Nuclear Assault had released six studio albums to date, in addition to two live albums, four EPs and one compilation album. Their most successful records are Survive (1988) and Handle with Care (1989), which peaked at Nos. 145 and 126 on the Billboard 200 chart, respectively. Other than four new songs in 2015 on the EP Pounder, the band had not released a full-length studio album since 2005's Third World Genocide, and they would continue to perform live sporadically over the years before calling it quits once again in 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Assault
Studio albums
Game Over (1986)
Survive (1988)
Handle with Care (1989)
Out of Order (1991)
Something Wicked (1993)
Third World Genocide (2005)
Madness Descends
Nuclear Assault Lyrics
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Why can't the hatred ever seem to end
Man against man brothers fighting one another
And no one ready to make amends
Violence calls to my spirit and my sanity
As madness sweeps all reason from my mind
I see the horsemen coming
I hear the horsemen calling out my name
Fingers of hate now pluck the strings of my heart
My blood signs red with a bloody want
As my soul screams a futile cry for reason
The riders call to my basest part
I see the horsemen coming
Out of the west like a hurricane
I hear the horsemen calling out my name
When the time of violent outrage now arrives
Are the horsemen waiting from the side
In this when the world can reach no reason
Or is this the calm before the storm
I hear
I hear
These lyrics from Nuclear Assault's song "Madness Descends" are a commentary on the destructive nature of human behavior. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the singer describing a moment of madness descending upon humanity. He laments the fact that hatred always seems to linger and that we can't seem to find a way to coexist peacefully. The imagery of "man against man" and "brothers fighting one another" highlights the tragic irony of humans causing harm to each other, despite being part of the same species.
The lyrics then shift focus to the singer's personal reaction to the violence around him. He describes how his spirit is called to violence, and how his mental faculties are overtaken by madness. The image of a hurricane coming from the west symbolizes the chaos and destruction that the singer foresees. The horsemen calling out his name represent the singer's own dark impulses, tugging at him and tempting him to succumb to violence.
The final section of the song poses a question about the future. Will we be prepared when the time of violent outrage arrives, or will we simply be swept away by the madness? The singer's futile cry for reason underscores the importance of finding a way to reconcile with each other before it's too late. "Madness Descends" is a powerful call to action for all of us to break free from the cycle of violence and hatred, before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Another time of madness descends
Once again, exceptional madness has engulfed humanity.
Why can't the hatred ever seem to end
Why does animosity continue to prevail, defying all attempts at eradicating it?
Man against man brothers fighting one another
Fraternal beings are engaged in deadly conflict against one another.
And no one ready to make amends
Nobody is willing to seek peace or make reparations.
Violence calls to my spirit and my sanity
The very soul of violence is beckoning me, driving me away from lucidity.
As madness sweeps all reason from my mind
As irrationality widespread, it has obliterated all sensibility in me.
I see the horsemen coming
I envision calamity looming ahead.
Out of the west like a hurricane
A disaster of epic proportions, approaching with a vehemence from the west.
I hear the horsemen calling out my name
The impending catastrophe seems directly linked to me, invited by me.
Fingers of hate now pluck the strings of my heart
The touch of malevolence now grips my heart and soul.
My blood signs red with a bloody want
My urge for blood-soaked violence has intensified, titillated by my wicked desires.
As my soul screams a futile cry for reason
My soul cries in despair for rationality, a sterile effort.
The riders call to my basest part
The horsemen are summons to the darkest aspects of my being.
When the time of violent outrage now arrives
Is it now that the period of violent insanity is upon us?
Are the horsemen waiting from the side
Are the horsemen awaiting their time to exact their revenge?
In this when the world can reach no reason
Is this what it all comes down to, a world devoid of sanity, logic, or any rationality?
Or is this the calm before the storm
Is this the moment before the arrival of the unbridled chaos, where silence reigns supreme?
I hear
I perceive, I realize
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.