Easy to swallow for some - noxious to others.
The band hails from Stockholm, Sweden. Current line-up is Hans Åkerman (vocals), Ville Hising (keyboards) and Ola Sundell (live drums).
Run Level Zero has released several discs in both Europe and North America. Memento Materia, who own the world rights, has license deals with DSBP and Minuswelt. RLZ has appeared on many compilations and remixed artists such as Pzychobitch, Punto Omega, Clan of Xymox and Psyche.
The band has toured Europe twice (supported VNV Nation in 2001 and Assemblage 23 in 2005) and will tour the United States in 2006.
In 2001 the band were voted "Best Newcomer" at SAMA, Swedish Alternative Music Awards.
1999
Run Level Zero was formed in January 1999 in Stockholm/Sweden by Hans Åkerman and Fredrik Solenberg. By that time they had already been making music together during four years under different names and musical directions.
2000
In August 2000 Run Level Zero signed with indie label DSBP for the North American market. The very first live appearance for Run Level Zero took place in September as they were opening for Psyche in Linköping, Sweden. The label Memento Materia was present at the gig and signed Run Level Zero for the rest of the world shortly afterwards.
2001
In January 2001 Run Level Zero went into the studio to record their highly anticipated debut album 'Symbol of Submission', which also was released in August the same year. By the end of the year Run Level Zero got the opportunity to support VNV Nation on the Future Perfect tour in Europe.
2002
In March 2002 Run Level Zero was awarded 'Best Newcomer of the Year ' at the Scandinavian Alternative Music Award (SAMA). Meanwhile the MCD 'In Between' was released in Europe. Experimenting was being done with electric guitar and accoustic drums on stage. In August this year Fredrik Solenberg decided to leave the band. Run Level Zero went back to being an all electronic outfit. In late September new member Ville Hising joined the band.
2003
Run Level Zero once again entered the studio to record new material for the 'Walk the psycho[path]' album. In May producer Kristian Pettersson (known for producing bands like Cat Rapes Dog, S.P.O.C.K and Elegant Machinery) joined in to assist in the final production.
2004
January 2004 Minuswelt signs Run Level Zero for Germany/Austria/Switzerland - finally good distribution in Europe for RLZ. The album 'Walk the Psycho[path]' was released world wide by DSBP/Memento Materia and Minuswelt. Minuswelt also re-released the RLZ debut 'Symbol of Submission'. Live drummer Ola Sundell joined the crew.
In the autumn of 2004 Run Level Zero went on a European tour with Assemblage 23 and Rotersand. Countries toured were Germany, United Kingdom, Holland, Switzerland and Austria. On the tour RLZ brought their new EP 'And Thus We Walked'. The disc featured three brand new songs and remixes from Interlace, Rotersand and X-Fusion.
2005
Run Level Zero started to record their 3rd studio album - this time with producer Oscar Holter and Lars Andersson doing some (light!) guitar work.
During the year they did gigs in Denmark, Norway, Germany and other countries as well as doing remixes for Orange Sector, Pzychobitch and others.
2006
The year started out with the fantastic US Tour together with Moulin Noir.
Ahead lies plans for gigs in Madrid and Sweden, release of the 3rd full length album and more.
All kraft framåt!!!
(copied from http://www.runlevelzero.com/info.shtml)
Hey Mister
Run Level Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the swimming pool you swam in
I caught a glimpse of your skin
Hey mister, do you have a cigarette
You got to run / you got to hide
When I smile / you know you got to run
Strung out / head inside out
I feel the world giving in / I felt a world within
I felt beside between outside, inside
I was inside a sin
I touch forbidden skin / I touch your forbidden skin
I feel a void within / when I touch your skin
The lyrics of "Hey Mister" by Run Level Zero are deeply emotive and a little bit unsettling at times. The first part of the song describes the physical attraction the singer feels towards another person, and how they caught a glimpse of their skin in a swimming pool. This could be interpreted as a moment of vulnerability or intimacy that they were able to witness. However, despite this attraction, there is an underlying sense of danger and impending threat present in the lyrics. The following lines switch from describing the singer's emotions to issuing a warning to the object of their attraction: "You got to run / you got to hide / When I smile / you know you got to run." This juxtaposition creates tension and unpredictability in the narrative.
The second half of the song is even more impassioned and visceral, with the singer seeming to lose control and become overwhelmed by their desire. The lines "Strung out / head inside out / I feel the world giving in / I felt a world within" convey a sense of chaos and loss of rationality. There is also religious imagery present ("inside a sin"), implying that the singer is wrestling with feelings of guilt or shame alongside their physical desire. The final lines "I touch forbidden skin / I touch your forbidden skin / I feel a void within / when I touch your skin" emphasize this conflict between pleasure and pain, ecstasy and emptiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I caught a glimpse of your skin
I saw a part of your body
In the swimming pool you swam in
You were in a pool when I saw you
Hey mister, do you have a cigarette
Excuse me, sir, do you have a cigarette?
You got to run / you got to hide
You need to leave or hide for your own safety
When I smile / you know you got to run
If I smile at you, it's a sign that you should leave quickly
Strung out / head inside out
Feeling completely exhausted and overwhelmed
I feel the world giving in / I felt a world within
I feel like everything around me is breaking down, but I also feel like I am trapped in my own world
I felt beside between outside, inside
I felt like I was in an in-between state, neither fully outside nor fully inside
I was inside a sin
I was doing something wrong
I touch forbidden skin / I touch your forbidden skin
I physically touched a part of your body that was considered off-limits or taboo
I feel a void within / when I touch your skin
Touching your skin makes me feel empty or incomplete inside
Contributed by Charlie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.