Its sequel, 1992's Retribution, was just as strong, featuring two new members added from Solstice -- guitarist Rob Barrett (who replaced Juskiewicz) and drummer Alex Marquez. Barrett and Marquez were replaced by John Rubin (who had been in a very early lineup of the band) and "Crazy" Larry Hawke for 1993's Stillborn, which disappointed many of the group's faithful and signaled an acrimonious end to their relationship with Roadrunner.
Those label difficulties nearly broke the band apart, but they eventually resurfaced on Pavement Music with a more progressive, technical approach and an even more revamped lineup on 1995's Eternal. Hoffmann was gone, with the vocals now handled by bassist Blachowicz, while guitarists Fasciana and Rubin were joined by ex-Suffocation drummer Dave Culross. The remixes/outtakes/demos collection Joe Black appeared in 1996, followed the next year by In Cold Blood, which featured guitarist John Paul Soars taking Rubin's place, and drummer Derik Roddy replacing Culross.
For 1998's The Fine Art of Murder, Fasciana (now doubling on keyboards) brought vocalist Hoffmann, guitarist Barret, and drummer Culross back to the fold, along with new bassist Gordon Simms. The Pavement label retrospective, Manifestation, appeared in 2000, followed towards the end of the year by the all-new Envenomed. The sequel to Envenomed came out two years later, followed a few months later by drummer Justin DiPinto's last album with the group, The Will to Kill.
Imperium
Malevolent Creation Lyrics
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The lyrics of Malevolent Creation's song "Imperium" paint a brutal and chaotic picture of a bloody battlefield where the enemy lies defeated and the only sound that resonates is the dread of the aftermath. The imagery of corpses crushed and broken, and faces twisted in bloodlust rage, conveys the gruesome reality of war. The lyrics describe how the enemy attacked with confidence, their weapons firing hot and eyes ablaze with hatred, only to be met with a fierce and centuries-old anger from the opposing force, boiling over with violence. This sets the tone for a merciless and relentless conflict where death and destruction reign supreme.
As the battle continues, the scene becomes even more harrowing, with rounds ripping through flesh, crimson clouds blotting out the sky, and death and blood shining on the bayonet. The destruction is vast, with cities left in ruins and masses of rubble piling up beyond comprehension. The lyrics evoke a sense of awe and shock at the scale of devastation and the relentless fury driving the conflict forward. The descriptions of anger built over centuries, violence boiling over, and faces contorted in bloodlust rage paint a vivid picture of the savagery and intensity of the war being waged.
The cycle of violence and destruction escalates further as blood fills the streets, screams and cries echo through the chaos, and an empire falls only for a new one to rise in its place. The imagery of millions dying as a new power emerges highlights the ruthless cycle of conquest and bloodshed that has defined history. The lyrics capture the grim reality of empires rising and falling, with the inevitability of power shifts and the human cost of such conflicts.
In the final moments of the song, as the kill force rises and the brutality continues unabated, the lyrics drive home the message of unrelenting violence and the destructive force of humanity's darkest impulses. The anger, violence, and bloodlust depicted in the lyrics serve as a stark reminder of the cost of war and the relentless nature of conflict throughout history. Malevolent Creation's "Imperium" portrays a vivid and disturbing portrayal of the horrors of war, with its imagery of death, destruction, and the unending cycle of power and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
The enemy now silent Strewn across the ground
The opposition has been defeated and lies lifeless on the battlefield
Corpses crushed and broken Dread the only sound
Dead bodies shattered and twisted, creating an atmosphere of fear and despair
They came at us with confidence Weapons firing hot
The adversaries approached with assurance, gunfire ringing through the air
Eyes ablaze with hatred Lighting up the dawn Light it up
Eyes filled with intense animosity, bringing forth a new era of destruction
Anger built for centuries Violence boiling over
Seething rage accumulated over generations, erupting in intense brutality
Faces twist in bloodlust rage Infuriated to the core
Expressions contorted in a frenzy of violent fury, consumed by deep-seated anger
Missiles at the ready Targets not to find
Weapons poised for use, but unable to locate their intended victims
Staring at the killing screen Teeth they gnash and grind
Gazing upon scenes of death and destruction, teeth clenched in frustration and anger
Rounds rip through flesh Crimson clouds blot the sky
Bullets tearing through bodies, blood staining the sky red
Gasping for breath Death and blood on the bayonet shines
Struggling for air as death and blood glisten on the blade of a weapon
Cities lie in ruins Final ticks of the clock
Urban centers reduced to rubble, the end drawing near
Upon the rubble masses piled Far past awe and shock
Bodies and debris heaped upon each other, well beyond the point of surprise or wonder
Blood fills the streets The screams and cries Fall of an empire New one arise
Streets soaked in blood, echoing with cries of agony as an empire collapses and a new one emerges
Come into power Millions have died Fall of an empire New one arise
Seizing control as millions perish, the downfall of an empire leads to the rise of another
Kill force rising
The destructive force intensifying, bringing forth death and devastation
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: BRET HOFFMAN, GIOVANI GERACA, PHIL FASCIANA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind