The first incarnation of the band was under the name Aslan, after a character in the novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. With money earned from local shows and T-shirt sales, they recorded a self-titled demo tape in 1986. After discovering another band with the same name, they changed theirs to Psychotic Waltz and recorded a new four-song demo in 1988.
In 1990, they debuted with their independently financed debut A Social Grace, which was released in Europe via a licensing deal with the German label Rising Sun Productions. The album was very well received in Europe, being named album of the month in some European magazines,[citation needed] The situation in US was more difficult, as the album was released under the band's own Sub Sonic Records label. With practically no promotion and minimal distribution, it remained an extremely underground item. In 1991, the band appeared in the Dynamo Festival in Holland.
After the tour, the band's guitarist, Dan Rock, suffered a near-fatal accident after falling off a bridge while rappelling. The band went on to record their second album, Into the Everflow. The album was recorded from August–October, 1992, at Phoenix Studios in Herne, Germany, and was produced by Mekong Delta's main man, Ralph Hubert. After recording the album, but before its release, the band did a small tour while Dan Rock recovered from his accident. The CD was released in Europe on Dream Circle Records, and was very well received, getting album of the month honors in many European magazines.[citation needed] After Rock recovered, the band was nominated as the Best Hard Rock band at the 1992 San Diego Music Awards.
By that time, the band was at the peak of its popularity. They signed with Ralph Hubert's own label, Zardoz Music, for their third album, Mosquito. Recording took place in late 1994 in Record Plant and Madhatter studios in Los Angeles, with the help of the famous metal producer Scott Burns. The initial response for this album was mixed, as the more conventional songwriting that the band followed led some hardcore fans of the band to label it as a sell-out. This was the last album that was recorded with their initial lineup, as bassist Ward Evans left the band after two tours in Europe and was replaced with Phil Cuttino.
They entered the studio once again in 1996, for what proved to be their last studio work together, Bleeding. This time, Scott Burns did the engineering, but the record was mixed by Dan Rock and engineer Woody Barber. Before the band started touring in support for the new album, guitarist Brian McAlpine announced that he would not be able to follow the band due to familial obligations. He was replaced by Steve Cox for the band's final two European tours. Phil Cuttino filmed a promotional video for the track "Faded". This proved to be disastrous for the band, as a crew member sued the band in April 1998, claiming that a light on the set caused him to go blind.
The lengthy court battle that followed, coupled with the different musical interests that the band members had, contributed in the band's demise. Buddy Lackey was the first to leave the band. For a short while, the remaining band members tried to continue with the band, but eventually each went his own way. Rock recorded two instrumental albums with his project Darkstar. Norm Leggio and Steve Cox created the band Teabag, and Buddy Lackey formed the band Deadsoul Tribe, where he performs using his real name, Devon Graves.
Psychotic Waltz reunited in 2010, will tour Europe in support of Nevermore and Symphony X, and are planning to write, record and release a new album.
Dancing in the Ashes
Psychotic Waltz Lyrics
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I see it coming all down
I see the future is red
I see the innocent are laying dead
I hear the warlords pray
They cover the dead where they're laying
Until the battle is won, the war has just begun
Burning like a hell, goddamn
Burning fire, we are going to burn in the fire
We're gonna burn it high
Can you hear all the lies
That try to cover their cries
The hell is more real than the television can make it feel
Keep the war machine fed
Try cover your head
Just think of God as a gun
This is the freedom that you've won
The skyline is glowing
And the fire is growing
This is the world that we live in
The only gift is that we're giving in
Blind by the flashes
Now we're dancing in the ashes
Singing God is a gun
This is the freedom that you've won
The lyrics of Dancing in the Ashes by Psychotic Waltz convey a sense of impending doom and the consequences of war. The verse describes a world where violence is rampant, and the innocent are dying. The warlords pray, and the battle continues until one side is victorious, but the war is never truly over. The chorus speaks about the fire and chaos that surrounds them and the lies that the media tries to cover. The war machine continues to feed, and people try to survive by covering their heads. The reference to God as a gun highlights the idea of violence being a tool for freedom.
The bridge section of the song speaks about the world they live in, where violence appears to be the only gift that they're given. They're blind and dancing in the ashes of their destruction. They're singing that God is a gun, and this is the freedom they've won. The lyrics suggest that in the midst of war, there's little room for hope or peace. Violence breeds violence, and there is no clear end to the cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
I see it coming back around
The cycle of destruction and violence is repeating itself and will continue to do so.
I see it coming all down
Everything is falling apart, civilization is collapsing.
I see the future is red
The future is bleak, filled with bloodshed.
I see the innocent are laying dead
Innocent people are dying as a result of the violence.
I hear the warlords pray
The people in power who perpetuate the violence are praying for their own success in continuing it.
They cover the dead where they're laying
The powerful are callous in their treatment of the dead and dying.
Until the battle is won, the war has just begun
The conflict is ongoing and will continue regardless of individual battles won or lost.
Burning like a hell, goddamn
The situation feels like a living nightmare.
It's just a different time and another kind of Vietnam
While this specific conflict may be new, the feeling and impact is similar to the Vietnam War.
Burning fire, we are going to burn in the fire
The violence and destruction will consume and destroy all those involved.
We're gonna burn it high
The intensity of the conflict will only increase.
Can you hear all the lies
Deception and manipulation are rampant in this situation.
That try to cover their cries
People are suffering but their pain and desperation is being ignored or suppressed.
The hell is more real than the television can make it feel
The situation is so dire that it cannot be accurately represented or understood by traditional media.
Keep the war machine fed
Those in power benefit from the perpetuation of violence and will ensure it continues.
Try cover your head
The best one can do in this situation is to try and protect themselves from the violence.
Just think of God as a gun
Religion and violence are intertwined and God is being used as justification for violence and destruction.
This is the freedom that you've won
The supposed freedom that is gained from this violence is illusory and ultimately destructive.
The skyline is glowing
The city is burning and the destruction is visible from a distance.
And the fire is growing
The violence and destruction is only increasing and spreading.
This is the world that we live in
This is the reality of our current existence.
The only gift is that we're giving in
The only thing being gained from this is submission to the cycle of violence.
Blind by the flashes
Events are happening so quickly that it's difficult to keep track of them all and the situation is disorienting.
Now we're dancing in the ashes
People are celebrating or ignoring the destruction around them and living in a state of denial.
Singing God is a gun
Religion and violence are intertwined and God is being used as justification for violence and destruction.
This is the freedom that you've won
The supposed freedom that is gained from this violence is illusory and ultimately destructive.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN RODGER MC ALPIN, BUDDY HOWARD LACKEY, DANIEL WAYNE ROCK, NORMAN GAETANO LEGGIO, WARD EVANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind