Oppressor was a Chicago based death metal band that was formed in May 1991 by Tim King and Adam Zadel. A month later the band was completed with the addition of Tom Schofield and Jim Stopper. They were heavily influenced by bands like Morbid Angel, Death, Gorguts and Suffocation but also Cynic and some new age jazz music. After having recorded two demo tapes they signed a deal with Red Light Records in 1993, a label which eventually went bankrupt and leading up to a new deal with Olympic Recordings. Their second album "Agony" became the real breakthrough for the band and resulted in an opening slot on Cannibal Corpse's American tour. Three of the band members formed a side project called Soil with Broken Hope guitarist Shaun Glass in 1997. By 1999 Soil had become a successful full-time band and this meant the end for Oppressor.
The Polish-based Oppressor that released two demos under that moniker (1992's "Time of Agony" & 1995's "Blasphemous Thoughts").
As Blood Flows
Oppressor Lyrics
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Skinned alive, blood flows, they die
Self indulged by hatred
Resurrection unseen
Can you feel the cold blade penetrate inside you
Blood becomes a river of everlasting happiness
Thoughts now deteriorate
Flow...as blood flows
Flow...as blood flows
Scarred by perverse dreams
Away you bastard dog
Truth becomes all lies
No one seems to mind
Have you ever wondered why?
Your life's a living hell
Have you ever wondered why?
The tears flow like blood
Cutting with a razor, feeling of sensation
Dripping in the nectar, feeling of perfection
Falling out of organs, the rancid mutilation
Bathing in excrement, feeling the enjoyment
Ripping of the entrails, screaming to exhale
Suffer internal bleeding, can't escape the feeling
Ending of pain, dying in vain
living the lies, in death blood cries
The lyrics of Oppressor's song "As Blood Flows" paint a gruesome picture of violence, torture, and death. The opening lines "Shredding the flesh, bleeding to death, skinned alive, blood flows, they die" set the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics suggest that the violence is driven by a deep hatred: "Self indulged by hatred, resurrection unseen, can you feel the cold blade penetrate inside you." The repetition of the phrase "flow...as blood flows" adds to the sense of endless, unstoppable violence, with blood becoming a "river of everlasting happiness."
The lyrics then turn to the subject of the victim's thoughts and feelings, suggesting that they are deteriorating and that their life is disintegrating. The imagery becomes more surreal, with the lines "scarred by perverse dreams, away you bastard dog" suggesting that the violence is happening in a kind of dream state, or that the victim is being dehumanized in some way. The lyrics also suggest that the violence is somehow erasing truth and making everything into lies.
The final section of the song becomes even more grotesque, with references to cutting with a razor, dripping in nectar, organs falling out, and bathing in excrement. The repeated phrase "feeling of sensation" seems to suggest that the violence and mutilation are providing some kind of visceral pleasure. The final lines "ending of pain, dying in vain, living the lies, in death blood cries" suggest that the violence ultimately leads to a meaningless, painful death.
Line by Line Meaning
Shredding the flesh, bleeing to death
Causing intense pain and unstoppable bleeding, leading to death
Skinned alive, blood flows, they die
Being skinned forcefully, results in blood flowing from the body leading to death
Self indulged by hatred
Indulging in hatred and malice towards others
Resurrection unseen
No hope of finding any redemption
Can you feel the cold blade penetrate inside you
Experiencing the cold steel blade penetrate your body
Blood becomes a river of everlasting happiness
Gaining pleasure out of violence and causing bloodshed
Thoughts now deteriorate
Thoughts becoming unhinged and deteriorating
life will disintegrate
Life falling apart and disintegrating
Flow...as blood flows
Flowing like blood flows
Flow...as blood flows
Flowing like blood flows
Scarred by perverse dreams
Traumatized by perverted dreams
Away you bastard dog
Directing derogatory remarks towards someone
Truth becomes all lies
Truth becoming indistinguishable from lies
No one seems to mind
No one cares or shows concern
Have you ever wondered why?
Questioning the reasons behind something
Your life's a living hell
Life being unbearable and miserable
The tears flow like blood
Crying profusely like blood flowing
Cutting with a razor, feeling of sensation
Slicing skin with a razor and feeling pleasure from it
Dripping in the nectar, feeling of perfection
Being covered in blood and feeling complete and perfect
Falling out of organs, the rancid mutilation
Organs falling out of the body due to mutilation
Bathing in excrement, feeling the enjoyment
Finding pleasure in excrement and bathing in it
Ripping of the entrails, screaming to exhale
Crying out in pain while entrails are being ripped out
Suffer internal bleeding, can't escape the feeling
Experiencing intense pain due to internal bleeding without escape
Ending of pain, dying in vain
Dying with no respite from pain, a sense of futility
living the lies, in death blood cries
Living a life of deception and lies, even in death, blood cries out in pain
Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.