The Nekromantix were formed in 1989 in Copenhagen by Kim Nekroman after he left the Danish Navy, in which he had been a submarine radio operator. Deciding to launch a new career in music, he initially played drums in a rockabilly band prior to the foundation of Nekromantix. Learning to play the double bass and to sing, Nekroman set about forming a horror-themed psychobilly band with himself as the frontman. The band lineup is currently rounded out by Franc (guitar) and Lux (drums).
The band played two local shows in Copenhagen before appearing in a large psychobilly festival in Hamburg, Germany only six months after the band's formation. This lead to a record deal for their first album, Hellbound. Nekromantix began touring Europe heavily. At the time, the psychobilly scene was largely dominated by English bands. The band recorded a second album in 1991, Curse of the Coffin which resulted in some MTV play. 1994's Brought Back to Life became the only psychobilly album so far to ever be nominated for a Grammy award.
The band was signed to Hellcat Records in 2001, due to record label owner Tim Armstrong of punk rock band Rancid being a long-time fan of the band. Their fifth album and USA debut, Return of the Loving Dead, was recorded in Los Angeles and released in 2002. A sixth album, Dead Girls Don't Cry, was released for Hellcat in 2004, with Nekroman recording bass and vocals in Los Angeles while the Sandorff brothers recorded their respective parts back in Denmark.
In April 2005, the Sandorff brothers departed from the Nekromantix on good terms, citing their reason for leaving as "it wasn't funny anymore". They were replaced with guitarist Troy and drummer Wasted James, both from California-based psychobilly group Rezurex. Wasted James also plays in Tiger Army, and formerly played as the Nekromantix touring drummer. Andy Demize is now drummer for Nekromantix and features on the new 2007 album 'Life Is A Grave & I Dig It!'
Kim Nekroman is married to Patricia Day, ex-guitarist of Danish band Peanut Pump Gun. They play in rockabilly band called Horrorpops together.
Kim Nekroman's signature coffinbass has gone through many incarnations, the first of which being fashioned out of an actual child's coffin. The child's coffin, however, did not produce an excellent sound, so Nekroman built another himself with better acoustics. Over the years he has made a handfull of the instruments, the most recent update being collapsable for easier transportation.
Cave Canem
Nekromantix Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
only broken by the purr
of a contented pussycat
the door is shut, no-one sees how
a cyber predator
seduce her on the online chat
aaahhh kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty so cute
Beware of Hound
The big bad Hound
Beware the... Danger that prowls out there on cyber space
A Shangri-La for vicious hounds the perfect lurking place
One huge manger of willing prey that bites the bait
He'll eat your little pussycat
Quit playing with your kitty
Beware of Hound
The big bad Hound
Beware (of) the temptation when he sniffs a bitch in heat
the hunger and the urge caused by the scent of fresh new meat
blood circulation increased by the prospect of a feast
He'll eat your little pussycat
Quit playing with your kitty
Beware of Hound
The big bad Hound
Beware of Hound, don't get fooled by a wiggy tail
cute sweet talk and compliments in a flirty email
Beware of Hound, Beware The big bad Hound
He'll eat your little pussycat
Quit playing with your kitty
The song "Cave Canem" by Nekromantix is a powerful cautionary tale about online predators and the dangers of cyberspace. The lyrics describe a scenario where a young woman is lured into a seductive online chat by a cyber predator, while her innocent pet cat quietly purrs in the background. The singer warns of the dangers that lurk in cyberspace, including the "big bad Hound" who is always on the lookout for willing victims. The lyrics urge listeners to be wary of the temptation to engage in risky online behavior, as the consequences can be dire.
The song adopts the metaphor of the Hound, who represents the online predators that prey on vulnerable individuals looking for love and companionship. The "cute sweet talk and compliments" that are used to lure potential victims are the bait that the Hound uses to ensnare them. The lyrics warn listeners not to be fooled by this tactic, as it can lead to disastrous consequences. The song suggests that it is better to play it safe and avoid these predators altogether, rather than risking the loss of one's innocence or even one's life.
Overall, Nekromantix's "Cave Canem" is a stark warning about the dangers of the online world, and the need to exercise caution and vigilance at all times. The lyrics are both powerful and haunting, and serve as a reminder that the Hound is always waiting, ready to pounce on unsuspecting victims.
Line by Line Meaning
In a room so hot, the silence
Set in a steamy room, an eerie silence fills the air.
only broken by the purr
The only sound is the gentle purring of a contented feline.
of a contented pussycat
A happy kitten blissfully sleeps in the room.
the door is shut, no-one sees how
The door is closed, concealing the sinister scene inside.
a cyber predator
A predator prowls the internet, stalking their prey.
seduce her on the online chat
Using smooth online chat, the predator seeks to lure and corrupt their victim.
Beware of Hound
Be cautious of the cyber predator, known as the Hound.
The big bad Hound
This Hound is a significant threat, and not to be underestimated.
Beware the... Danger that prowls out there on cyber space
Be cautious of the perilous dangers lurking on the internet.
A Shangri-La for vicious hounds the perfect lurking place
The internet is a paradise for malicious predators, allowing them to stalk their prey with ease.
One huge manger of willing prey that bites the bait
The internet is full of vulnerable victims waiting to be enticed by the Hound's tactics.
He'll eat your little pussycat
The Hound preys on innocent victims and devours them whole.
Quit playing with your kitty
Stop playing with fire and engaging in risky online behavior.
Beware (of) the temptation when he sniffs a bitch in heat
Be wary of the Hound's seductive tactics when they sense their victim is vulnerable.
the hunger and the urge caused by the scent of fresh new meat
The Hound feels insatiable hunger and desire for their prey, leading them to act recklessly.
blood circulation increased by the prospect of a feast
The Hound's excitement rises as they anticipate the kill of their next victim.
Beware of Hound, don't get fooled by a wiggy tail
Remain cautious and don't fall for the Hound's seemingly harmless behavior.
cute sweet talk and compliments in a flirty email
The Hound uses cunning words to build trust and deceive their prey.
He'll eat your little pussycat
The Hound will stop at nothing to capture and devour their next victim.
Quit playing with your kitty
Stop engaging in risky behavior and take necessary precautions when browsing the internet.
Beware of Hound, Beware The big bad Hound
Stay vigilant and always be on the lookout for the Hound's next move.
Contributed by Layla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Abhiraj Rawale
What a song!
Ventura Etcitty
This and the misfits never seem very loud on the computer.
Alejandra Gonzalez
aaaahhhh kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty so cute