For a band as combustible as Iguana Death Cult, only a deep and long-lasting friendship could supersede the sheer musical discord festering from within. Growing up together in the small town of Willemstad, the group formed when singer/guitarist Jeroen Reek decided to finally unite two of his mutual friends: guitarist Tobias Opschoor, aspiring guitarist Justin Boer and drummer Arjen van Opstal. Though Reek was teaching Boer, who is two years his senior, the guitar, a rock band with three guitarists seemed highly impractical. So the band insisted that Boer should take up the bass instead. At first, he did so begrudgingly, but with a deadline of three months till their very first show, he quickly learned to embrace it. The foursome camped out in an old powder house: quite a treacherous place for fervent, guerilla-style rehearsals, as the slightest spark could make the roof go kaboom.
Indeed, Iguana Death Cult’s frenzied beginnings are indicative of their current form: a barely contained force that takes all hands on deck to properly navigate. From that dark bunker all the way to SXSW, they are a great case study on the ways headstrong dilettantism and crafty classical chops can skirmish and thrive. At first, Opschoor could play flamenco flourishes with nimble precision but not a blues riff to save his life, whereas Reek was exactly the other way around, hustling his way up from a primeval punk rock pedigree to more refined stylistics of vintage soul, psychedelic rock and Art Blakey-style acid jazz. Somewhere they met halfway, just like Boer’s brawny bass attack is constantly playing checkers against Van Opstal’s jazz-influenced licks.
Because of The Netherlands’ tight-knit infrastructure of venues and festivals, Iguana Death Cult’s momentum as a powerhouse live act climbed at a maniacal pace. Being a band is perhaps one of the few walks in life where work and play mean the exact same thing and Iguana Death Cult’s proactive ethos quickly granted them a steady grassroots following, reaching a summit with 2017’s self-released debut LP The First Stirrings Of Hideous Insect Life.
Nude Casino ’s crisper, more unvarnished sonic makeup illustrates a seething skepticism as a counterbalance to the more hedonistic tendencies of yonder. Jeroen Reek gives into his own demented neurosis, ambling between vivid dream states and the constraints of reality. His rapidly developing lyrical prowess is emphasized on the album’s beating heart ‘Tuesday’s Lament’, a five-chapter monologue that wrestles with the strains of mortality and belief, yet still struts with upbeat swagger. Adding a touch of sobriety, both sonically and lyrically, hasn’t stifled Iguana Death Cult’s daredevil ways the slightest, and they make this abundantly clear right from the starting gun. The mighty triptych of title track ‘Nude Casino’, ‘Bright Lights’ and ‘Lorraine’ was pretty much written simultaneously, a testament to the off-the-chain chemistry the quintet, now joined by Jimmy de Kok on keys, developed over the years.
Nude Casino evokes something more claustrophobic and absurdist, tackling themes like sleep paralysis (‘Half Frisian’) and lost innocence (‘Castle In The Sky’). These songs are anchored in earthbound fears, neuroses, and quandaries that have oozed in over the past half-decade. As a result, Nude Casino has become an intrusive, spastic affair; there’s primal energy lurking within even the more propellant, hook-heavy yomps, never more obvious than the cadaverous disco pulse of ‘Carnal Beat Machine’. Iguana Death Cult embrace the art of rocking the fuck out with all senses and impulses up to eleven, rapturously sinking in their claws, never letting go. And having a mighty good time doing just that.
Bright Lights
Iguana Death Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm running out of c
Lick the seal to be sure
I ain't got no enemies
I ain't got no enemies
But I hide behind the curtains anyway
In the shower
Eyes the deeper shade of red
My nose is big
So I am lucky
Drawing on a cigarette
I turn it off and barely make it to my bed
Can't distinguish sweat or water's running from my back
Can't keep from shivering
Can't keep from shivering
Can't keep from staring at the ceiling wondering why I am so
Paranoid
Frozen jawbone
Voices coming from the walls
Panics, crazes
Dirty habits
Twitching, turning, primal calls
Bright lights
Bright lights
Bright lights
Bright lights
I feed the boys and dive into the maggot pool
Sunglasses on my face trying to keep my cool
Making new enemies
Making new enemies
I'll stab you in the back and take what I can get
I'll take it all
If you let me
Taking all that I can get
I'll take you to
If you'll have me
Get your ass into my bed
Bright lights
Bright lights
Bright lights
Bright lights
The lyrics of "Bright Lights" by Iguana Death Cult present a surreal and disturbing snapshot of someone experiencing paranoia, self-destructive behaviours, and a sense of isolation in a world of bright lights and questionable morality. The first verse sets the tone with the image of the "condescending light" of the rising sun piercing through the window and highlighting the singer's vulnerability as they "run out of c" (presumably cocaine or another substance). The line "Lick the seal to be sure" adds to the sense of desperation and potential drug abuse.
