"Shallow Nation", released early in 2000, sold out the first thousand copies after only two weeks in the stores, which resulted in a deal with the Norwegian record label Tatra Records. Around that time Tatra Records released the compilation "Sex, Goth & Electronics", to which IoC contributed an exclusive version of their song "Repeat It".
Before they started work on their second release IoC did programming for the "Apoptygma Berzerk" track "Starsign". Soon afterwards, they travelled to Germany, with live member Jon Holm, to support Apoptygma on their "Welcome to Earth tour 2000" at gigs in Frankfurt, Cottbus and Leipzig before going back to Norway to play together at Rockefeller in Oslo.
Audiences seemed to enjoy Icon of Coil's energetic and melodious sound fused with Andy's hypnotic voice and the band's success grew. "One Nation Under Beat" debuted in the top 20 on the DAC-chart (Deutsch Alternative Chart), stayed on the chart for eight weeks and peaked at number three.
In late spring of 2000 at a gig in Uddevalla, Sweden, Christian Lund joined the band as a live-member and went on stage with Andy and Seb for the first time. Along with being the vocalist for his "En Route" project, Christian had a background from a melodious EBM Fredrikstad-band called "Elected By Fear" where he played together with Fredrik Hansen from "Echo Image" (who also played at that gig) and Marius Johnsen from "Centravibe".
After the release of IoC's first full-length "Serenity Is The Devil" in November 2000, which reached number three on the DAC-chart, the band went to Germany together with "Beborn Beton". With nine gigs, positive feedback from the audience and very good reviews on the debut album, IoC gained a substantial following in the synth/industrial scene.
Shortly afterward, the album crossed the Atlantic and was released in North America by Metropolis Records. On March 29th, 2001, the band itself followed and boarded a plane to Chicago. They were on their own in a foreign country and on a tight budget. The band flew from city to city, slept in hotels and sometimes even in the homes of their promoters. The song "Situations Like These" from the (then) forthcoming "Seren EP" was played live for the first time to an incredibly enthusiastic and energetic American audience, which made the tour a big success. Then after playing at "Slimelight" and "Astoria II" (Electrofest) in London, the guys had a short break before they faced a festival-filled summer in Europe.
The summer kicked off with a successful show in Leipzig, Germany, at "Wave-Gothic Treffen". The following festivals included "CSD", "Zillo Festival", "Xtreaktor Festival", "Eurorock", "Infest" and ended at "M'era Luna" where the trio did a hard-hitting performance in the Hangar.
"Situations Like These" became a big club hit and the band was ready for a second tour (this time in a Nightliner touring bus) of North America with "VNV Nation". The leg began in Chicago on the 16th of November at a packed Vic Theatre, which set the standard for the rest of the 19 shows. Icon of Coil, VNV Nation and the rest of the crew continued up to Canada, down the east coast to Florida, through Texas to the West coast and Hollywood, where they did their 15th show in front of about 900 people at the Palace. The four-week tour ended in Edmonton, Canada with a great show and a huge after-party.
During their tours, the band found the time to write material for their April 2002 sophomore album, "The Soul Is In The Software", which stayed at number one on the DAC for a several weeks. IoC then performed at two more festivals: "The Dark Jubilee Festival" in London; and later as the Sunday-headliner for "Synthpop Goes The World" in Toronto, Canada, which turned out to be a very good but warm weekend and concert.
Icon of Coil came a long way in a short amount of time. For 2004 their third album, "Machines Are Us", continued the trend with pummeling beats, sympathetic vocals, anthem-like melodies, and sweeping synths. Careful not to be outdone or forgotten, Icon of Coil released "Uploaded And Remixed", which featured brand new mixes of songs from their first two records and two exclusive tracks, at the tail end of 2004.
Since then the band has been on indefinite hiatus, only performing a handful of live shows around the world, as Andy has been concentrating on his new band "Combichrist".
On a short reunion tour of Australia in November, 2011 the 3 members rekindled old friendships and the creative chemistry from the past came raging back. The single "PerfectSex" was released in August 2012, together with the announcement that the band is working on a new album.
