The Berzerker has produced five full length albums, The Berzerker (2000), Dissimulate (2002), World of Lies (2005), Animosity (2007) and The Reawakening (2008). These were released through Earache Records, with the exception of the latest album, which was released through Berserker Industries. During the early part of their career as a live act, band members were identified only as The Vocalist, The Guitarist, The Bassist and The Drummer, distinguishable on stage only by the masks they wore. However, the group has since abandoned this device.
A DVD documentary, The Principles and Practices of The Berzerker (2004), includes several hours of live concert footage, as well as the first public images of the band members without their masks.
Most of the band's music videos have been banned from broadcast for reasons such as the possible epileptic fit-inducing imagery contained in the video "Forever", and the horrific imagery of "Reality". The latter features graphic images of cadavers and body parts, along with appearances from the band themselves.
Years active: 1995-2010
The Principles and Practices of Embalming
The Berzerker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The principles and practice of embalming
Examination of all the head and before the incision
Cavities might allow
Blood to escape through the veins causing change
To the original condition of the brain
the scalp flaps and in line with the skull
a double V shaped, cut is then made
by sawing through, the bones of the skull
Open the skull
Dura is spilt
The brain is removed
For examination
By cutting it loose
With a long bladed knife
Tightly ligate
The ends of the veins
Drill a small hole
Through the back of the skull
Puncture the scalp
Insert through this hole
A section of tubing
To be used as a drain
Hold this in place
With a safety pin inside the
Since it is physically imposible
To prevent all leakage in to the skull
We have developed a procedure which eliminate problems
If offers the hope that, what was required to fix the head is gone
There's no frustration to show our work once it's strengthened
Drill and wire the calvarium to the skull on both sides
Twist the wires tightly so the skull will be unable to slip
No autopsy may be made unless authority has been secured
Coroner may order an autopsy to seek cause of death
Or if the causeof his death is not yet apparent
An incision, is first made through
The scalp flaps and in line with the skull
A double V shaped, cut is then made
By sawing through, the bones of the skull
The Berzerker's song "The Principles and Practices of Embalming" speaks about the technical process of performing a cranial autopsy in detail. The lyrics illustrate the precision and delicacy required in the examination of the head, especially with regard to preventing leakage from the veins that could cause damage to the brain, the removal of which is critical for examination. The song discusses the measures taken to prevent further damage and fix the head in place after an autopsy.
The song's repeated references to the procedures used to drill, cut, wire, and twist the skull and scalp reflect the focus of the lyrics on the technical aspects of autopsy and embalming. The song's lyrics may have been inspired by The Berzerker's interest in the macabre or an expression of a fascination with the complexities and intricacies of human anatomy.
Line by Line Meaning
Wanted to be the first technician on a cranial autopsy
Desiring to be the first specialist allowed to perform a medical examination of the brain
The principles and practice of embalming
The methodology and techniques used in preserving the human body post-mortem
Examination of all the head and before the incision
Inspecting the entire head region before the surgical procedure starts
Cavities might allow
Hollow spaces in the skull can potentially enable
Blood to escape through the veins causing change
Blood may escape through veins which could result in alteration
To the original condition of the brain
Of the brain's initial state
An incision, is first made through
Initially, an opening is made by cutting through
the scalp flaps and in line with the skull
The skin covering the skull is dissected according to the contour of the skull
a double V shaped, cut is then made
A pair of angled cuts in the shape of a 'V', are then created
by sawing through, the bones of the skull
By using a saw to cut through the bones of the skull
Open the skull
Unseal the cranium
Dura is spilt
The meninges layer is intentionally divided
The brain is removed
The cranial tissue is taken out
For examination
To analyze it
By cutting it loose
By carefully severing it from the body
With a long bladed knife
Using a knife with a long, sharp edge
Tightly ligate
Securely bind together
The ends of the veins
The terminal points of the blood vessels
Drill a small hole
Create a tiny aperture
Through the back of the skull
At the occipital section of the cranium
Puncture the scalp
Pierce through the skin of the skull
Insert through this hole
Place through this opening
A section of tubing
A length of a cylindrical conduit
To be used as a drain
This will act as a conduit to allow fluid to drain out
Hold this in place
Secure this conduit in a fixed position
With a safety pin inside the
By keeping a metal fastener within the tubing
Since it is physically imposible
Because it's not feasible
To prevent all leakage in to the skull
To completely avoid any leakage into the cranium
We have developed a procedure which eliminate problems
Scientists have devised an approach which mitigates issues
If offers the hope that, what was required to fix the head is gone
This provides the possibility of restoring the head to its healthy state.
There's no frustration to show our work once it's strengthened
We can exhibit our work with confidence once the process has been reinforced.
Drill and wire the calvarium to the skull on both sides
To connect and empower the bony structure of the skull, drilling and wiring should be performed on both sides
Twist the wires tightly so the skull will be unable to slip
The wires need to be twisted securely to ensure the skull does not slip from its position
No autopsy may be made unless authority has been secured
An examination of the body cannot be conducted unless the required legal authorization has been obtained
Coroner may order an autopsy to seek cause of death
The legal official tasked with investigating sudden and unexpected deaths may decree an autopsy to determine the factor leading to death
Or if the causeof his death is not yet apparent
Alternatively, it might be necessary to perform an autopsy if the reason for an individual's demise is unknown
Contributed by Sadie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.