Current Members:
Bryan Erickson (a.k.a. Hexfix93, Disease Factory) - lead vocals, composition, guitar, lyrics, mixing, production, various
Early projects, early changes, and first albums (1990–1995)
In the early 1990s, Erickson and Grigory, both residents of Colorado, brought together their shared interest in creating music to record a series of demos. With the addition of Gary Slaughter and Chris Workman, the group attempted several bands, including Disease Disco Factory, a parody of then-popular Dance group C+C Music Factory. Following a turbulent period for Erickson and Slaughter, Workman left the group. Slaughter and Erickson experimented with two new side-projects, Cyber Christ and Vortex. Cyber Christ explored a harsh and melancholy sound that was a sharp contrast to the group's other projects. When Erickson discovered that the term "Cyber Christ" had been used in the 1992 film The Lawnmower Man, he renamed the band Velvet Acid Christ in honor of a bad acid trip. The Vortex project was merged into Velvet Acid Christ to form one body of work.
In 1994, Workman returned to assist with the band's self-produced gothic-styled demo tape, Fate. Given encouraging response from friends, the band followed up with other self-produced albums, 1994's Pestilence, a dance-oriented album, and 1995's Neuralblastoma, a harder-sounding album.
Erickson, along with friends and minor contributors Steve Bird and Dan Olson, started the brief-lived record label Electro Death Trip (EDT) Records to better promote these recordings. In 1995, the three began distributing hand-made CD copies of Fate, Pestilence, and Neuralblastoma for resale in local music shops.
Label interest, touring, and a troubled rise (1996–2000)
Slaughter and Workman temporarily left the band during the first half of 1996 as Erickson continued the project alone, handing out copies of Velvet Acid Christ's recordings to industry representatives, including musician Bill Leeb of industrial pioneer Front Line Assembly. Leeb passed the music to Thorsten Stroht, a media promoter with European label Off-Beat Records. Off-Beat A&R negotiated a deal with the band.
For their first Off-Beat release, the group submitted 1996's Church of Acid, a compilation of selected tracks from Velvet Acid Christ's first three albums with an additional two new tracks, Disflux and Futile. Church of Acid was well received in Europe, and Futile became a regularly played track in many nightclubs across the continent. In 1997, United States label Pendragon Records released Church of Acid in America, though the two new tracks were removed due to a lack of trademark clearance for television samples used in the songs.
The band's next album, Calling Ov the Dead, was rejected by Off-Beat for not sounding edgy enough, prompting Slaughter's permanent departure. With the assistance of Bird and Olson, the band addressed the label's concerns and released Calling Ov the Dead in late 1997, with American distribution following through Pendragon in 1998. In the process, Erickson had accumulated a substantial financial debt.
With a line-up consisting of Erickson, Stroht and German musician Ingo Beitz, the band toured Europe in 1998 with Off-Beat label-mate Suicide Commando, which attracted the attention of Metropolis Records, the largest industrial label in United States. The parent label of Pendragon, Metropolis distributed the album Neuralblastoma, as a partnership that would endure.
Velvet Acid Christ spent the majority of 1999 in the studio, first collaborating with Germany's Funker Vogt on a remix EP entitled Velvet Acid Christ Vs Funker Vogt: The Remix Assault, then shifting to Velvet Acid Christ's next full-length recording, Fun With Knives. With Workman an occasional contributor, Erickson sought production assistance on Fun With Knives from the bands Luxt and 4th New Army. Fun with Knives, released by Metropolis and new Off-Beat sub-label dependent, became the band's best-selling album. Sales were propelled by the singles Decypher and Fun with Drugs, and by the track Slut, which featured vocals from Luxt's Anna Christine.
In spite of the success of the band, stress had led Erickson into depression and increased drug abuse, which channeled into the creation of the band's next album, Twisted Thought Generator. Simultaneously, the band toured Europe with industrial acts Project X and Stromkern and toured the United States and Canada with bands Din_Fiv and Haujobb. The line-up of the band during this period was unstable. Workman, citing a conversion to Christianity, resigned from the band with a request that his name be retracted from all previous albums. The first leg of the European tour consisted of Erickson, Bird and Stroht; the second leg, Erickson and Olson. The North American tour was performed by Erickson, Stroht and drummer Paul Lipman. With various contributors, Erickson completed Twisted Thought Generator. Due to lingering disputes, he withdrew the band from Dependent Records and submitted the album to Metropolis.
