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.
Strange
Psychotic Waltz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
your violence your peace
your gospel is your blasphemy
your famine is your feast
destruction is your architect
your woman and your priest
I fear your falling sanctuary's
soon to be your beast
the prophecies are closing in
upon us one by one
the angels of the seven churches
maiden of the sun
silent lay the gentle lamb
the prayer and the gun
I believe the gates above
are closed to everyone
I believe in something strange
Prophets and angels fall from the altar
weak is the grip of the hand of the brave
pray for the bleeding that lie in the shatters
pray for the dying that lie in their graves
submission through guilt and fear
is not what I had in mind
and my blood has run far too thin
among the hands of you all
and I'm afraid I have nothing
left for you
a symphony of tragedy
awakes a watchful eye
a serenade of agony
pours down from the sky
the dancers of catastrophe
go quickly spinning by
I begin to understand
the simple reason why
I believe in something strange
strange this song of mine
The lyrics of Psychotic Waltz's song "Strange" convey a sense of disillusionment and mistrust in societal and religious structures. The opening lines describe the paradoxical nature of those in power: their order results in chaos, their violence promotes peace, their holy teachings verge on blasphemy, and their abundance of resources leads to famine. The singer fears that this fragile system will eventually crumble and reveal itself to be a beastly monstrosity. Amidst this pessimistic outlook, the singer professes a belief in something strange--a glimmer of hope or a beacon of light amidst the darkness.
The second verse alludes to Biblical themes, specifically the Book of Revelation. The prophecies are closing in, and the angels who were meant to guard and guide humanity are falling from grace. The lamb, symbolizing innocence and purity, is helpless against the onslaught of violence and prayerful appeal. The gates of heaven seem to be shut to all, suggesting a pervasive sense of hopelessness and despair. Despite this, the singer holds on to their belief in something strange, perhaps an unconventional or unorthodox way of understanding redemption and salvation.
The final verse shifts the focus to the singer's personal convictions. They reject the notion that submission through guilt and fear is the only way to reach a higher power. They are disillusioned with the ways of the world and feel that their blood has run too thin among others who only perpetuate the cycle of oppression and despair. In this symphony of tragedy, however, the singer begins to understand the strange thing in which they believe. It is not a conventional or easy path, but it offers a sense of hope amidst the chaos and destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
your order is your anarchy
You live in a state of chaos and disarray, despite your attempts to impose rules and structure.
your violence your peace
You find comfort and solace in destructive behavior, which results in feelings of tranquility and harmony.
your gospel is your blasphemy
You preach beliefs that others would consider sacrilegious and disrespectful to established religious doctrine.
your famine is your feast
You derive pleasure from deprivation and lack, seeing it as a form of abundance and indulgence.
destruction is your architect
You actively seek out destruction and instability, hoping to create something new from the rubble and chaos.
your woman and your priest
You hold those closest to you responsible for your spiritual guidance and romantic fulfillment, placing them on a pedestal and expecting too much from them.
I fear your falling sanctuary's soon to be your beast
I worry that the things you once held sacred and safe will eventually turn against you, becoming the source of your downfall and destruction.
I believe in something strange
I hold onto unconventional beliefs and ideas that others might find hard to accept or understand.
the prophecies are closing in upon us one by one
Various warnings and predictions of doom are coming true, one by one, and we cannot ignore them anymore.
the angels of the seven churches maiden of the sun
Even the most holy and divine forces seem to be turning their back on us, leaving us to face our struggles alone.
silent lay the gentle lamb the prayer and the gun
All forms of peaceful and violent attempts to find salvation or resolution seem to be futile and ineffective.
I believe the gates above are closed to everyone
I think that no one, no matter how worthy, will be able to enter heaven or reach spiritual nirvana.
prophets and angels fall from the altar weak is the grip of the hand of the brave
Even the most holy and powerful figures are starting to crumble and lose their hold on the faithful followers.
pray for the bleeding that lie in the shatters pray for the dying that lie in their graves
We should pray for those who are suffering and dying, whether they are physically hurt or spiritually broken.
submission through guilt and fear is not what I had in mind
I do not believe in following a religion or authority that forces people to submit through feelings of guilt and fear.
and my blood has run far too thin among the hands of you all and I'm afraid I have nothing left for you
I have given too much to everyone around me, leaving me empty and unable to offer anything more.
a symphony of tragedy awakes a watchful eye a serenade of agony pours down from the sky
I am becoming increasingly aware of the sadness and pain present in the world, which seems to be intensifying with each passing day.
the dancers of catastrophe go quickly spinning by I begin to understand the simple reason why
I am finally starting to grasp the reasons behind the chaos and destruction unfolding around me.
strange this song of mine
My thoughts and beliefs may seem peculiar and unconventional to others, but they are still worth sharing and exploring.
Contributed by Charlie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.