Municipal Waste played their first show at a Richmond New Year's Eve Keg party in 2000/2001. The band was blamed for inciting a small riot. The band took musical influences from crossover thrash bands such as D.R.I., Suicidal Tendencies, Animosity-era Corrosion of Conformity, Nuclear Assault and Attitude Adjustment. Municipal Waste toured throughout 2001 and 2002 in the USA and Mexico. The band released two split albums—one 7" with Bad Acid Trip, the other being a 12" with Crucial Unit. They also had tracks on a number of compilations. In 2002 Brendan Trache left, being replaced by Brandon Ferrell, shortly before the Tango and Thrash on Amendment Records and Waste 'Em All was released on Six Weeks Records. Following the release of Waste 'Em All, both Andy Harris and Brandon Ferrell left the band, being replaced by drummer Dave Witte and bassist "LandPhil".
In 2005, Municipal Waste signed to Earache Records and recorded the Hazardous Mutation album. During 2005 and 2006, Municipal Waste shot a video for "Unleash the Bastards", with a censored and non-censored version.
In June 2007, Municipal Waste toured with Destruction in the United States, before heading into the studio with Hatebreed and Shadows Fall producer Zeuss, to record their next album The Art of Partying. The band followed this up with a headline tour of Europe, a tour with The Haunted and spots at Wacken Open Air in Germany and Reading and Leeds Festivals. They also went on the road with Suicidal Tendencies. A video was then recorded for the track "Headbanger Face Rip," which was filmed by Troma Entertainment.
In 2007, the band received great acclaim from the music press, with a top five album of the year placing in Sweden's Close Up magazine and top twenty positions in Big Cheese and Kerrang! They also were on the front cover of Metal Maniacs magazine but also made several appearances in NME.
They performed at the UK's Download Festival on June 15, 2008. They also joined At the Gates on their "Suicidal Final Tour" along with Darkest Hour, Toxic Holocaust and Repulsion.
In 2010, the band was confirmed as being part of the soundtrack for Namco Bandai Games' 2010 remake of Splatterhouse.
Municipal Waste released their third album Massive Aggressive in 2009, followed three years later by The Fatal Feast (2012), and then five years later by Slime and Punishment (2017). The band is currently working on a new EP and a new full-length studio album.
The band members themselves have stated that they are influenced from groups such as Suicidal Tendencies, D.R.I., Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Testament, Sepultura, Nuclear Assault, S.O.D., M.O.D. and the Cro-Mags.
The band's songwriting approach takes form in short, crossover thrash songs. Lyrical topics have to do with alcoholism, mutants, or thrash metal. The music is also described as being, and the band has received the tag "Party thrash" from the media. The band's song titles are also comedic, or give nods to their influences such as "Thrashing's My Business and Business is Good", "The Thrashin' of the Christ", "Thrash? Don't Mind If I Do" and "Drunk as Shit".
Open Your Mind
Municipal Waste Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess it will take longer for me to try to explain
I figured that my actions would probably explain myself
I should have spoken slower when I said rot in hell
So I'll explain the following as detailed as I can
My patience has been wearing thin so try to understand
I guess you thought I wanted peace
My point just did not come across
Somehow the whole meaning was lost
What I meant to say just might hurt
But my intensions are far worse
The confusion of my strange advice
Can be solved in just one simple slice
Mistook me trying to enlighten
But now you're just trembling and frightened
I guess you just can't comprehend
So I'll just say it once again!
Open your mind
It's about time
Let's see your head split and throbbing with slime
Open your mind
Open your nose
Suck on a chainsaw till your head explodes
Open your mind
Bash through your crown
Never give up until blood's swirling around
Open your mind
Now is the time I told you I want you to open your mind!
Huge pipe of lead
Pushed right through your head
Use a knife or snowplow
Shove it in. Rip it out.
Feel it break through your scalp
Shove it in. Rip it out!
I guess you thought I wanted peace
Well I didn't mean to mislead
My point just did not come across
Somehow the whole meaning was lost
What I meant to say just might hurt
But my intensions are far worse
The confusion of my strange advice
Can be solved in just one simple slice
Mistook me trying to enlighten
But now you're just trembling and frightened
I guess I'll say it one more time
I told you I want you to open your mind
The Municipal Waste's song Open Your Mind is a satirical song that parodies the self-righteousness of people trying to change the world by force. The song presents the singer as someone who has vision beyond the everyday and wants others to see his point of view. However, because of others' small-mindedness, he realizes that his actions might be too radical for them to grasp. Although he believes he is attempting to enlighten people, he is portrayed as a violent and aggressive individual who wants to force others to his way of thinking. The song's tone is mocking and sarcastic, and the lyrics' use of graphic violence only adds to the song's satire.
The song's purpose is to lampoon the extremist attitudes of people who try to force their views on others. The song is also a warning against jumping into a cause that is not your own, even if it seems like the right thing to do. The song suggests that even though it is necessary to think outside the box and challenge the status quo, it is essential to do so with respect and without causing harm.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess it's hard to comprehend thing with your tiny brain
The singer is frustrated that the listener is not understanding their point and implies that it is because the listener is intellectually inferior.
I guess it will take longer for me to try to explain
The singer believes that it will require additional time to properly convey their message to the listener.
I figured that my actions would probably explain myself
The singer initially thought their actions would be sufficient in communicating their point, but has since realized that they will also need to verbally express their intentions.
I should have spoken slower when I said rot in hell
The artist acknowledges that their message was likely misconstrued, specifically the statement 'rot in hell', and should have been delivered more slowly or with more explanation.
So I'll explain the following as detailed as I can
The artist has committed to further clarification of their message and will provide as much detail as needed to be understood.
My patience has been wearing thin so try to understand
The singer is becoming impatient with the listener's lack of understanding, and is requesting that they attempt to comprehend the message being delivered.
I guess you thought I wanted peace
The listener has likely assumed the singer was seeking non-violent resolution.
Well I didn't mean to mislead
The artist clarifies that they did not intend to deceive in any way.
My point just did not come across
The artist admits that their earlier point was not understood by the listener.
Somehow the whole meaning was lost
The artist believes their message was entirely lost in translation before reaching the listener.
What I meant to say just might hurt
The singer is acknowledging that their message may be painful for the listener to hear due to its brutality.
But my intensions are far worse
The artist makes it known that their intentions are indeed violent and destructive.
The confusion of my strange advice
The singer acknowledges that their advice may be strange or confusing for the listener to comprehend.
Can be solved in just one simple slice
The singer believes that their advice can be clarified through a brief clarification.
Mistook me trying to enlighten
The listener may have misinterpreted the singer's intention to enlighten or educate.
But now you're just trembling and frightened
The artist observes that the listener is now fearful or apprehensive about the conversation.
I guess you just can't comprehend
The artist is frustrated by the listener's apparent inability to understand their message.
So I'll just say it once again!
The singer will attempt to clarify their message one last time.
Open your mind
The singer is encouraging the listener to expand their perspective and be receptive to new ideas.
It's about time
The artist believes that it is past due for the listener to accept their advice and expand their perspective.
Let's see your head split and throbbing with slime
The artist is using violent language to describe the listener's potential reaction to opening their mind and embracing their perspective.
Open your nose
The artist is encouraging the listener to embrace their full sensory perception and not limit their understanding to just what they see or hear.
Suck on a chainsaw till your head explodes
The singer is using graphic imagery to convey the violent consequences of not opening the mind and remaining closed off to new ideas.
Bash through your crown
The artist is using violent language to describe the listener's potential reaction to opening their mind and embracing their perspective.
Never give up until blood's swirling around
The singer is using violent language to describe the listener's potential reaction to opening their mind and embracing their perspective.
Now is the time I told you I want you to open your mind!
The singer is reiterating their demand for the listener to accept their perspective and expand their understanding.
Huge pipe of lead
The singer is describing a violent and graphic image to convey a point or message.
Pushed right through your head
The graphic image being described by the artist is specifically going through the listener's head or psyche.
Use a knife or snowplow
The artist is using violent language to describe the means by which the graphic image will be delivered.
Shove it in. Rip it out.
The singer is using violent language to describe the means by which the graphic image will be delivered.
Feel it break through your scalp
The singer is describing a painful and graphic image to emphasize a point or message.
Shove it in. Rip it out!
The artist is using violent language to describe the means by which the graphic image will be delivered.
I guess I'll say it one more time
The artist acknowledges that they will repeat their message in another attempt to ensure that the listener understands.
I told you I want you to open your mind
The artist reiterates their earlier demand for the listener to embrace their perspective and expand their understanding.
Contributed by Skyler G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.