A change of pace, new early material, and beyond (2001– present)
Erickson placed Velvet Acid Christ on a short hiatus in 2001, as he abandoned his dependence on drugs in favour of exercise and a vegan raw foodist diet. Newly clean, Erickson created the 2003 album Hex Angel: Utopia/Dystopia. Though critical response was mixed, Hex Angel: Utopia/Dystopia ranked #1 on Germany's Deutsche Alternative Charts (DAC) for four weeks after its release, and the album's single Pretty Toy reached #18 on the Billboard Alternative Chart during the same year. The album also marked the band's short-lived return to Dependent Records.
Erickson spent 2004 releasing and reissuing some of Velvet Acid Christ's earliest material. With the four-volume compilation series Between the Eyes, the band published a collection of its singles and B-sides, then followed with subsequent re-releases of Fate (Vol. 2), Pestilence (Vol. 3), and Neuralblastoma (Vol. 4). The band also offered free MP3 downloads of Dimension 8 and Oblivion Interface on its website until early 2005. Dimension 8, which had been available as a hidden bonus on Twisted Thought Generator, and Oblivion Interface (informally known as Between the Eyes, Vol. 5) provided fans with previously unheard work from the Cyber Christ-Vortex era of 1991–1994.
In 2005, Erickson collaborated with guitarist Todd Loomis on a new album, Lust for Blood, which was released on September 26, 2006. With Lust for Blood, the crew labored intensively to create a new overall sound while maintaining the band's original characteristics. Following its release, Lust for Blood ranked at the top of Germany's DAC for four weeks; the album's single release, Wound, ranked on the DAC's singles chart for eight weeks and held the #1 position for four weeks.
In 2009, Erickson began to create the next LP with minimal input from Loomis this time when he was working on his project The Twilight Garden. The result was The Art of Breaking Apart, released October 27, 2009. This LP was a tribute to bands like Current 93 and Death in June and brought VAC many new fans while making the others angry at the new direction of the music.
In 2010–2011, Bryan Erickson teamed up with William Anderson of Louisiana. William did a ton of sampling, and Bryan made a bunch of VAC B-sides that turned into Toxic Coma tracks. The project had a revolving door of members, again Bryan being the main constant. They released a LP entitled Satan Rising under Toxic Coma on Metropolis Records. It fused the techno sound of Fun With Knives and the brutal black humor of Toxic Coma. Erickson then began to write more music for future VAC LPs.
In October 2012, Velvet Acid Christ released their tenth LP entitled Maldire. The release marked a return to the dark electronic sound. Erickson formed a live band and toured extensively (2012-2014) to support the album. The latest album entitled Subconscious Landscapes was released October 28, 2014. A remastered Greatest Hits compilation was released by Metropolis Records on May 6, 2016.
Discography:
Studio Albums
1994 - Fate
1994 - Pestilence
1995 - Neuralblastoma
1997 - Calling Ov the Dead
1999 - Fun With Knives
2000 - Twisted Thought Generator
2003 - Hex Angel (Utopia/Dystopia)
2006 - Lust for Blood
2009 - The Art of Breaking Apart
2012 - Maldire
2014 - Subconscious Landscapes
Compilations / Demos / EPs / Singles
1992 - Oblivion Interface (demo re-released in 2004)
1993 - Dimension 8 (demo re-released in 2000)
1996 - Church of Acid (1994-1995 compilation)
1998 - Neuralblastoma (1994-1995 compilation)
1999 - Fun With Razors (remix EP)
1999 - Decipher (maxi-single)
1999 - Fun With Drugs (maxi-single)
1999 - The Remix Wars: Strike 4: Funker Vogt vs. Velvet Acid Christ (remix EP)
2001 - Dial 8 (maxi-single)
2003 - Pretty Toy (maxi-single)
2004 - Between the Eyes Vol. 1 (singles compilation)
2004 - Between the Eyes Vol. 2 (re-release of Fate)
2004 - Between the Eyes Vol. 3 (re-release of Pestilence)
2004 - Between the Eyes Vol. 4 (re-release of Neuroblastoma)
2006 - Wound (maxi-single)
2009 - Caustic Disco (maxi-single)
2016 - Greatest Hits (remastered compilation)
Fried
Velvet Acid Christ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
two questions,
she's lying again,
he stares at the floor begging for more,
how does illusion chain fact and fiction,
bends them together, dreams again,
holding on to a thread,
a shred of reality, reality.
