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.
Roses
Sheer Terror Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel repressed, and I'm not impressed by the games you children play.
Some of you may bask in the sun and some of you may hide.
Whenever I hear your laughing voices, I just want to cry.
So many years of nothingness yet you seem so content.
You have to realize, it's all lies of deceit.
Call me a bastard- call me a afraid.
I'll just turn a deaf ear.
Now your party is over, and your host has died.
Kick your shoes off as you walk through the door,
It's time to come inside.
The world is crumbling, a drunkard stumbling.
A new year's come alive It's been a wonderful year
The lyrics to Sheer Terror's song "Roses" depict a narrator who has grown tired of trying to understand the world around them and has decided to remain ignorant. They feel repressed and unimpressed by the games others play, indicating a sense of disillusionment with society. The singer notes that some people are able to enjoy life while others hide, but hearing laughter only makes them want to cry. They suggest that many years have gone by with nothing changing, and that people need to realize that it's all lies of deceit. Despite being called a bastard or afraid, the singer will turn a deaf ear to such insults. The song ends with the idea that the party is over, the host has died, and it's time to come inside.
The themes of disillusionment, apathy, and social criticism are prominent in this song. The singer is frustrated with the status quo and has given up trying to make sense of it. They view the laughter and enjoyment of others as a false and empty experience, and suggest that people need to wake up to the lies they are being told. The final lines of the song suggest a sense of decay and decay, with the world crumbling and a new year beginning, hinting at a lack of hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm tired of trying to understand, so ignorant I'll remain.
I can't keep up with your deceitful ways and false fronts, so I'll just accept my ignorance.
I feel repressed, and I'm not impressed by the games you children play.
Your childish and petty games don't impress me and only make me feel suppressed.
Some of you may bask in the sun and some of you may hide.
Some of you are content with your lives, while others choose to hide from reality.
Whenever I hear your laughing voices, I just want to cry.
Your happiness and carefree attitudes only makes me realize my own pain and sorrow.
So many years of nothingness yet you seem so content.
You may have done nothing with your life, but you're still satisfied with your own lies.
You have to realize, it's all lies of deceit.
You need to acknowledge that everything you believe in is just a web of lies and deception.
Call me a bastard- call me a afraid.
You can try to insult and intimidate me, but I won't cower in fear.
I'll just turn a deaf ear.
I'll ignore your attempts to bring me down and stay true to myself.
'Cause all is that for roses, it's been a wonderful year.
Despite all the hardships, it's still been a good year and I'm grateful for what I have.
Now your party is over, and your host has died.
The time for your deception and games has ended, and your leader has met their downfall.
Kick your shoes off as you walk through the door,
Relax and let go of your worries as you enter this new phase of life.
It's time to come inside.
Embrace this new chapter and leave the past behind.
The world is crumbling, a drunkard stumbling.
The world is falling apart and struggling to stay afloat.
A new year's come alive It's been a wonderful year
Despite all the difficulties, we've made it to a new year and it's been a good one.
Contributed by Jordan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bolid991
Celtic Frost meets Joy Division
@rzig7627
Most of the time all i want to do is get blackout drunk and blast sheer terror at my neighbors.
@tomquirin4231
fing yea, this is great great stuff, me too , i absolutely love paul and sound here , oldschool 80's fanatic here , thanks > tom !
@crushsatan
this is one of the best. One reason is that on it Paul Bearer sings like the late Ian Curtis of Joy Division. Crooning is not only for Sinatra and the like. We can can all croon.
@ivanmdc22
Joy Division and heavy old school hardcore punk... a perfect mix
@acequat
UNBELIEVABLE song... i never thought i could enjoy hardcore punk but you know what i got the whole album 'just cant hate enough' and I LOVE IT.... twisting & turning, roses, owe you nothin, burning time, all great great songs!! thx indeed
@YouStink86
This is a really sick song! It speaks for me when i cant. This song oughta be liked more.
@ingnaw
thank you guys for creating this music .
thank you and beer now .
@napalmslayer
Fucking badass. Love bearers vocal delivery here. It's almost like gothic hardcore
@MyMiserableLife
A total classic.