The group wrote a six song album that was released originally on the small imprint Union Mill before being put out by Nottingham label Earache Records. Before the deal was made however guitarist Steve Watson was fired and replaced by Dean Berry. The band's second album Our Problem was released to high acclaim. The next release, We've Learned Nothing, was a split CD with Japanese doom metal band Church of Misery that was put out by Man's Ruin Records. In 1999 the band played the Dynamo Festival in the Netherlands and shortly after Jim Rushby left the band and was replaced by ex-Acrimony guitarist Stu O'Hara. However due to a variety of personal and industry problems the band split in September 1999.
Justin, Jim and Johnny went on to form the short-lived Armour of God while Dean, Doug and Stu formed Dukes of Nothing. Steve has played in Helvis. Johnny then formed My War and Murder One before suffering a fatal heart attack in the summer of 2002. Justin has since played in an array of bands that include Borknagar, Silver Ginger Five, Hard To Swallow (also with Jim), Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine, British doom titans Electric Wizard and now plays in Crippled Black Phoenix. Dean played for the underground post-doom / sludge group Capricorns (signed on Lee Dorrian's Rise Above Records), while Stu went on to play in Black Eye Riot. He's now playing with Acrimony members in a yet to be named stoner-groove outfit. Jim currently plays in Geriatric Unit. A live and rare tracks album entitled Ruined by Idiots was released in 2003 on Maniac Beast Records.
Shrimp Fist
Iron Monkey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dead imperial mile
Hung sliced, crushed by atomic beak
Internals fucked by cerebral arrow
Bastard thoughts fit to fuck worlds
I'd take you and fatten you
Warmth supplied from hells deep anus
Four walls molten, earthen drum
Fuckin' retard serpent
Rind of lice
Tug the electrodes from my meat
Combat the injected bleach
No free shits, not anymore
Feed me
Slap me
Kill me (baby!)
The lyrics to Iron Monkey's song Shrimp Fist present an extremely dark and violent perspective on the world. The opening line is a sort of blasphemy directed at the pig god, which could be interpreted in a few different ways, but seems to be an expression of nihilistic rejection of conventional morality or religion. The rest of the lyrics describe brutal violence and degradation. "Dead imperial mile" could refer to a casualty count, perhaps from a war, but the following line about being "hung sliced, crushed by atomic beak" suggests a more horrific, possibly supernatural death. The "cerebral arrow" is a particularly gruesome image, indicating that the victim's brain has been pierced by something sharp. The line "bastard thoughts fit to fuck worlds" could suggest that this violence is caused by some sort of malevolent or insane worldview.
The second half of the song's lyrics are more cryptic and surreal. The singer seems to be addressing some sort of vague or malevolent force, using phrases like "warmth supplied from hells deep anus" and "four walls molten, earthen drum" that create a sense of claustrophobia and disorientation. The line "rind of lice" is particularly vivid and disgusting, implying some sort of disgust or revulsion with the flesh or the body. The final lines of the song, "feed me, slap me, kill me (baby!)" are ambiguous and could be interpreted in a few different ways-- they could be a desire for submission or a perverse desire for violence.
Overall, the lyrics to Shrimp Fist are incredibly dark and violent, portraying a world of brutality and suffering. Despite the disturbing subject matter, the song could be seen as a critique of the violence of contemporary society or an expression of frustration or despair with the state of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
God bless pig god
Expressing gratitude towards the deity worshipped by the common people
Dead imperial mile
A complete defeat or loss over a long-distance
Hung sliced, crushed by atomic beak
A person hung and tortured in a brutal way, causing destruction through an unstoppable force
Internals fucked by cerebral arrow
The act of causing intense pain by penetrating the brain with an arrow, causing severe mental disturbance and physical trauma
Bastard thoughts fit to fuck worlds
Wicked and distorted thoughts capable of causing damage to the entire world
I'd take you and fatten you
Threatening to kidnap and force-feeding someone
Warmth supplied from hells deep anus
The source of warmth is a place of eternal damnation and punishment
Dirty mind, rotten sight
A perverted mind that is diseased and corrupted
Four walls molten, earthen drum
A space that feels like it is melting and causing intense discomfort, like a drum pounded with dirt
Fuckin' retard serpent
A highly derogatory and disrespectful term for someone who is foolish and deceitful
Rind of lice
A reference to something negligible and insignificant
Tug the electrodes from my meat
Referencing the removal of medical equipment used during torture, feeling intense pain and suffering
Combat the injected bleach
Fighting against the damage caused by the injection of harmful and corrosive substances
No free shits, not anymore
Nothing is free anymore, including something as mundane as using the bathroom
Feed me
A direct plea to be nourished or given sustenance
Slap me
A request to be physically hit or disturbed, for reasons unknown
Kill me (baby!)
A jarring exclamation at the end, once again making a startling request for one's own death.
Contributed by Eli J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cutterhead13
This song has always and will be melting walls . My favourite song for more than 15 years and im sure in some 30 40 50 years from now ill be raising all that hell in the old folks home and beyond
@stephenroach1992
love these guys to bad there albums are really hard to find
@ernestoperez4973
Underrated Band!. IRON MONKEY And CHARGER Greatest Sludge Doom From UK
@Jupitermoon1
epic!!!