we work, broken bones on shredded glass,
a white silhouette, dance on the edge of his dream,
wire the edge well done,
and time doesn't matter much anymore,
she's climbing the walls in her desperate plea
but no one hears the screams of the lie
while she's falling from the sky,
she's crying in her state and the tears rolled down her face.
shot up an answer into her veins,
inhaling chemicals,
she doesn't know their names,
doesn't ask them why,
cause she's in bliss and pain and agony and ignorance,
play this role deeply,
she forgets and laughs again,
throws her problems all away,
it doesn't matter now she's on the floor,
and everything,
blood, doesn't apply, hallucinating,
holding on to vows she once kept,
alone in love or anger,
looking out at the world,
she stands and thought no other,
and out the window once again.
see the cars driving by,
loosing vapors in the sun,
doesn't even see anything,
oh oh into oblivion she stares at me
asks me questions about things i'd never know in a thousand years.
you look so far,
running away,
away away away away from here,
i see lights in the northern sky,
i see death in the pockets of a man filthy rich with control, power,
doesn't care about anybody,
oh you sobbing young souls,
laughing again at the world, look on, on on on on on.
see them laughing now,
they don't even care anymore, they don't care,
she doesn't care,
neither do you,
staring at the floor and out the window,
see the sky its turning into something,
six hours later she falls batting the wall oh again again again again,
again and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again.
she's holding on by a thread,
she's holding on by thread,
he's holding on by a thread.
don't believe, don't believe lies forever.
The lyrics of Velvet Acid Christ's song "Fried" delve into the themes of addiction, escapism, and the blurring of reality and illusion. The song seems to paint a picture of individuals who are struggling to cope with the difficulties and hardships of their lives by turning to drugs and other forms of escapism. The lyrics suggest that their attempts to escape their problems only serve to make things worse, leading them further away from reality.
The song opens with the lines "Answers to why, two questions, she's lying again, he stares at the floor begging for more." These lines suggest that the individuals in question are dealing with some form of emotional pain, seeking answers and solutions to their problems. However, they are stuck in a cyclical pattern of lies, drugs, and pain, unable to break free.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "she's holding on by a thread" several times, emphasizing the fragility and instability of the individuals' mental states. The song suggests that their attempts to escape their problems only serve to make them feel more isolated and alone, as they lose touch with reality and the people around them.
Overall, "Fried" is a bleak, haunting song that offers a sobering look at the consequences of addiction and escapism. It portrays individuals who are struggling to cope with their pain and hardships, but are ultimately only making things worse for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Answers to why,
Questioning the motives and reasons behind the current situation.
two questions,
Further emphasizing the importance of understanding the current situation.
she's lying again,
Recognizing a pattern of deceit from a specific individual.
he stares at the floor begging for more,
Feeling desperate and helpless, hoping for a resolution or change in the situation.
how does illusion chain fact and fiction,
Wondering how reality and imagination can blend together and affect one's perception of the truth.
bends them together, dreams again,
Recognizing the power of the mind to create alternate realities and escape from one's current situation.
holding on to a thread,
Grasping onto any semblance of reality or hope for the future.
a shred of reality, reality.
Acknowledging the harsh truth of the situation and clinging to it for stability.
we work, broken bones on shredded glass,
Describing the difficulty and danger of the current situation, likely involving physical labor or abuse.
a white silhouette, dance on the edge of his dream,
Almost surreal imagery, perhaps describing a fleeting moment of peace or a hopeful dream for the future.
wire the edge well done,
Solidifying or securing something in place, likely in a hasty or desperate manner.
and time doesn't matter much anymore,
The passage of time loses its significance when one is constantly struggling to survive.
she's climbing the walls in her desperate plea
Expressing extreme anxiety or desperation in trying to escape or improve the current situation.
but no one hears the screams of the lie
Feeling unheard or invalidated by others, especially about the dishonesty of a specific individual.
while she's falling from the sky,
Possibly describing a plummeting mental or emotional state, feeling out of control.
she's crying in her state and the tears rolled down her face.
Raw emotion and grief, expressing vulnerability and pain.
shot up an answer into her veins,
Desperately seeking a solution or escape, possibly through drug use.
inhaling chemicals,
Continuing the theme of drug use to cope with the situation.
she doesn't know their names,
Ignoring the potential dangers or consequences of the drugs being used.
doesn't ask them why,
Continuing the theme of ignorance and avoidance of reality and consequences.
cause she's in bliss and pain and agony and ignorance,
Describing the complex and conflicting emotions that come with substance abuse and escapism.
play this role deeply,
Committing fully to the escape from reality and the persona being created to cope with it.
she forgets and laughs again,
Finding brief moments of solace or pleasure in the temporary reprieve from reality.
throws her problems all away,
Continuing the theme of avoidance and escapism.
it doesn't matter now she's on the floor,
Succumbing to the effects of the drugs, possibly leading to a physical collapse.
and everything,
The sense of everything becoming blurred and distant, disconnected from reality.
blood, doesn't apply, hallucinating,
Further illustrating the detachment from reality and the consequences of drug use.
holding on to vows she once kept,
Remembering past commitments, potentially hinting at a deeper personal struggle or responsibility.
alone in love or anger,
Feeling isolated and experiencing powerful emotions that are difficult to process or manage.
looking out at the world,
Viewing the world from a disconnected or detached perspective, perhaps due to the influence of drugs.
she stands and thought no other,
Being confident in her choices, even if they are self-destructive or damaging to others.
and out the window once again.
Continuing the theme of disconnection and detachment from reality.
see the cars driving by,
Noticing the world around her, but not feeling connected to it.
loosing vapors in the sun,
Almost dream-like imagery, suggesting a sense of surrealism or dissociation.
into oblivion she stares at me
Continuing the theme of detachment and disconnection from reality and others.
asks me questions about things i'd never know in a thousand years.
Feeling alienated and disconnected from others, finding it difficult to relate to them.
you look so far,
Seeing others as distant or separate from oneself.
running away,
Desiring to escape from the current situation or from reality itself.
see lights in the northern sky,
Describing a fleeting moment of hope or beauty, possibly as a result of drug use or escapism.
i see death in the pockets of a man filthy rich with control, power,
Commenting on the corrupt nature of power and the danger it poses to those without it.
doesn't care about anybody,
Continuing the theme of corruption and disregard for the well-being of others.
oh you sobbing young souls,
Potentially referring to fellow victims of the situation or other young people navigating difficult circumstances.
laughing again at the world, look on, on on on on on.
Finding small moments of humor or humanity in an otherwise bleak or harsh reality.
see them laughing now,
Continuing the theme of recognizing small moments of joy or positivity in difficult situations.
they don't even care anymore, they don't care,
Feeling ignored or invalidated by others, possibly as a result of the severity of the situation.
she doesn't care,
Potentially referring to the artist's own apathy or exhaustion with the situation.
neither do you,
Feeling disconnected from others and the world at large, possibly as a result of the situation or drug use.
staring at the floor and out the window,
Continuing the theme of detachment and disconnection from reality and others.
see the sky its turning into something,
Perceiving changes in the world or in oneself, possibly a result of drug use or exhaustion.
six hours later she falls batting the wall oh again again again again, again and again, and again, and again, and again, and again.
Potentially describing a physical or emotional 'fall', possibly after a drug-induced high or a mental breakdown.
she's holding on by a thread,
Continuing the theme of desperately clinging to stability or hope.
she's holding on by thread,
Reiterating the precariousness of the situation and the artist's tenuous grasp on reality or hope.
he's holding on by a thread.
Expanding the theme of uncertain stability or hope to other characters.
don't believe, don't believe lies forever.
Encouraging skepticism and the pursuit of truth and reality, rejecting escapism and denial.
Contributed by Samantha Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Julian Cennamo
on Pain
This is a song about coping with failed relationships and a broken home. The lyricist has been triggered by a life event- most likely a breakup. The event is particularly tragic because it brings back haunting memories of fear and abandonment experienced in childhood.