Rancid has had two lineup changes since its inception, with Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman being continuous members. Their current lineup consists of Armstrong on guitar and vocals, Freeman on bass and vocals, Lars Frederiksen on guitar and vocals, and Branden Steineckert on drums. The band was formed by Armstrong, Freeman, and former drummer Brett Reed, who left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Steineckert. This lineup recorded their first album, with Frederiksen joining the band on their subsequent tour.
To date, Rancid has released ten studio albums, one split album, one compilation, two extended plays, and a series of live online-only albums, and has been featured on a number of compilation albums. The band has sold over four million records worldwide, making it one of the most successful punk rock groups of all time. The band rose to fame in 1994 with its second studio album, Let's Go, featuring the single "Salvation". In the following year, Rancid released its highly successful album ...And Out Come the Wolves, which produced its best-known songs "Roots Radicals", "Ruby Soho", and "Time Bomb", and was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA, selling over one million copies in the United States alone. Its next six albums – Life Won't Wait (1998), Rancid (2000), Indestructible (2003), Let the Dominoes Fall (2009), ...Honor Is All We Know (2014) and Trouble Maker (2017) – were also critically acclaimed, though not as commercially successful as ...And Out Come the Wolves. The band released their tenth album, Tomorrow Never Comes, in June 2023.
Studio albums
Rancid (1993)
Let's Go (1994)
...And Out Come the Wolves (1995)
Life Won't Wait (1998)
Rancid (also known as "Rancid 2000" or "Rancid 5") (2000)
Indestructible (2003)
Let the Dominoes Fall (2009)
...Honor Is All We Know (2014)
Trouble Maker (2017)
Tomorrow Never Comes (2023)
Killing Zone
Rancid Lyrics
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You gonna be scorn, You gonna be torn
There's a storm, hittin' your home, not a false alarm but a real one
Can't trick it,well its wicked, just to get picket lines crakin
If you like it, don't fight it, just hold it, then light it
Head straight to the killing zone, Now the war is on
Head straight to the killing zone, now the war is on, hold on to yours or we're all gone
Head straight to the killing zone, now the war is on, hold on to yours or we're all gone
All the night its a constant run, if you're the one, well now you're bombed
Sail on, Mr. Don Juan, got a shot gun, hits the marksmen
Complex thoughts here, it dont end here
if you can have war there, just go patrol there
Without a care here, you should just see there
Start a war there, cross the boarders
Head straight to the killing zone, Now the war is on
Head straight to the killing zone, now the war is on, hold on to yours or we're all gone
Head straight to the killing zone, Now the war is on
Head straight to the killing zone, now the war is on, hold on to yours or we're all gone
[x2] Head straight to the killing zone, Now the war zone
Head straight to the killing zone, now the war zone, hold on to yours or we're all gone
Head straight to the killing zone, Now the war zone
Head straight to the killing zone, now the war zone, hold on to yours or we're all gone
The lyrics to Rancid's song "Killing Zone" speak to the destructive nature of war and the toll it takes on both people and the planet. The opening lines warn about the consequences of dropping bombs, not only in terms of physical destruction but also the scorn and division it creates. The storm hitting "your home" is not a mere warning but a real threat, and the only way to deal with it is to wake up and confront it head-on. The lyrics urge the listener to avoid getting caught up in "complex thoughts" and not to start wars but rather to control them and contain them to their own borders.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Head straight to the killing zone" four times, emphasizing the urgency and immediacy of the situation. The use of the phrase "holes in the ozone, we're all gone" is a powerful reminder that war not only destroys human life but also damages the planet we live on. The repetition of the words "now the war's on" also underscores the idea that once the decision to go to war is made, there is no going back.
Line by Line Meaning
Drop bombs, you're gonna be warned
If you launch surprise attacks on others, they will eventually retaliate and you'll face the consequences.
You're gonna be scorned, you're gonna be torn
The act of dropping bombs will result in anger, disapproval, and destruction from the other side.
There's a storm hittin' your home, not a false alarm but a real one
The consequences of your actions will be severe and devastating for your own country, not a trivial matter that you can ignore.
Can't trick it, let's wake up, can't stick it, pick it lines striking
You can't fool the reality of destruction, it's time to face it and take action to prevent further damage.
If you like it, don't fight it, just hold it, then want it
If you enjoy the idea of war and destruction, don't resist the urge but acknowledge the consequences and the real cost of such actions.
Head straight to the killing zone, now the war's on
The song urges people to stop talking about war and start preparing for it, because the conflict has already begun.
Head straight to the killing zone, now the war's on, holes in the ozone, we're all gone
If we don't act now to prevent the destruction of the earth's atmosphere, we will all perish regardless of who wins the war.
All the nights of constant run, if you're the one, well now you're bombed
If you spend your life running away from responsibility, you'll eventually be caught in the crossfire and suffer the consequences.
Sail on, Mr. Dumb One, you got a shot gun, hit the marksmen
If you blindly follow leaders who promote violence, you'll become a tool for their cause, but ultimately end up hurting innocent people.
Complex thoughts here, he don't live here, keep the war there, just to control there
Those who promote war often have simplistic ideas of the conflict, that don't align with the reality or the needs of the people involved.
Without a care here, you should just see there
People who advocate for war often don't understand the real cost and impact of their actions on the people who are directly affected.
Start a war there, cross the boarders
Initiating a war is easy when you don't have to face the consequences, but the conflicts quickly escalate and spread beyond the intended targets, causing more damage than intended.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: LARS FREDERIKSEN, TIMOTHY (USA) ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind