HORSE the band is a band from Lake Forest, California that formed in 1999. … Read Full Bio ↴HORSE the band is a band from Lake Forest, California that formed in 1999. They are known for their 8-bit Nintendo influenced sound combined with metalcore, which frontman Nathan Winneke once jokingly referred to as Nintendocore. They are currently signed to Vagrant Records.

HORSE the band's lyrics are chaotic and colorful metaphors for vocalist Nathan Winneke's life, often with humorous or abstract pop culture reference titles and bases. Winneke has referred to his style on multiple occasions as "lynchian" in reference to his favorite film director David Lynch and his obtuse narrative style.

The band had jokingly labeled themselves "Nintendocore" very early on in their career in reference to the synth sound they had adopted. Some Nintendo characters that are metaphorically referred to include Cut Man from Mega Man, although the song is spelled "Cutsman" because the song was about a childhood friend Winneke grew up with and that was how they had said the character's name in youth; "Birdo", one of the bosses from the NES game Super Mario Bros. 2, in the song "Birdo" which was actually about Winneke's distaste for eggs and traumatic experiences with his stepfather early in his life ; and the rabbit-like nemesis from The Legend of Zelda in the song "Pol's Voice" which is about Winneke's early loathing of the sound of his own voice. Similarly, the song "A Million Exploding Suns" refers to the Marvel Comics character Sentry, a schizophrenic and agoraphobic hero with this abundance of power, pertaining to Winneke's double life as a musician and as a video rental clerk.

2007's A Natural Death featured significant lyrical and musical evolution into the concepts of nature and mortality while moving slightly away from the Nintendo metaphors. The song "Murder" is inspired by the Western novel Lonesome Dove, in which a Native American named Blue Duck stalks and kills white settlers on the plains. "Hyperborea" as a reference to Robert E. Howard's original "Conan" pulp fantasy stories from the 30s, and "The Red Tornado," a DC comics character from the company of which Winneke is such an open enthusiast.

The band's line-up has continuously fluctuated in its 10 year history. In February it was announced that Chris Prophet had been fired and Jon Karel from The Number Twelve Looks Like You would be filling in on drums during Earth Tour. In July, 2008 the band stated that long-time band friend Daniel Pouliot of Bleeding Kansas had joined as the band's full time drummer. On Wednesday, December 3 2008, the band announced that Dash Arkenstone would be leaving the band soon, though he remains on good terms with the other members and has attended local shows.

The band booked its own tours starting the summer of 2002, including a 3-month tour spanning seven countries. With a carefully maintained web presence including their MP3.com and MySpace accounts, they had gained themselves a niche audience. In the summer of 2004, the HORSE the World Tour 2004 included 85 shows in 90 days, spanning 7 countries throughout North America and Europe.

Their latest album, titled Desperate Living, was released on October 6, 2009.

Softer Sounds
HORSE the band Lyrics

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The sheep - tonight they weep
Fear - for the feeding
Gasp - clutched in groups
No they don't

No they don't hope
The sheep - tonight they weep
Fear - for the feeding

Gasp - clutched in groups

No they don't
No they don't hope

These poor sheep tonight they weep
Begging for death but they settle for sleep
Sound of grinding metals always looming near by
Their bodies are caged and now so are their minds

Ooh, these trembling things
These poor sheep can't lay their heads down
(no dreams of softer sounds)

Blood is in the mud
Trampled by hooves
That constantly shake
And nervously move

No hope or ambition
They stay with the group
These filthy fucking animals
They're just like you

Animals
We're animals
Animals
We're animals
Animals
We're animals

And in the twilight swoon
Under an empty moon
The creatures stop their shake
And plan a quick escape

They're dancing on barbwire
Fraught with curdled screams
Messy skins and messy fluids
Paved a road to golden dreams

They move in a frenzy
Across their mothers' backs
Out into the open
They don't look back

Sounds. It rots their minds - Leaves them blind

Sounds. It rots their brains - Drives them insane
No dreaming of softer sounds!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Softer Sounds" by HORSE the band are a poignant commentary on the state of modern society and its treatment of animals. The song depicts the sheep as they weep in fear of the feeding that is to come. They are trapped in cages, unable to move freely or live their lives the way they were meant to. The sound of grinding metals is ever-present, a reminder of the cruel fate that awaits them. The sheep are depicted as helpless creatures, lacking in hope and ambition, unable to escape the confines of their existence.

The lyrics then take a turn, as the sheep begin to plan their escape. They dance on barbwire and make their way out into the open, leaving their old lives behind. The song ends with the refrain of "Sounds. It rots their minds - Leaves them blind / Sounds. It rots their brains - Drives them insane / No dreaming of softer sounds!" This refrain acts as a harsh reminder of the brutal treatment that animals face at the hands of humans.

Line by Line Meaning

The sheep - tonight they weep
These poor sheep tonight they weep

Fear - for the feeding
Begging for death but they settle for sleep

Gasp - clutched in groups
Their bodies are caged and now so are their minds

No they don't
No they don't hope

The sheep - tonight they weep
These poor sheep tonight they weep

Fear - for the feeding
Begging for death but they settle for sleep

Gasp - clutched in groups
Their bodies are caged and now so are their minds

No they don't
No they don't hope

These poor sheep can't lay their heads down
Ooh, these trembling things

(no dreams of softer sounds)
(Sounds rots their minds - Leaves them blind)

Blood is in the mud
Trampled by hooves