Early years
The Casualties were formed in 1990, with original members Jorge Herrera (vocals) Hank (guitar), Colin Wolf (vocals), Mark Yoshitomi (bass) and Yureesh Hooker (drums). The members aimed to return to what they viewed as the "golden era" of street punk, embodied by bands such as The Exploited and Charged GBH which they believed had disappeared by 1985.[3] During the early years, the lineup was fluid, with several changes. That first year, Colin stepped out for several months to finish his education while Rachel, TheRivits' singer, took his place.[3]
In 1991, Hank left the band, to be replaced by Fred (last name unknown) on guitar. Colin, Jorge, Yureesh, Hank and Mark put together a demo, titled Political Sin, for the Benefit for Beer compilation.[4] After making this recording, Fred left to go to school and Steve, from Distraught, fills in for a short time, until Fred returns to the band full-time. The 4 song EP, 40 Oz. Casualty was recorded at the end of 1991 and self-released.[3] 1992 saw the band touring and building up a fan base in NYC. In 1993, Mark and Fred left the band and were replaced by Mike (last name unknown) on bass and Jake Kolatis on the guitar, followed by the departure of Yureesh and Colin in 1994, to be replaced on drums by Shawn, while the band went down to a single vocalist.[3][4] 1994 sees the recording of the 4 song EP, Drinking Is Our Way Of Life, however it would not be released. The songs would later appear on the Casualties "early years 1990-1995" CD in 1999.[4] In 1995, the band's second release, the 4 track A Fuckin' Way Of Life E.P. was released on Eyeball Records. After recording A Fuckin' Way of Life, Shawn left the band, and Marc Eggers (nicknamed Meggers) of the Rivits became the regular drummer. The line-up of Jorge, Jake, Mike and Meggers continued until 1997.
In 1996 the Casualties became the first American band to appear at the "Holidays in the Sun" Festival in London. 1997 saw the release of the band's debut album, For the Pun is released on Tribal War Records, and the band embarks on its first American tour with The Varukers. Mike (the bassist) left the band in 1998, to be replaced with Johnny Rosado, from The Krays.[4][5] They released their second LP that year, Underground Army, and begin a world tour. Jon leaves the band during the European leg of the tour, to be temporarily replaced by Dave Punk Core.
Present lineup
After the world tour, Dave would be replaced by Rick Lopez from the band, Manix. The line-up was now solidified for the band and would continue to the present day.[6] The end of the millennium, 1999, saw the band produce a compilation album, Early Years 1990-1995, which included tracks which appeared on earlier ED's, as well as never before released songs, such as the four songs they had recorded on the never released EP Drinking is Our Way of Life back in 1994.
The 2000s have seen the band continue to tour[3][6] and produce albums (an album list can be seen below). They have toured with several other bands, such as The Exploited, GBH, Cockney Rejects, Slaughter & the Dogs,[4] and the English Dogs.[6] In December 2009, The Casualties toured alongside Hatebreed, The Acacia Strain, Crowbar, and Thy Will Be Done as part of the Stillborn Fest.[3] In the summer of 2012, The Casualties co-headlined the Tonight We Unite tour along with Nekromantix, where they played For The Punx in its entirety, the first time they had played the album through since its release in 1997.[3] Later that year, The Casualties released their new album titled Resistance through Season of Mist.[7][8] In 2013, The Casualties played at the largest Punk Rock festival in the world,[9] the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, England, where they shared the stage with The Exploited, Special Duties, Chron Gen and Anti-Establishment, and others
Death Toll
The Casualties Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a crusade of men
killing is wrong - hate and war
for the church its ok
death toll - on the rise
no one cares, no one cares
torture and knifed - who will be next?
worked to death by the ones you respect
hate and death and war
attack on demorcracy - hate and war
its an invasion
we take a country - hate and war
its liberation
death toll - on the rise
no one cares, no one cares
shot and beaten is the way of man
torture and knifed - who will be next?
worked to death by the ones you respect
hate and death and war
buried alive - hate and war
burned and hanged
bombed and starved - hate and war
dead and unarmed
death toll - on the rise
no one cares, no one cares
shot and beaten is the way of man
torture and knifed - who will be next?
worked to death by the ones you respect
hate and death and war
death toll - on the rise
no one cares, no one cares
The lyrics of The Casualties's song "Death Toll" describe the devastating effects of war and violence on innocent people. The first stanza refers to the religious justifications for war, with the church using the notion of faith in God to justify violence and killing. The singer raises the contradiction between religious morality, which preaches that killing is wrong, and the religious justification for war. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "death toll on the rise, no one cares," reflects the apathy and indifference of people towards the devastating effects of war. The second stanza describes the invasion and occupation of a country, with the singer again pointing out the misleading language used by politicians to justify war. The last stanza describes the countless ways in which people are killed during wars, from being shot and beaten to being starved and bombed.
Line by Line Meaning
in god they believe - hate and war
Religious beliefs are often manipulated as a reason for violent conflicts, despite the fact that this goes against the basic principles of most faiths. Hate and war remain prevalent, often at the expense of innocent human lives.
a crusade of men
Male-dominated societies often fuel the fires of war, with men leading violent campaigns against others who are deemed different or threatening.
killing is wrong - hate and war
Taking another person's life is typically considered a moral wrong in most societies, yet this principle is often ignored in times of war and conflict. Hate and war continue to result in death and destruction.
for the church its ok
In many historical instances, the church has endorsed or even encouraged violent acts in the name of religion, despite the conflicts this has caused. This highlights the danger of mixing religious beliefs with acts of aggression.
death toll - on the rise
The number of people who are dying as a result of war and other forms of violence is increasing, indicating that current approaches to resolving conflict are not working, and that more needs to be done to promote peace and stability.
no one cares, no one cares
Despite the suffering and loss of life caused by war and other forms of violence, many in society seem to be apathetic to this problem, showing little concern for the well-being of others.
shot and beaten is the way of man
Physical violence remains a common method of resolving conflicts, perpetuated by male-dominated societies and norms that encourage aggressive behavior as a means of resolving disputes.
torture and knifed - who will be next?
Violence is unpredictable, and can strike at any time, leaving innocent people vulnerable to acts of aggression and abuse. The constant threat of violence creates a sense of constant uncertainty and fear.
worked to death by the ones you respect
Those who are supposed to be protecting and caring for others sometimes become the very people who mistreat and exploit them, exploiting power differentials for personal gain rather than using it for the benefit of all.
hate and death and war
The ongoing prevalence of violent conflict reveals the destructive nature of hate, as well as the often fatal consequences of violence when it becomes a preferred method of resolving disputes.
attack on democracy - hate and war
Democracies are often perceived as a threat by those who benefit from authoritarian rule, leading to violent attacks on those who seek to promote democracy and freedom for all.
its an invasion
The act of forcibly entering and occupying a foreign land is seen as an act of aggression that can have significant negative consequences for both the invaded and the invader.
we take a country - hate and war
The idea of taking a country by force suggests a lack of respect for the sovereignty of others, and the belief that might makes right. This mentality can fuel ongoing conflict and strife.
buried alive - hate and war
Some of the most heinous forms of violence involve intentionally causing prolonged and agonizing pain and suffering, including burying someone alive or other forms of torture.
burned and hanged
Methods of inflicting physical harm can take many forms, such as burning someone alive or hanging them as a means of punishment or retribution.
bombed and starved - hate and war
Bombing and starvation are painful and frightening methods of warfare that cause immense suffering and loss of life, with long-lasting effects on the victims and their families.
dead and unarmed
The killing of innocent people who pose no threat represents one of the gravest offenses against human dignity, reflecting a willingness to use violence against even the most vulnerable members of society.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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jim bradley
That's what i call a PUNK/HARDCORE song!!!!!
Ken Oath
great song classic ripping h/c crank it.