1) Heavy Metal band from B… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 5 bands called Trial:
1) Heavy Metal band from Belgium, formed in 1982. They were active until 1987. Pretty rare but truly West-Euro Metal in its most pure and gloriously blackened form. They released one demo and one EP.
In 1986 they signed with Belgium's Whiplash Records, with plans to release a full-length album in the fall of that year. At a studio in Holland, they recorded everything except for the vocals, when they were informed that the record label had gone bankrupt, and that they would have to pay for the studio time up to that point themselves in order to get their instruments back. Though they received the instrumental masters of the recording from these sessions, they have since been lost. Some of the songs from this session were, "Devil's Court" and "The Innocent." Vocalist Pat Savage quit in late 1986, and the band continued to rehearse until July 1987. There were 4 rehearsal songs from '87 that were put on YouTube for streaming, but have since been taken down.
2) Hardcore band from Seattle, Washington, United States. Since forming in 1994 the band has worked desperately to communicate their infusion of activism, emotion, anger and intensity in a world where people are more comfortable remaining sedate. Challenging that attitude, Trial has never given up, all the while fueled by a relentless desire to play hardcore music which is charged with political and personal fury.
3) A peace punk / post-punk band from San Francisco, featuring Cyrnai (ex-Treason/Sleeping Dogs/State of Mind). They released one 7" ("Inborn System") and one LP entitled "Moments of Collapse" in 1986.
4) A german EBM band from Hannover active since 1991.
5) A Swedish heavy metal band. They released their first album "The Primordial Temple" in 2012.
Are These Our Lives?
Trial Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crushed beneath the feet of gods who
Reap what we have sown
As the industrial neo-fascists slash and burn through flesh
Endorse the individual but sacrifice the rest
I want the truth to be told
That we are more than the sum of what we're sold
Social darwnist manipulation
Of all but the hegemon while we as one
Are sacrificed on the alter
In the age of the refugee this era of death for profit
Ideals alone will minimize the fringe
Organization can enhance empowerment
Against forced abortions and sterilizations
Clitoridectomy aberrations
Oil addiction inculcation while alternatives face negation
By those who anesthetize the mind
And invest in broken lives
Disorganize overpower exploit and stratify
The distorted promise of a free exchange haunts us through
The debts we pay to the alliances which turn me against
Those around me
And against myself
Generation after generation enduring apocalyptic visions
In individual private hells with bodies weak
And minds distorted with nothing left to sell
While the masters of the new fuedal age
Drink to satisfy an unquenchable thirst
Gulping our blood our sweat and spit back lies
Are these our lives?
The lyrics of Trial's song Are These Our Lives? are a scathing critique on the current state of society, particularly the capitalist system and its impact on individuals and marginalized groups. The opening lines "Under the ruins of a paradise never to be known, Crushed beneath the feet of gods who reap what we have sown" speaks to the destruction of our environment and the exploitation of resources by those in power. The chorus "Are these our lives?" serves as a rhetorical question, asking the listener to reflect on the current state of the world and whether we are satisfied with the current state of affairs.
Throughout the song, the lyrics touch on a range of issues, from social Darwinist manipulation, forced sterilization and abortions, oil addiction and alternatives to it, to the distorted promise of a free exchange that haunts us through the debts we pay to alliances. The verse "In the age of the refugee this era of death for profit, ideals alone will minimize the fringe, organization can enhance empowerment" is a nod to the ongoing refugee crisis around the world and the need for collective action and organization to fight against systemic oppression.
The final lines of the song "While the masters of the new feudal age, Drink to satisfy an unquenchable thirst, Gulping our blood our sweat and spit back lies, Are these our lives?" speaks to the exploitation of the working class by those in power and their unquenchable thirst for profit, at the cost of the lives and wellbeing of ordinary people.
Line by Line Meaning
Under the ruins of a paradise never to be known
Beneath the destruction of what was supposed to be a perfect world
Crushed beneath the feet of gods who
Trampled on by those in power
Reap what we have sown
Facing the consequences of our actions
As the industrial neo-fascists slash and burn through flesh
The ruling elite destroy lives in the pursuit of profit
Endorse the individual but sacrifice the rest
Encourage individualism while disregarding the well-being of the collective
I want the truth to be told
Desire for honesty and transparency
That we are more than the sum of what we're sold
We have inherent value beyond what we are sold or marketed as
Social darwnist manipulation
Use of social Darwinism to manipulate and control
Multilateral agreement for the devastation
Collaborative decision to harm and destroy
Of all but the hegemon while we as one
All but the ruling power are harmed while we suffer as a collective
Are sacrificed on the alter
We are sacrificed for the benefit of those in power
In the age of the refugee this era of death for profit
During a time when refugees are common, people profit from others' suffering
Ideals alone will minimize the fringe
Idealistic beliefs alone do not address the marginalized and excluded
Organization can enhance empowerment
Collective action can lead to greater individual power
Against forced abortions and sterilizations
Opposing the practice of coercive birth control methods
Clitoridectomy aberrations
Condemning female genital mutilation
Oil addiction inculcation while alternatives face negation
Promoting fossil fuel use while rejecting alternative energy sources
By those who anesthetize the mind
By those who dull critical thinking and awareness
And invest in broken lives
Profiting from exploitation and harm to others
Disorganize overpower exploit and stratify
Using chaos and power imbalances to exploit and divide
The distorted promise of a free exchange haunts us through
The false idea of a beneficial exchange haunts us in reality
The debts we pay to the alliances which turn me against
We owe loyalty to an alliance that betrays us
Those around me
Those who are close to us
And against myself
Betraying one's own values and well-being
Generation after generation enduring apocalyptic visions
Enduring catastrophes and difficult circumstances for generations
In individual private hells with bodies weak
Suffering in isolation with deteriorating physical health
And minds distorted with nothing left to sell
Mentally and emotionally broken, with nothing valuable to offer
While the masters of the new fuedal age
The ruling power in a new feudalistic society
Drink to satisfy an unquenchable thirst
Greedily consuming resources to the point of excess
Gulping our blood our sweat and spit back lies
Exploiting our labor and resources while feeding us deceit
Are these our lives?
Questioning the state of our existence and the world around us
Contributed by Isabella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Colossal khohler
"Unrestrained"
Take what you feel inside of this room and break away
I'll bring the feeling of this moment when I leave
Envision what life could be
If we move beyond comfort and ability
We'll rot in this tomb until we start to move
No one is handing "change" our way
Facing each day with so much to say
And in the absence of action
Even our screams are worth something
What we want we must create what we risk will be regained
What we'd assume we must forsake what's been destroyed...
What have we done? what do I know?
How far are you willing to go?
Never restricted by who I'm supposed to be
Looking beyond all that I can see
To make this a movement again instead of only a scene
Do you realize what that means?
What we make of this energy is everything
And in the absence of passion
Our screams are worth nothing
What we want we must create
What we risk will be regained
What we'd assume we must forsake
What's been destroyed can be replaced
Too many years spent "screaming for change"
And I see now that what remains
Is the time that I give and the chances I take
In the way that I live and the choices I make
Colossal khohler
"War By Other Means"
Every voice you've silenced and every life you've taken
Recollections from your distant past
The tortured and the dying from a legacy of hatred
Are back to echo in your ears
Screams you thought for sure wouldn't last
Because you can't kill an idea, i will not be ruled...
Because you can't kill an idea, and we will not be ruled...
"Disrupt misdirect isolate and neutralize"
Like the Trudells who burned alive in '79
Now those enemies of the hour are the focus of this moment
For as long as we are here every voice remains alive
Because you can't kill an idea, i will not be ruled...
Because you can't kill an idea, we will not be ruled by fear
I pledge no allegiance to the flag
Of the undeniable mistakes of America
Which to the plutocracy for which it stands
So many nations and their gods have become invisible
With liberty and justice reserved for a precious chosen few
Let our allegiances lie with those betrayed by the facade
For the calm is an illusion...
"The struggle is not over...it assumes new forms"
For no matter what the face no matter what the name
It's still...
War
The laws are silent in times of war
Colossal khohler
"An Awakening"
Are we the dead shuffling faceless
An aimless mass of corpses awaiting a not so distant end
Numb to pleasure numb to pain
Overwhelmed by our surroundings and the traps
We have laid?
To protect innocence from arrogance
We carve this skin of stone
And as the weights of caste and character layer
With the years
We drown at the convergence
Of rivers poisoned by this world
Each moment I let slip by
Every feeling I sacrifice
The emotions which I deny
Drag me down into the depths
Trey73
I'm 43 years old, and have been listening to hardcore since the mid 1980's. Looking back at three decades worth of hardcore, basically since the beginning: I have to say that this is one of the greatest hardcore albums of all time. Lyrically, there are few writers in any genre of heavy alternative music that could produce such powerful, poignant, and yet still somehow poetic lyrics. Greg is a truly nice human being as well. You should watch his documentary, "Flight From Death".
Reid Ellis
+Trey73 I am 46. I have been going to shows and listening to hardcore since 1984. I have seen almost every band I can think of, and I have to agree with you. When I was teenager I knew I would always love this music. It is more than just music. It's a way of life.
Turning Earth
u guys r really showin ur age here....... these young kids dont know whaat they missed
Slleepin
Trey73 I absolutely agree 100% as a 27 years old in hardcore. Amazing record
Trey73
There are still great bands making great music, but it is important to check out the roots bands for younger folk. I remember back around the very early 90's things started to taper off, and back then I was actually concerned that Hardcore was dying off as there weren't that many new bands coming out. In retrospect it sounds dumb now... but I was genuinely concerned that future generations were going to miss out on the most epic, raw, true, diy music that ever existed. To everyone keeping the spirit alive, you have my thanks and respect.
Reid Ellis
+Trey73 I felt exactly the same way in the early 90's. With "Alternative" music, Grunge, and pop punk becoming so popular, I thought it was over. Then bands like Mouthpiece, Ensign, Battery, Ten Yard Fight, etc came along. A whole new batch of bands that played real hardcore.(for the kids, by the kids) It really rejuvenated the scene. Now days I don't worry. It is what it is. No matter what happens there will always be bands that play "hardcore" the way it was, is, and always will be. Kids, learn your history, because it repeats itself. The ideals, the struggle, the beliefs that hardcore music represent will always be relevant. Don't forget your roots and always keep the faith.
Nobody's Perfect NYHC
I don't know how this missed my radar. This record goes HARD!!!
A_War88
I always felt they had no right to go that hard on the drums 🤘🏻
Travis Young
Proud to call Greg Bennick a very dear friend. This album literally was a fucking game changer for me, and for the genre.
Bridget Clifton
The instrumental starts at 32:25. I heard it as a little kid and it still gets stuck in my head weekly. One of the best songs I have ever heard.