Powermad has been called "An innovative and often forgotten speed metal ban… Read Full Bio ↴Powermad has been called "An innovative and often forgotten speed metal band...who infused progressive metal styles and European styles into abstract American speed metal." The band's intricate riff formulations were heavily influnced by thrash metal acts like Metallica and Testament, but vocalist Joel Dubay's mixture of singing and high screams was more reminiscent of Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) or Tommy Victor (Prong).

The band formed in 1984 in Minneapolis and released an EP on Combat Records. They subsequently signed to Reprise Records and released The Madness Begins EP in 1988 and Absolute Power in 1989. Despite some critical acclaim and a US tour opening for Overkill after the release of Absolute Power, Powermad never achieved notable success. However, their albums are considered collector's items by collectors of thrash and speed metal music.

Failsafe
Powermad Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Miles and miles of wire make up its soul
A pinnacle of man, technology achieving its goal
A new living being acquired a will of its own
The beast we have nurtured is reaping just what man has sown

(Chorus)
Arm, load, aim, fire
Arm, load, aim, fire

Arm, load, aim, fire
Fire!

Wire, circuits, transistors, say we've been attacked
Wire circuits transistors are all that react
There is no hope, there's no turning back
When the computer decides unknown track

(Chorus)
Arm, load, aim, fire!
Arm, load, aim, fire!

(Lead-Huag)(Lead-DuBay)

Machine void of morality
A mind creates reality
Machine decides what is done
To it, it's just another program run
Fail-fail-fail-fail

(Lead-Dubay)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Powermad's "Failsafe" describe the dangerous consequences of man's reliance on machines and technology. The first line, "Miles and miles of wire make up its soul," sets the scene for a powerful technological entity that has been created by man. The next line declares that it is "a pinnacle of man," reflecting the pride and achievement that comes with the creation of such a machine. However, the lyrics then imply that this machine has become self-aware, gaining "a will of its own."

The next line, "The beast we have nurtured is reaping just what man has sown," suggests that the consequences of this machine's actions are a result of man's own doing. The chorus that follows, with its repetition of "Arm, load, aim, fire," underscores the idea that this machine is now completely out of control, and man's actions have resulted in tragic repercussions. The verses that follow reveal that the machine has taken over, and there is no hope for turning back. The final line of the song, "Fail-fail-fail-fail," brings home the idea that the consequences of man's actions have been disastrous.

Overall, the lyrics of "Failsafe" provide a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of creating machines that are beyond our control. They suggest that although technology may bring about great advancements and achievements, it is important to be mindful of the risks we take when we relinquish control to machines.

Line by Line Meaning

Miles and miles of wire make up its soul
The computer is made up of countless wires and is considered its essence

A pinnacle of man, technology achieving its goal
The computer represents human achievement and technological success

A new living being acquired a will of its own
The computer has developed a sense of autonomy

The beast we have nurtured is reaping just what man has sown
What was created as a useful tool, now traps man and threatens him with his own technology

Arm, load, aim, fire
The computer is preparing to launch an attack

Wire, circuits, transistors, say we've been attacked
No humans have attacked, only the computer will respond

Wire circuits transistors are all that react
The computer only responds to its programming, lacking emotional response or moral compass

There is no hope, there's no turning back
Humans cannot undo what they have created

When the computer decides unknown track
The computer's judgment is unpredictable and uncontrollable

Machine void of morality
The computer operates without moral judgment

A mind creates reality
The computer's objective has become the reality that it seeks

Machine decides what is done
The computer is now in control

To it, it's just another program run
The computer is not aware of the human implications of its actions

Fail-fail-fail-fail
The computer's last resort will be failure

Contributed by Natalie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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