Official MySpace page: www.myspace.com/officialiconofcoil
Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IconOfCoilOfficial
Shallow Nation
Icon of Coil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Believe in a punch line in orders to improve
Live in a nation, a shallow formation
Technical adjustments in orders to improve
365 days left to live
Modify design in orders to improve
Join us for a narrow mind
As our eyes turns back and our mind turns black
Losing all self-control
I swear if I could only reach you
By my blood, I swear no good
I swear if I could only reach you
I'll show you compassion, compassion of a sacrifice
Welcome to this shallow nation
Join us for a narrow mind
As our eyes turns back and our mind turns black
Losing all self control
Welcome to this shallow nation
Join us for a narrow mind
As our eyes turns back and our mind turns black
Losing all self control
Welcome to this shallow nation
Join us for a narrow mind
As our eyes turns back and our mind turns black
Losing all self control
The lyrics of Icon of Coil's "Shallow Nation" appear to be a commentary on the shallow and conformist nature of modern society. The opening line "Galvanized steel, sheet in oil" could represent the dehumanizing influence of industry on our lives, while the line "Believe in a punch line in orders to improve" may refer to the way in which people tend to follow slogans and soundbites without critically evaluating their meaning. The phrase "Live in a nation, a shallow formation" suggests that society at large is comprised of individuals who are concerned more with appearances than with substance, while "Technical adjustments in orders to improve" could be interpreted as a reference to a culture that values technology over human connection.
The refrain "Welcome to this shallow nation, join us for a narrow mind" is a satirical invitation to participate in society's superficiality and mental rigidity. The lines "as our eyes turn back and our mind turns black, losing all self-control" could be a commentary on how this type of mentality leads individuals to lose touch with their individuality and become part of the mindless crowd. The final verse seems to offer hope, with the singer expressing a desire to reach out to others and show them compassion and sacrifice.
Line by Line Meaning
Galvanized steel, sheet in oil
We are hardened and coated with a slick exterior to protect ourselves in a world that seems harsh and unforgiving.
Believe in a punch line in orders to improve
We are obsessed with quick fixes and easy solutions, willing to believe anything that promises to make us better or more successful.
Live in a nation, a shallow formation
We belong to a society that values appearances over substance, one that creates an environment where shallow behavior is rewarded and celebrated.
Technical adjustments in orders to improve
We focus on the superficial and the external, making minor tweaks to our appearance or lifestyles in order to project an image of success or happiness.
365 days left to live
We are all mortal and our time on this earth is limited, yet we often forget this fact and waste our days chasing meaningless goals or indulging in shallow pursuits.
Modify design in orders to improve
We are constantly seeking ways to improve ourselves, but we often do so by tweaking superficial aspects of our lives rather than addressing deeper issues or areas of personal growth.
Welcome to this shallow nation
We are inviting you to join our society, but be aware that it is one that values image over substance and superficiality over depth or meaning.
Join us for a narrow mind
We want you to conform to our narrow definition of success or happiness, rather than encouraging you to explore your own unique path or perspective.
As our eyes turns back and our mind turns black
We become increasingly closed-minded and biased as we focus more and more on surface-level concerns rather than exploring deeper issues or engaging with diverse perspectives.
Losing all self control
We become slaves to our own shallow desires and impulses, unable to resist the temptations of meaningless consumption or destructive behavior.
I swear if I could only reach you
We recognize the pain and loneliness that comes with feeling disconnected from this shallow society, and we long for a deeper connection with others who share our pain.
By my blood, I swear no good
We acknowledge our own flaws and the ways in which we have contributed to this shallow society, and we feel remorse and guilt about our actions.
I'll show you compassion, compassion of a sacrifice
Despite our guilt and remorse, we still believe that there is hope for deeper connections and meaningful relationships, and we are willing to make personal sacrifices in order to achieve this goal.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OLE ANDERS OLSEN, SEBASTIAN R. KOMOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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