept of "new horizons" and "endless thoughts," but also hints at a possible burnout or transmission of the self, suggesting a tension between expansion and dissolution. The fourth stanza analogizes this tension to a black hole or supernova, both cosmic phenomena that represent the limits of perception and the potential for destruction.


The repeated refrain of "I fear life. I mate, I die. Thank you, F**k. Big Asshole, No." is cryptic and can be interpreted in multiple ways. It could be seen as a nihilistic rejection of the human condition, where life is reduced to biological imperatives and where gratitude is expressed through insults. It could also be seen as a commentary on the dehumanizing effects of technology and consumerism, where the only way to cope with the alienation and anxiety of modern life is to embrace a confrontational and provocative attitude. Ultimately, the song paints a picture of a world where things have gone awry, where the distinctions between good and evil, real and fake, organic and synthetic have collapsed, and where survival depends on a mix of adaptability and rebellion.


Line by Line Meaning

He's a freak
He is different from the norm.


not a man
He is not an average person.


antihero
He is not a typical hero, he opposes traditional heroic characteristics.


a syncopant?
A question whether he is serving or pretending to serve someone else.


after dark
Nighttime, a period of obscurity.


comes the man?
The appearance of the man, the moment of his arrival.


masked invader
A person wearing a mask who enters secretly and without permission.


feel the hand
Experience the physical force exerted by the man's hand.


New horizons
New opportunities or perspectives in life.


endless thoughts
A continuous internal process of reflection and contemplation.


self will burnout?
The possibility that the excessive focus on oneself will lead to exhaustion or self-destruction.


transmits ?
A question about the form or method in which he communicates with others.


Through a black hole
A metaphor for entering a mysterious and dangerous situation from which is difficult to return.


while you speak
While you express yourself or while you are talking.


supernova
A powerful and catastrophic explosion in space, symbolizing destruction and chaos.


sight is weak
The ability to understand or perceive the world around us is limited or insufficient.


"I fear life. I mate, I die. Thank you, F**k. Big Asshole, No."
A cynical commentary about life, questioning its purpose and value.


Hes a freak
He is still considered different from the norm.


not a man
He goes beyond what society considers normal for a typical man.


antihero
He remains outside of the traditional heroic archetype.


lives in a can
He resides in a place of confinement, or he is imprisoned.


after dark
A period of danger or uncertainty, especially at night.


somewhere ?
A question about the location of the man or his hiding place.


masked invader
A repeated description to emphasize the underhanded and secretive nature of the man.


feel the hand
Reasserting the physical domination the man wields.


kill the man
Urging action to stop or eliminate the man's influence or power.


feel the hand
Renewed focus on the physical force the man exerts.




Contributed by Katherine F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions