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").
Through Their Eyes
Oppressor Lyrics
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Take apart your mind
As I close my eyes
See creation die
Seek this hallowed land
Always to destroy
Like a grain of sand
Pain will now rejoice
Listen to screams
Of blood soaked misery
Sorrow breeding fear
Inside the enemy
Tortured by the hand
Upon our destiny
Look into your face
Tell me what you see
Through their eyes
Through their eyes
Search for blinded faith
It burns so many ways
Never to escape
Sorrow's warm embrace
Never to betray
Voices deep inside
Hearts and minds that bleed
Promised only lies
The lyrics to Oppressor's song "Through Their Eyes" paint a bleak picture of destruction and misery. The first verse urges the listener to look up at the sky and dismantle their thoughts, perhaps suggesting that the world we see is not what it seems. The line "see creation die" speaks to the theme of destruction, implying that humanity is responsible for the ruin of the earth. The second verse paints a similarly dark picture, with "screams of blood soaked misery" and "sorrow breeding fear." The line "tortured by the hand upon our destiny" suggests that we are helpless in the face of the destruction we have wrought.
The chorus, "through their eyes," could refer to the perspective of the oppressed or victimized, as if urging the listener to see the world as they do. The third verse speaks of "blinded faith," which burns in multiple ways and offers no escape. The line "hearts and minds that bleed" implies that those who are oppressed are suffering greatly, while the promise of only lies suggests that their oppressors are deceitful and manipulative. The overall message of the song is powerful and insightful, shining a light on the pain and suffering caused by those in power.
Line by Line Meaning
Look into the skies
Take in the world around you, the vastness of the sky, and see the extent of your powerlessness in the face of the universe.
Take apart your mind
Challenge everything you think you know, break it down and rebuild it in the image of the oppressor, becoming their puppet.
As I close my eyes
In this moment of introspection, I can see the oppressive system that surrounds us as it truly is, and it fills me with disgust.
See creation die
The world we live in is dying, thanks to the destruction wrought by those in power.
Seek this hallowed land
Oppressors will stop at nothing to claim land and resources that they deem the right of the few, often leading to the subjugation of many.
Always to destroy
Destruction and dominance are the bedrock of the oppressor's worldview, leading them to lay waste to people and planet alike.
Like a grain of sand
The victims of oppression are many, and they are easily crushed under the weight of the oppressor's overwhelming power.
Pain will now rejoice
The suffering of the oppressed brings pleasure to the oppressor, who sees it as proof of their superiority.
Listen to screams
The screams of the oppressed echo through the halls of power, but they go unheard as the powerful refuse to listen.
Of blood soaked misery
Oppression results in the spilling of innocent blood, as those in power seek to further cement their control.
Sorrow breeding fear
The oppressive system feeds on the fear it breeds, using it to keep the oppressed in line and maintain the status quo.
Inside the enemy
The idea of an enemy serves to distract the oppressed from the true nature of their suffering: the oppressive system and its enforcers.
Tortured by the hand
The hand of oppression is heavy and cruel, forcing the oppressed to suffer in agony at the whim of the oppressor.
Upon our destiny
The oppression we face is not an accident of fate, but rather a deliberate strategy employed by those who seek to maintain power.
Look into your face
The oppressed should confront their own humanity and recognize the dignity of those who suffer alongside them.
Tell me what you see
The truth of the oppressive system and its victims should be self-evident to any who open their eyes and look upon the world.
Through their eyes
By seeing the world through the eyes of the oppressed, we can gain greater understanding and work towards a better future for all.
Search for blinded faith
Oppression crushes the spirit and forces the oppressed to search for any shred of hope or comfort, often finding it in destructive actions or ideologies.
It burns so many ways
The search for faith often leads to more suffering, as the oppressed put their trust in false gods or seek out false solutions to their problems.
Never to escape
The oppressed seem trapped in a cycle of violence and suffering, with no clear path to liberation or escape from their plight.
Sorrow's warm embrace
Sorrow and suffering become so pervasive that they seem almost comforting, a sad but inevitable fact of life for those trapped under the yoke of oppression.
Never to betray
The oppressor will stop at nothing to maintain their power, but the oppressed must remain true to their own humanity and resist the urge to betray their own values or sense of self.
Voices deep inside
The call for freedom and justice lies inside the hearts and minds of the oppressed, waiting to be unleashed in a righteous struggle for emancipation.
Hearts and minds that bleed
The oppressed feel every cut and every lash of their oppressors, their hearts and minds consumed by pain and fear.
Promised only lies
The promises of those in power are hollow and meaningless, designed to distract and deceive the oppressed into submission rather than offer a path to liberation.
Contributed by Bailey B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.