Originally working as Grid, they began their career as crusaders for the right to die, with their earliest tapes bearing many songs rallying around the Kevorkian banner.
Changing their name to Kevorkian Death Cycle (the name is politically motivated -- not merely an attempt at shock), the band released their first full length CD on the now extinct Ras Dva label, Collection for Injection, and began to appear on numerous compilations. Coupled with nationwide appearances (including a successful 1997 tour with Spahn Ranch and a sold out appearance at CMJ's New York City music marathon), the underground community was soon all abuzz about KDC. Combining social issues with throbbing synthetics and dance floor beats, this duo appealed both to the body and to the mind.
In 1998, Kevorkian Death Cycle signed to Metropolis Records, and issued their sophomore release, Dark Skies, in the fall. Still keeping with the darker side of industrial, KDC added more beats and electro attacks to their political formula, creating an astonishing sounding release. The band also had the opportunity to appear in concert with the fathers of the genre, Front 242; and embarked on a nationwide tour, culminating a series of dates with Front Line Assembly.
Kevorkian Death Cycle released their third CD in 1999 entitled A+O(M), and embarked on a two month tour of North America, loosely called the "Free Jack" tour - Jack as in Dr. Jack Kevorkian. The release explored a more electro side of KDC, and contained the dance floor favorites "Death To the Flesh", "Pulse", and a cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Relax".
The highly sought after debut, Collection For Injection was re-issued in 2000, and a re-mix single of "Relax" featuring mixes by KDC, Assemblage23, and Nikki Shifter, as well as a new version of "Kill For Christ" from the debut was released in 2001.
Lifter
Kevorkian Death Cycle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The raping of the land
Chaos gripping humans
Children of the damned
Faster and faster
Innocence is lost
Our world turns to ashes
The thunder of the gods
Take us in
Beam us up
Salvation erupts
I feel the burn
I hear the call
I know, I've seen it all
Angel of night
Cast out the light
It's time to turn and fight
Ascend to the mountain
Hide away at sea
No peace in our vision
Just damned to be
Faster and faster
Innocence is lost
Our world turns to ashes
The thunder of the gods
Take us in
Beam us up
Salvation erupts
I feel the burn
I hear the call
I know, I've seen it all
Angel of night
Cast out the light
It's time to turn and fight
The lyrics of Kevorkian Death Cycle's song "Lifter" speak to a sense of chaos and impending destruction in the world. The ambitious metaphor of "killing off the parasites" refers to the idea of purging negative influences from society, while "the raping of the land" suggests a sense of ecological decay. The phrase "children of the damned" invokes a sense of despair, where even our youngest generation is caught up in the chaos of the world. The imagery of the world turning to ashes and the thunder of the gods suggest some sort of apocalyptic event, with humanity powerless before the forces of nature.
Despite this bleak picture, the song offers a glimmer of hope, with the phrase "salvation erupts" suggesting a possibility for redemption. The theme of salvation is emphasized further with the chorus, where the singer expresses their readiness to be taken away to a better place, presumably through extraterrestrial means. However, the second half of the song takes a more rebellious turn, with the singer urging others to join them in fighting against the darkness. The "angel of night" and the call to "cast out the light" suggest a more aggressive stance, as if the singer is willing to take matters into their own hands and fight for a better world.
Overall, "Lifter" presents a complex mix of despair, hope, and rebellion, with vivid imagery and a sense of urgency underlying every line.
Line by Line Meaning
Killing off the parasites
Putting an end to the harmful creatures that feed off of the healthy and prosperous
The raping of the land
Exploiting and exhausting nature's resources for our own gain and benefit
Chaos gripping humans
Feeling overwhelmed and out of control due to the disorder and confusion surrounding us
Children of the damned
Those who are cursed or doomed to suffer despite their innocence or ignorance
Faster and faster
Things are accelerating and spiraling out of control at an alarming rate
Innocence is lost
The purity and naivety we once had is taken away and corrupted by the harsh realities of the world
Our world turns to ashes
Everything we once knew and loved is destroyed and reduced to nothingness
The thunder of the gods
The wrath and fury of a superior force beyond our understanding and control
Take us in
Rescue us from this agony and bring us to safety
Beam us up
Transport us away from this chaos and into a better place
Salvation erupts
The ultimate deliverance and release from all of our suffering and pain
I feel the burn
Overwhelmed by the intensity and urgency of the situation
I hear the call
Being beckoned and summoned towards a greater purpose or destiny
I know, I've seen it all
Having witnessed and experienced the worst of our world's devastation and despair
Angel of night
A mysterious and powerful entity that controls and influences our fate in the darkness
Cast out the light
Rejecting and denying the hope and optimism that so many cling to in order to survive
It's time to turn and fight
Summoning the courage and strength to take action and resist against the forces that oppress us
Ascend to the mountain
Climbing towards a higher perspective and understanding of our world's troubles
Hide away at sea
Finding solace and escape from the turmoil and chaos of the land
No peace in our vision
Unable to see a future where tranquility and harmony reign supreme
Just damned to be
Destined to suffer and struggle endlessly throughout our lives
Contributed by Kennedy D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.