Their debut full length Scorn was released in 2013, followed by Caustic in 2017 and Immersion in 2020. The band has also released a number of EPs, singles and splits.
Commerce
Primitive Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shackled to
The bottom
Of the bottle
Of the socio economic slavery
That rules
And runs my life
Combust
Taught lies
Work to ruin
Infected with poverty
Left in the gutter
Over worked
Under paid
From a system meant to fail us
Nothing left
But to hang our hopes out to try
Hell comes home
From the time clock to the death bed
When death grips your hands
And kisses them goodbye
Remember
None of your work days mattered
A lifetime spent tonguing
The asshole of all your superiors
Nothing is real
But the inevitability of your cold fucking death
And your heart being ripped from your chest
Placed into the cavity of another worker bee
Another fucking wage slave
Paycheck to paycheck
Your essence is dead but slavery is forever
The lyrics of Primitive Man's song Commerce depict the harsh reality of socio-economic slavery and how it functions as a controlling force that governs people's lives. The words are a visceral expression of the rage that comes with being trapped in a cycle of poverty, overwork and underpayment, where the hopes and dreams of individuals are crushed under the weight of an oppressive system. The repetition of the phrases 'cold' and 'nothing is real' highlight the emotional void that people experience, as the mechanized nature of capitalism strips away the human connection and empathy.
The lyrics are a reflection of the band's bleak view of the world, as they delve into the darker aspects of human nature and the human condition. The imagery of being shackled to a bottle portrays a sense of addiction, where people are trapped in a cycle of consumption and work, with no escape. The evocative phrases 'combust', 'smoke fill my lungs' and 'taught lies' express the idea of self-destructive behavior, where people are conditioned to believe that their labor and suffering will lead to a better life, when in fact it only leads to pain and misery.
Overall, Commerce is a raw and unrelenting depiction of the harsh realities of economic inequality, where people are enslaved to a system that is designed to exploit them for the benefit of a few.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold
The feeling of detachment and isolation from society and oneself.
Shackled to
Being bound and restricted to the demands of others, unable to break free.
The bottom
The lowest point in one's life, with seemingly no way to climb back up.
Of the bottle
Turning to alcohol as a temporary escape from the struggles and hardships of life.
Of the socio economic slavery
Being trapped in a system designed to keep one in a perpetual state of poverty and dependence.
That rules
The overwhelming power and control exerted by those in positions of authority over others.
And runs my life
Having one's entire existence dictated by external forces, with no autonomy or freedom of choice.
Combust
The desire to rebel and break free from the constraints imposed upon oneself.
Let smoke fill my lungs
Indulging in vices as a means of temporary relief and escape from reality.
Taught lies
The falsehoods and illusions fed to individuals by those in power to maintain control over them.
Work to ruin
The realization that one's labor only serves to perpetuate the very systems of oppression that one seeks to escape.
Infected with poverty
The all-consuming and pervasive nature of poverty, infecting every aspect of one's life and existence.
Left in the gutter
Feeling abandoned and disregarded by society, with no means of redress or assistance.
Over worked
The endless cycle of work and exhaustion, with no respite or escape.
Under paid
The gross imbalance between the value of one's labor and the wages received in return.
From a system meant to fail us
The realization that the system is specifically designed to keep people down and prevent them from rising above their station.
Nothing left
Having nothing to show for one's struggles and sacrifices, with no hope for a better future.
But to hang our hopes out to try
Clutching at a slim hope for a better future, no matter how improbable or uncertain.
Hell comes home
The unrelenting and ever-present nature of suffering and misery associated with daily life.
From the time clock to the death bed
The crushing weight of the system from cradle to grave, with no respite in between.
When death grips your hands
The finality and inescapability of death, which comes to claim us all.
And kisses them goodbye
The acceptance and recognition of one's mortality, and the inevitability of one's passing from this world.
Remember
The call to attention and reflection upon one's existence and mortality.
None of your work days mattered
The realization that the years of working tirelessly to feed the system have ultimately been for nothing.
A lifetime spent tonguing
The subjugation and subservience one has shown to those in power, in a vain attempt to eke out a living.
The asshole of all your superiors
The humiliation and degradation one endures at the hands of those in power.
Nothing is real
The acknowledgement that the world we have constructed around us is one built upon illusions and falsehoods.
But the inevitability of your cold fucking death
The unavoidable and inescapable nature of death, a cold and final end to our existence.
And your heart being ripped from your chest
The emotional devastation and pain associated with the end of one's life.
Placed into the cavity of another worker bee
The recognition that our lives are but a small part of a larger, impersonal system of production and labor.
Another fucking wage slave
The awareness that we are merely a replaceable cog in the system, easily discarded and replaced.
Paycheck to paycheck
The constant struggle to make ends meet, with no margin for error or savings.
Your essence is dead but slavery is forever
The realization that the system of oppression and control will persist long after we have passed from this earth, continuing to ensnare and subjugate future generations.
Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@OysterWallace
When it's so heavy that it's just not fun anymore.
Heavier than sludge; this is Tar.
@Finniej
This made me laugh so hard. I'm gonna start a Tar-Doom project just for the sake of making it a thing.
@obscureclouds8392
I had that with Phantom Winter. No scarier shit then theirs
@OysterWallace
In my eyes, there are about 5 bands who have played Tar:
Primitive Man (especially "Empty Husk")
Crawl ("II" from This Sad Cadav'r, too heavy for metal-archives)
The Body ("Prayers Unanswered")
possibly Indian ("Directional," "Rape")
and maybe Torpor ("Agalma" and maybe "From This Time")
@xlifeiswarx
see: corrupted. single chords for 3 minutes
@VaughanRoderick
Blackened Sludge for the masses
@moshpunx
People who call this boring - you just don't get it. It can't be boring, it's crushing my soul when i listen to it!
@Vpain90009
masochism at its finest
@VinceAnity
Rehearsals must be a lot of fun...
@Cattani1982
This fucking comment made my day.