During the near decade the group spent in Dog Fashion Disco, Smith and his merry band of misfits would amass a loyal underground following of fans (dubbed the “mushroom cult”) through countless tours with the likes of Slayer, Mindless Self Indulgence, Nothingface and Lacuna Coil. Although Dog Fashion Disco never achieved commercial success, their musical legacy gained the respect of musical contemporaries like Serj Tankian of System of a Down (who made a guest appearance on Anarchists of Good Taste), Mushroomhead and American Head Charge, while the group's music lives on through the internet and continues to create new members of the “mushroom cult” long after the band's demise.
While Smith and company may have become sick of living the vagabond lifestyle that a touring metal band requires, the thought of giving up music entirely never even crossed their minds. Within mere months of their former outfits demise the group had created a new group, Polkadot Cadaver to unleash their schizophrenic musical madness.
“Jasan and I decided to start a studio band and Polkadot Cadaver started as shells of songs on Jasan’s computer. After we fleshed out the songs we pitched it Rotten Records, because we loved how they handled the last Dog Fashion Disco album,” says Smith about the formation of the group. “They immediately got behind us and as soon as received a recording budget we went to Wrightway Studios to work and complete the record. Polkadot Cadaver is very similar to Dog Fashion Disco stylistically. The songs are still very quirky and different from each other.” Recorded in the bowels of Baltimore with producer Steven Wright (Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, SR-71), Polkadot Cadaver’s debut album picks up right where Dog Fashion Disco left off. The brilliance of the band’s musical output lies within their ability to sonically shape shift like a musical chameleon that can adapt to any music style. “What’s The Worst Thing” blisters with thrashing Slayer like riffage and then spills into the soothing folk-pop melodies of "Chloroform Girl". The album’s lyrical insanity the delivers homicidal blow to Polkadot Cadaver’s musical homicide, covering gamut of topics ranging from plane crashes, narcissistic models, Christ, the devil and good old Baltimore, MD.
After fulfilling their contractual duties with Rotten Records, The guys decides that they'd had enough of working for the man. Smith and Stepp have since started their own record label, called Razor To Wrist Records, and now record and release albums, all on their own. Every project they now have will be releasing albums under Razor To Wrist [Polkadot Cadaver, El-Creepo! (Todd's Solo Project), Knives Out! (Super Group), and Deimos (Jasan's Solo Project)]. For more info on Polkadot Cadaver and the rest of their happenings, be sure to check out RazorToWrist.com.
Phantasmagoria
Polkadot Cadaver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lamb of god and the headless goat
Posessing the masses and the misanthropes
White platinum stars slit their golden throats
I'm still here hustling, paying dues to the latest henchmen
Pennies from heaven, never enough charity to go around
Smoke and mirrors, make your escape
Heretics and sleight of hand
The poltergeists are back again
And now we're sleeping, sleeping with the lights on
Stigmata rising on my face and hands
While building castles with the sandman
By candlelight we eat our last meal to
Newborn cries and pig squeals
Phantasmagoria, feeding the hysteria
Smoke and mirrors, make your escape
Heretics and sleight of hand
The poltergeists are back again
And now we're sleeping, sleeping with the lights on
Only fear lives here now...
The omens, the covens, green witches, faith healers
The omens, the covens, green witches, faith healers
Our curiosity has come back to, to haunt us
Our past has come back to, to haunt us
Our sins have come back to, to haunt us
Our fears have come back to, to haunt us
Our past has come back to, to haunt us
Our sins have come back to, to haunt us
Our fears have come back to, to haunt us
After the blood, sniffing like dogs
Only echoes and fear remain, Only echoes and fear remain
Is it phantasmagoria, feeding the hysteria
Smoke and mirrors, make your escape
Heretics and sleight of hand
The poltergeists are back again
And now we're sleeping, sleeping with the lights on
Only fear lives here now...
The lyrics of Polkadot Cadaver's song "Phantasmagoria" have a very haunting and apocalyptic tone. The lyrics depict the end times, where the body snatchers and the holy ghost are possessing the masses and the misanthropes. The lamb of god and the headless goat are used as metaphors to represent purity and evil, respectively. The song speaks of the white platinum stars slitting their golden throats, which may signify that even those who seem to have achieved great success are not immune to the chaos that surrounds them.
The singer talks about paying dues to the latest henchmen, indicating that he may be doing whatever he can to survive in this dystopian world. The chorus talks about smoke and mirrors and heretics and sleight of hand, possibly referring to deceit and trickery playing a big role in the current state of affairs. The singer admits that he is sleeping with the lights on, living in constant fear of what may come next. The song ends with a bleak realization that only echoes and fear remain.
Overall, "Phantasmagoria" paints a picture of a world that has been pushed to the brink of collapse, where survival is a daily struggle and a sense of impending doom hangs over everything. It is a song about facing one's fears and coming to terms with the fact that things may never be the same again.
Line by Line Meaning
Bodysnatchers and the holy ghost
A reference to the acts of people taking control of others' bodies, and the religious figure of the Holy Ghost.
The lamb of god and the headless goat
A comparison of the innocent divine figure of Jesus with a goat that has its head cut off, symbolizing violence and sacrifice.
Possessing the masses and the misanthropes
Highlighting the way powerful entities, both religious and not, can control people with varying worldviews.
White platinum stars slit their golden throats
A metaphor describing how even the most successful and privileged people can be destroyed by their own actions.
I'm still here hustling, paying dues to the latest henchmen
The artist is still struggling to succeed, constantly being extorted by those in power.
Pennies from heaven, never enough charity to go around
Despite the abundance of wealth in society, there is still not enough to help those in need.
Is it phantasmagoria, feeding the hysteria
Wondering if the illusions and delusions people hold are fueling mass panic and fear.
Smoke and mirrors, make your escape
Encouraging people to see past the illusions they are presented with, and seek out the truth.
Heretics and sleight of hand
Referring to those who oppose the mainstream belief systems, and the deceptive tricks they use to do so.
The poltergeists are back again
The things that haunt us, whether literal ghosts or metaphorical ones, have returned to trouble us once again.
And now we're sleeping, sleeping with the lights on
The fear and paranoia have become so overwhelming that people cannot bear to be in the dark, literally or figuratively.
Stigmata rising on my face and hands
Describing the physical manifestation of a connection to divine suffering and sacrifice.
While building castles with the sandman
People continue to dream, and try to create something lasting, against all odds.
By candlelight we eat our last meal to
Acknowledging the limited resources and harsh living conditions in which people must survive.
Newborn cries and pig squeals
The sounds of life's beginnings and endings, and the harsh realities of mortality.
Only fear lives here now...
The overwhelming emotion that dominates everything else.
The omens, the covens, green witches, faith healers
A list of supernatural and spiritual elements that hold power over people's beliefs and actions.
Our curiosity has come back to, to haunt us
The negative consequences of exploring the unknown or pushing boundaries.
Our past has come back to, to haunt us
The lingering consequences of mistakes or misdeeds committed in the past.
Our sins have come back to, to haunt us
The feeling of guilt and the weight of past wrongs catching up to someone.
Our fears have come back to, to haunt us
The anxieties and terrors that plague someone, often rooted in traumatic experiences or irrational worries.
After the blood, sniffing like dogs
A graphic image of people desperate and driven to find the source of something they desire, ignoring the harsh reality of how such things are obtained.
Only echoes and fear remain, Only echoes and fear remain
Repeating the idea that all that is left is the lasting impact of intense fear and paranoia.
Contributed by Christopher K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.