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)
Plaything
Run Level Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can I extinguish it all / the fire in my soul
A plaything for the night / discarded, used all right
Nothing more than that
A wind up toy will break / forced entry
Its spring will break
My coiled spring inside / takes me for a ride
How long will it take / before I will break
I will break
You wind the key / you turned the knife
I'm just debris / a broken life
A sorry fuck / who took his chance
I pressed my luck
Last spasmic dance
The lyrics to Run Level Zero's song "Plaything" convey a sense of desperation and despair. The opening lines, "Can I get even higher / can I put out the fire" speak to an inner conflict and struggle with addiction, perhaps with drugs or alcohol. The singer is searching for a way to extinguish the fire that burns within them, but they are unable to do so. The line "the fire in my soul" suggests a deeper, more existential struggle that the singer is facing.
The chorus of the song speaks to the singer's feelings of being used and discarded. They feel like nothing more than a plaything for others to use for their pleasure and then discard when they are no longer useful. The line "A wind up toy will break / forced entry / Its spring will break" suggests that the singer feels like they are being wound up and used until they can no longer function.
The second verse speaks to the singer's feelings of being trapped and unable to escape their situation. The line "You wind my key again / a notch from insane / My coiled spring inside / takes me for a ride" suggests that the singer is being controlled by someone else and feels like they are on the verge of losing their mind. The final lines of the song, "I'm just debris / a broken life / A sorry fuck / who took his chance / I pressed my luck / Last spasmic dance" convey a sense of hopelessness and resignation. The singer feels like their life is broken and they have no choice but to continue on their current path.
Line by Line Meaning
Can I get even higher / can I put out the fire
Questioning if it's possible to ascend to greater heights or snuff out the intense burning passion within
Can I extinguish it all / the fire in my soul
Wanting to extinguish the flame of passion and desire within oneself
A plaything for the night / discarded, used all right
Feeling like a disposable object, only meant to be used for entertainment purposes
Nothing more than that
Acknowledging that they hold no value beyond their temporary role as a plaything
A wind up toy will break / forced entry
Comparing oneself to a toy that will eventually malfunction due to pressure and outside forces
Its spring will break
Referring to the breaking point of the toy's internal mechanism
You wind my key again / a notch from insane
Someone else is controlling their actions, and they are dangerously close to losing their sanity
My coiled spring inside / takes me for a ride
Describing the internal tension and turmoil that is driving them to act out
How long will it take / before I will break
Wondering how much longer they can keep up their facade before they inevitably snap
I will break
Accepting that they will eventually reach their breaking point and lose control
You wind the key / you turned the knife
Blaming the person controlling them for their inevitable downfall
I'm just debris / a broken life
Feeling like a damaged and worthless object, discarded by society
A sorry fuck / who took his chance
Regretting their past, and the choices that led them to their current state
I pressed my luck
Acknowledging that they have attempted to defy fate, but it has caught up with them
Last spasmic dance
Conceding that this is their final act, their last desperate attempt to feel alive
Contributed by Sarah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DrSphinctenstein
Can of worms. Flickering can of worms.