The chorus of the song adds to the feeling of unease with the repetition of the phrase "I ain't got no enemies" followed by the admission that the singer is hiding anyway. The double vodkas in the shower and the reference to the singer's big nose add to the sense of self-loathing and escape from reality. The second verse continues with more disturbing images, such as the singer being unable to tell if they are sweating or if water is running down their back, and the feeling of being unable to stop shivering and staring at the ceiling.
The final verse takes a turn towards aggression, with the singer proclaiming that they will make new enemies and take what they can get. The last line "Get your ass into my bed" adds an uncomfortable and predatory aspect to the song. The repetition of "Bright lights" throughout the song could represent the overwhelming nature of the world the singer is living in, or the brightness of the drugs and alcohol they are consuming.
Overall, "Bright Lights" presents a grim and somewhat surreal depiction of someone in the throes of addiction, paranoia, and questionable morality.
Line by Line Meaning
Rising sun fills my room with condescending light
The sun rising feels like it's mocking me as it invades my room
I'm running out of c
I'm running out of cocaine
Lick the seal to be sure
I'm so desperate for drugs that I'm licking the seal of the bag to make sure I got it all
I ain't got no enemies
I don't have any specific enemies
But I hide behind the curtains anyway
Despite not having enemies, I still feel the need to hide from the world
Double vodka's
Drinking double vodka shots
In the shower
Drinking in the shower
Eyes the deeper shade of red
My eyes are bloodshot from substance abuse
My nose is big
I snort a lot of drugs
So I am lucky
I'm lucky that my nose hasn't been damaged despite my drug use
Drawing on a cigarette
Smoking a cigarette
I turn it off and barely make it to my bed
I turn off the lights and stumble into bed
Can't distinguish sweat or water's running from my back
I'm sweating so much from the drugs that I can't tell if it's sweat or water running down my back
Can't keep from shivering
I'm shivering uncontrollably from my drug use
Can't keep from staring at the ceiling wondering why I am so
I can't stop staring at the ceiling and wondering why I'm feeling this way
Paranoid
Feeling paranoid
Frozen jawbone
My jaw is clenched from the drugs
Voices coming from the walls
Experiencing auditory hallucinations
Panics, crazes
Having panic attacks or episodes of mania
Dirty habits
Referring to drug use as a dirty habit
Twitching, turning, primal calls
Experiencing physical withdrawal symptoms
Bright lights
Referring to the addiction and the dangerous lifestyle that comes with it
I feed the boys and dive into the maggot pool
I provide my drug dealer and associates with drugs and immerse myself deeper into the drug underworld
Sunglasses on my face trying to keep my cool
Wearing sunglasses to hide my dilated pupils and look cool
Making new enemies
I'm making new enemies while getting involved in the drug world
I'll stab you in the back and take what I can get
I'm willing to betray anyone for my own benefit
I'll take it all
I want to obtain all the drugs I can get
If you let me
If someone enables me, I'll take whatever drugs they offer
Taking all that I can get
I want to take as much drugs as possible
I'll take you to
I want to convince someone else to get involved in drugs with me
If you'll have me
If someone else will also get involved in drugs with me
Get your ass into my bed
A crude invitation to have sex
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Arjen van Opstal, Jeroen Reek, Justin Boer, Tobias Opschoor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@missstatus
Officially addicted to this track👌 Repeat repeat...
@DeepJazzful
here too!
@Justino12345678
Love this dudes voice!
@Tymensliuzas
Yes! Tof man, gefeliciteerd met t label, nieuwe muziek en nieuwe lifestyle. Rock on 💥🚀👽
@zoedejongh6258
Zoooo verliefd op dit nummer deze moet op deezer komen😍😍
@camielrolle8534
Awesome video and cool tunes dudes🤘🤙
@koolrockradio
KOOL 1!
@luisracero9683
Yes!!
@rockcurrent7171
a great track 💥
@MrClemdogs
So good!