1989-STG is formed as a side project by Peter Prins and Chad Bishop. A 3 song demo is recorded under the influence of beer and fast food, and copies are given to friends. The band's name is taken from the chorus of their very first song - Screaming To God.
1990-Bruce King and Eric Lilly join. Two more demos are completed and STG starts playing live. By the end of the year small fanzines are starting to give favorable reviews, and songs are being included on local compilation albums.
1991-Peter does his last demo with STG, Vermin, and the search for a new singer is on. By mid-year STG and new singer Mark Rebman finish Sacrifice, with the help of bass player Jeff Tatman. However, by the end of the year, Mark, Jeff and Eric are gone and STG barely sneak out another demo, Requiem, with yet another singer, Shane Talada.
1992-STG records its best and last demo, Climate Of Violence. A series of brutal live shows dominate the year. Various musicians guest at the shows, adding to the mayhem. At varying times, Ryan Skalla, James Leighton, David Skott, and Chad Volpe seem to become permanent fixtures.
1993-STG whittles itself down to a five piece. Rotten and Cleopatra records both offer deals, with Rotten eventually getting the ink. Shane, Bruce (credited as Alan King on NLH), David, Chad Volpe, and Chad Bishop head into the studio to record No Longer Human. Spike Cassidy from D.R.I. helps produce. Just before the record is released, things get stupid and Chad Volpe leaves. A video for Razor Raped Pain is made. The remaining 4 members round out the year touring with Spahn Ranch and Clay People.
1994-Things get slow in STG land. The band comes under incredible pressure from Rotten to continue touring but can't financially commit. Live shows become virtually nonexistent, and the band unsuccessfully struggles to complete a new demo. Eventually, the band splits to form new projects, Idiot Stare and Element. David and Shane also played in Kommunity FK for a while. The last STG song Mad Drunk is release on the Scavengers in the Matrix compilation by Chase.
1995 - Chad Bishop produces Obsess for Insight 23.
2001 - The NLH touring lineup gets together for a one off rehearsal and "when we" party. All have a good time.
2003 - STG reunion show is preempted by a friend's wedding.
2004 - Original members Chad, Bruce, Shane, Dave, and Jamie reunite for the reunion show in October. Joining them is new drummer Brandon. After the show, David "hangs up his bass".
2005 - Chad "The Fin" Volpe returns to the keyboard post as Jamie fills the bass player position left open by David...12 years after David did the same for him. After two live shows and completing the Nursing the Dead demo song, the band and Fin part ways again. Chad Bishop is elected to go back to playing drums and Jeff Smith (from Hate Dept. tour fame) jumps into the keyboard spot.
Shallow Grave
STG Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Decision intact, violence, no hesitation
Liberty or life, battle for the crown
Education, prevention, higher ground
I'm the one you read about in flyers on a Sunday's eve
I'm the life you're fight for with your bombing and your picketing
I divide the population, turn brothers into enemies
Less than ideal solutions
Come from not having any answers
Lopsided opinions got no feet to stand on
Living in the past, a very shallow grave
I'm the one you read about in flyers on a Sunday's eve
I'm the life you're fight for with your bombing and your picketing
I divide the population, turn brothers into enemies
Turn your hatred into action while your soul is suffering
Christ is your excuse, you sit and wait for rapture
A day free of thought is like a day in heaven
To know is half the battle, know that you are sick
To your to your heaven, learn to run a lifetime
I'm the one you read about in flyers on a Sunday's eve
I'm the life you're fight for with your bombing and your picketing
I divide the population, turn brothers into enemies
Turn your hatred into action while your soul is suffering
The lyrics of STG's song Shallow Grave seem to be critiquing the nature of extremist beliefs and actions. The opening lines suggest that people are easily influenced by suggestions and are quick to make decisions, especially if it involves violence. The battle for power is depicted as a zero-sum game where people have to choose between their freedoms or lives. The song calls for education and prevention to move towards a higher ground, indicating that there is an alternative to the cycle of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Your mind, lying still open to suggestion
Your mind is vulnerable to influence and manipulation
Decision intact, violence, no hesitation
You are committed to violence without hesitation
Liberty or life, battle for the crown
You are willing to fight to the death for your beliefs and freedom
Education, prevention, higher ground
Education and prevention are important tools to achieve higher goals
I'm the one you read about in flyers on a Sunday's eve
I am the subject of propaganda and divisive rhetoric
I'm the life you're fight for with your bombing and your picketing
You are willing to use violent means to fight for me and my cause
I divide the population, turn brothers into enemies
My cause and rhetoric create division and turn people against each other
Turn your hatred into action while your soul is suffering
I encourage you to channel your hate into violent actions despite the harm it may cause to your own soul
Less than ideal solutions
The solutions being offered are not perfect
Come from not having any answers
These imperfect solutions are a result of not having all the answers
Lopsided opinions got no feet to stand on
Opinions that are one-sided and biased are not credible
Living in the past, a very shallow grave
Refusing to move forward and learn from the past is a destructive way of living
Christ is your excuse, you sit and wait for rapture
You use religion as an excuse to avoid taking action and wait for an imaginary salvation
A day free of thought is like a day in heaven
Avoiding critical thinking and introspection may bring temporary relief but is ultimately unfulfilling
To know is half the battle, know that you are sick
Acknowledging your flaws and weaknesses is the first step towards growth and improvement
To your heaven, learn to run a lifetime
To achieve your concept of heaven, you must be willing to work hard and commit to a lifetime of learning and growth
Contributed by Anthony L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.