Machine Head's first four albums earned the band a growing fan base in Europe, however the band would not have success in their native United States until later releases. The band drew controversy with its fourth album, Supercharger (2001), released three weeks after the September 11 attacks, which resulted in the album's only single, "Crashing Around You", and its music video (which featured burning buildings) being pulled from all media outlets. The band nearly disbanded in 2002 after negotiating off its label Roadrunner Records as a result of the controversy, however the band would eventually re-sign with the label.
Having experimented with elements of groove metal and nu metal in its early releases, Machine Head changed to a more traditional thrash metal sound and longer songs with its sixth album, The Blackening (2007), which drew critical acclaim and was chosen as Album of the Decade by Metal Hammer in 2010; the album's first single, "Aesthetics of Hate", also earned the band its first Grammy Award nomination. The band achieved similar success with its following two albums, Unto the Locust (2011) and Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014), before returning to its nu metal roots with the release of its ninth album, Catharsis (2018).
Machine Head has released nine studio albums, two live albums, one video album, 13 singles and 15 music videos. Four of the band's studio albums have been certified silver in the United Kingdom, and the band's highest peak on the Billboard 200 came with Bloodstone & Diamonds at number 21. To date, the band has sold over three million records worldwide.
Studio albums
Burn My Eyes (1994)
The More Things Change... (1997)
The Burning Red (1999)
Supercharger (2001)
Through the Ashes of Empires (2003)
The Blackening (2007)
Unto the Locust (2011)
Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014)
Catharsis (2018)
Violate
Machine Head Lyrics
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I want you to know just what I feel
You told me through sacred lies
I told you once with bloodshot eyes
You told me don't ask
Just stay away from me
You told me it'd be alright
You can't face
Can't you face me
[Chorus]
I won't pray for you
I can't pray for you
Because you took it away
Because you took it from me
I want you to know this
I want you to know just what I feel
You told me through sacred lies
I told you once with bloodshot eyes
You told me don't ask
Just stay away from me
[Chorus]
Thought I could never ever fuckin'
Find another
Get a muthafuckin' chance again
Because the power
Is the rage that can devour
Gotta make that fear descend
Without it, you ain't shit
And you ain't shit to me
Berating, a scathing
Grave indignity
I see the look
Inside your eyes
It makes me sick
Defiling innocence
Is how you get
Your kicks
You violate, and
Then you think
Yourself a man
You violate, and
Then you call
Yourself a man
Don't come my
Way
Don't care what
You say
Pray you fuckin'
Die
Before you feel
Rage
The song "Violate" by Machine Head is a reflection of anger, frustration, and betrayal. The lyrics suggest that the singer had a relationship with someone who lied to them and violated their trust. The first verse begins with the singer wanting the person to understand how they feel. The person had been dishonest with the singer and had tried to push them away. The chorus expresses the singer's refusal to pray for this person because they had taken something important away from them, possibly trust or love.
The second verse has a more aggressive tone, with the singer expressing their rage towards the person who had hurt them. The lyrics suggest that the singer had lost the chance to find anyone else because of this person. The line "Without it, you ain't shit, and you ain't shit to me" emphasizes the importance of trust and love for the singer. The singer accuses the person of violating innocent people for their own pleasure, which makes them sick.
The final lines of the song express a desire for the person to die before they feel the rage that the singer feels inside. The use of the word "Rage" as the final word of the song suggests that the singer has been overwhelmed by anger and is unable to contain it.
Line by Line Meaning
I want you to know this
I want to express how I feel
I want you to know just what I feel
I want you to understand my feelings
You told me through sacred lies
You deceived me with serious lies
I told you once with bloodshot eyes
I warned you passionately
You told me don't ask
You don't want me to question you
Just stay away from me
Stay away from me, avoid me
You told me it'd be alright
You assured me everything would be fine
I told you once, then told you twice
I warned you multiple times
You can't face
You can't confront me
Can't you face me
Why can't you face me?
I won't pray for you
I won't give you my blessings, I won't wish you well
I can't pray for you
I'm unable to pray for you
Because you took it away
You took away what I had
Because you took it from me
You deprived me of what I had
Thought I could never ever fuckin'
I never thought I could again
Find another
Find another chance
Get a muthafuckin' chance again
Get another opportunity
Because the power
Because the influence
Is the rage that can devour
Is the furious anger that can destroy
Gotta make that fear descend
Must instill that terror in others
Without it, you ain't shit
Without that power, you're nothing
And you ain't shit to me
And you mean nothing to me
Berating, a scathing
Insulting, harsh
Grave indignity
Serious offense
I see the look
I recognize the expression
Inside your eyes
In your eyes
It makes me sick
It disgusts me
Defiling innocence
Violating purity
Is how you get
Is what gives you
Your kicks
Satisfaction, pleasure
You violate, and
You break the rules, and
Then you think
But you believe
Yourself a man
You're a real man
Then you call
But you claim
Yourself a man
You're a real man
Don't come my
Don't approach me
Way
Path
Don't care what
I'm not interested in
You say
What you have to say
Pray you fuckin'
I hope you
Die
Pass away
Before you feel
Before you experience
Rage
Fury, anger
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM DUCE, DAVE MCCLAIN, LOGAN CONRAD MADER, ROBERT CONRAD FLYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind