The band first came into existence in December 1984 when former Fathead Suburbia vocalist Paul Bearer answered an ad in the Village Voice for a hardcore punk singer. Filling out the original lineup was guitarist Alan Blake, bassist Baron "Barry" Misuraca, and drummer Sam "Reid" Lohman. The band was featured on the 1985 "One Big Crowd" compilation, and released two cassette demos, "No Grounds For Pity" and "Fall From Grace". Soon after the band broke up due to personality conflicts. Afterwards, Bearer would spend some time in southern California before returning to New York, where he reformed Sheer Terror with Blake, adding Mark Neuman on bass and Jason Martin on drums.
The band soon after began a longtime association with Blackout Records, who released some of their songs on the label's compilation "Where the Wild Things Are", in 1989, along with a 7 inch Live At CBGB release. The following year, the band recorded their debut full length "Just Can't Hate Enough". The record was engineered by Tommy Victor of Prong. As Victor also worked at CBGB, he was able to allow the band to record live at the famous bar in the morning and afternoon hours before shows were held. The record was released in Germany on Starving Missile Records, and later released stateside under the Blackout name. "Just Can't Hate Enough" quickly became one of the records that defined the new, heavier sound of hardcore that was emerging at the time, played by bands such as Biohazard and Killing Time, among others. The guitar tone and riffs, in particular, display a large heavy metal influence, especially from Swiss speed metallers Celtic Frost, who were allegedly one of Alan Blake's favorite bands. The band also became known for Bearer's no-nonsense stage personality, with some finding him offensive, and others enjoying his often blunt and obscenity filled humor.
Neuman took the opportunity to switch to guitar, and Mike "Chickie" Walter, a former member of the crossover band Ludichrist, took over on bass duties, only to be replaced a year later by Keith "Zippy" McAdam. With the lineup of Bearer, Neuman, McAdam, and Martin, the band cut a new record in 1991 that was titled "Ugly And Proud", and whose planned cover featured a bulldog belonging to Josh Silver of Type O Negative. Seeing the success of Biohazard's eponymous 1990 release, the band planned to release the LP under Maze Records. However, due to the amount of money and time spent on the Biohazard release, Maze was not in the position to release "Ugly And Proud". The record was shelved by the label, much to the dismay of the band who could not convince the company to allow them to take the masters elsewhere.
In this time, the band experienced more member turnover, including the return of Chickie to bass duties, and an extended stint with a former glam metal drummer named Dave Todd. Paul Bearer recounts in the liner notes of a later release about his disbelief that Dave, while the band was in Europe, asked him who "Anarchy" was, thinking the circle-A logo he saw spray painted on walls belonged to a band. The tension of having someone in the band who did not understand punk rock ultimately led to finding a new drummer in Pat Cronin.
To make up for the lack of an album, Sheer Terror re-recorded many of the songs from "Ugly And Proud", releasing the result on Blackout as "Thanks Fer Nuthin", a jab at the owner of Maze Records. According to Bearer, he originally wanted to call the record "Canadian Scumbag". However, upon hearing of the band's new album, Maze Records quickly, and finally, released "Ugly And Proud", leading to the band having two records on the market with mostly identical songs.
Some tours later, the "Old, New, Borrowed, And Blue" EP was released. Following the theme of the title, the tracklist included an old song, "Walls", a new song, "Broken", a cover ("borrowed") song, "Everything's Fine" by The Saints, and a slow ballad ("blue"), "Goodbye, Farewell". The cover depicted an old photograph of Bearer's parents' wedding. Both Bearer and Mark Neuman have commented that due to Josh Silver's production of the EP, it remains their favorite Sheer Terror release. The band even cut the only music video of their career for "Broken", which featured a live action depiction of the song's subject, a despondent, alcoholic circus clown.
This, among other things, led to interest from MCA, who signed the band for the recording of 1995's "Love Songs for the Unloved". Produced by Tommy Victor, the record reflected a changing band, with slower songs and more clean, operatic singing from Bearer, rather than his usual growls. The upbeat track "For Rudy The Kraut" even featured an almost ska-sounding horn section. Neuman was also not particularly satisfied with the overall sound of his guitar tracks. The record did not receive the expected attention from fans, and Sheer Terror was soon dropped from MCA, who Bearer later sarcastically referred to as "the Music Cemetery of America".
In the following years, Bearer's self admittedly "pig-headed" personality clashed with the other members of the band, leading to Cronin and Neuman's exit. Sheer Terror managed to press on with a lineup that included former Whiplash drummer Tony Scaglione, and future Cause for Alarm guitarist Jay Banks. This lineup lasted through a U.S. tour with Napalm Death. Shortly after, the band broke up, only to be revived in 1997 featuring Ex-Mind over Matter/Neglect drummer John Lafata, and current Kill Your Idols guitarist Gary Bennett. John Lafata then went on to tour and record with Madball, and Tony Scaglione was brought in once again. But eventually, Sheer Terror ended their 13 year career in 1998, immediately following a mildly successful European tour. Most members did not speak to each other for many years following the break-up.
In mid-2004 it was announced that the lineup of Bearer, Neuman, Chickie, and Cronin were again rehearsing and planned on playing a show to serve both as a reunion and as the final farewell the band was never able to give. The reaction from fans led to the booking of another show the following night, and on October 9 and 10, the band played two sold out shows at CBGB, alongside opening bands such as Inhuman and Subzero. Footage from both nights, as well as an extensive documentary, was released as the "Beaten By The Fists Of God" DVD in 2005. Many high-profile members of the punk rock and hardcore community were featured praising the band in the documentary, including members of Dropkick Murphys, Life of Agony, North Side Kings, and Blood For Blood. Many former members were interviewed as well.
Despite offers for more shows, the band insists Sheer Terror is done. Bearer currently sings for the New York band Joe Coffee. Fans can also get a taste of his often brutish sense of humor through a bootleg record entitled "No Really, Go Fuck Yourself", credited to "Reverend Paul Bearer". The record is a compilation of numerous bits of bootlegged stage banter from Bearer during his years with Sheer Terror, and features rants about bizarre French culture and his being labeled a "Nazi" for making jokes about the venue's Mexican kitchen staff.
Just Can't Hate Enough
Sheer Terror Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's time I made my intentions clear.
I don't give a fuck about your skinhead pride
And I couldn't care less about the lower east side.
I'm just a working class slob who's tired
of getting the short end of the stick.
It ain't my problem if I'm not like you
And I'm not sucking Uncle Sam's dick.
I can't stand living, I can't stand you, and I just can't hate enough.
You say my hatred has blinded me where I can't see as far as I could spit.
But that's where you're wrong 'cause I could see quite clear
And I could see that you're full of shit.
The above lyrics are from the song "Just Can't Hate Enough" by Sheer Terror, a New York-based hardcore punk band. The song appears on their 1989 album "Just Can't Get Enough" and is widely considered to be a classic of the genre. The lyrics themselves are a declaration of the singer's frustration and anger with the world around him, particularly with those who espouse ideologies of hate and exclusion.
The song opens with the singer declaring that he has had enough of someone's shit and that it's time for him to make his intentions clear. He then goes on to express his disdain for the pride that many skinheads feel and his indifference towards the lower east side of Manhattan. The singer then reveals himself as a working-class individual who is tired of being taken advantage of and who rejects the notion of blindly following government authority.
He then addresses those who may see him and his views as negative, stating that he cannot stand living and cannot stand those who support exclusionary beliefs. The singer then acknowledges that others may accuse him of being blinded by his own hatred, but he counters this by stating that he can see quite clearly and that those who adhere to such hate-filled ideologies are simply full of shit.
Overall, "Just Can't Hate Enough" is a powerful and uncompromising statement against hate and exclusion, delivered with raw intensity and anger that is characteristic of the hardcore punk genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Enough of your shit, I've had it up to here.
I am tired of all the crap you have been throwing my way.
It's time I made my intentions clear.
I am going to express myself and you are going to listen.
I don't give a fuck about your skinhead pride
Your racial superiority does not interest me or have any bearing on my life.
And I couldn't care less about the lower east side.
I do not have any particular attachment or allegiance to this part of town.
I'm just a working class slob who's tired of getting the short end of the stick.
I am a hardworking person who is sick of being taken advantage of and not getting what I deserve.
It ain't my problem if I'm not like you
I do not feel like I need to conform to your expectations or beliefs.
And I'm not sucking Uncle Sam's dick.
I am not blindly patriotic and do not always support my government.
You call that negative- you think I'm out of touch.
You may view my attitude as pessimistic or unrealistic.
I can't stand living, I can't stand you, and I just can't hate enough.
My absolute disdain for life and you personally cannot be fully expressed.
You say my hatred has blinded me where I can't see as far as I could spit.
You argue that my anger is preventing me from seeing things clearly.
But that's where you're wrong 'cause I could see quite clear
Actually, I am fully aware of the reality of the situation and your flaws.
And I could see that you're full of shit.
I know that you are lying or not being entirely honest.
Contributed by Nicholas G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SharkxBait93
NYHC and Celtic Frost has to be one of the coolest combinations ever. How have I not found this band earlier lmao
@dr.juerdotitsgo5119
Bathory! Great band... in their early days sort of like a satanic version of Discharge and GBH.
@psychedelicfright85
One of the best albums I've ever heard. Dirty, Celtic Frost guitar tones. Lyrics that... seem to be much deeper than most hardcore bands.
@justicereplacedbyrevenge
Definitely hear Celtic frost/Hellhammer vibe in the guitar.
@miguelhipolito9857
Yes men, this guitars sound celtic Frost... Hell yeahhhh
@briansweda6094
I always would laugh watching people beating themselves up to songs about love and alienation
@bloodclot
100% I've been saying this for years. Absolutely love morbid tales. Favorite album of all time.
@jasoncannon1141
One of the best hardcore bands ever
@jeanferrer5110
incridibly original
@Marysiapolska
Bullshit