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)
The Last Goodbye
Velvet Acid Christ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a ghost who forgot his way to haunt the living
Features mourn, the fog enlightened, to stay out of grey
You'll forget my name, you, you'll forget my name in time
Out of life
Out of time
Out of love
And you break and you crawl and it slips away like day
In your eyes while you die in this last goodbye again
And you break and you fall and it slips away like rain
In your eyes this time you lied to me again
Rust on the cross and the maggots eat the skin
Puke again like a ghost hallucinates so clever
All that's lost, all that rains
All the things that remain,
So vein,
Please forget,
Please please forget my name
Out of time
Out of life
And you break and you fall and it slips away like rain
In your eyes this time you lied to me again
In this last goodbye
In this last goodbye
The lyrics of Velvet Acid Christ's "The Last Goodbye" speak to the idea of a person who has experienced abandonment, isolation and loss. The song is a dark discussion of death and dying and how it can be painful, both physically and emotionally. The first line reads "Died on a cross and the hatchets tore his skin", suggesting the image of crucifixion and the physical torture that comes with it. The second line states "Like a ghost who forgot his way to haunt the living," further emphasizing the idea of being detached from life.
The lyrics then speak of being out of life, time and love, which could be interpreted as emotions that the singer has lost or things that they never had in the first place. The repetition of "Out of" emphasizes the feeling of emptiness that the singer feels. In the chorus, the lyrics suggest the idea of someone breaking down and slipping away, both physically and emotionally. The repeated phrase "In this last goodbye" almost hints at the idea of suicide.
The song concludes with the singer begging others to forget his name in what seems like an attempt to be freed from the ties he has to life. Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the struggle of dealing with death and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Died on a cross and the hatchets tore his skin
The person being described died a painful, violent death that left them with wounds reminiscent of crucifixion and mutilation.
Like a ghost who forgot his way to haunt the living
The person's presence feels haunting, but out of place and unfocused, as if they are lost and not fully present in the living world.
Features mourn, the fog enlightened, to stay out of grey
There is a mournful quality to the person's appearance or demeanor, and they are surrounded by fog that seems to keep them separate from the rest of the world, preventing them from blending in.
You'll forget my name, you, you'll forget my name in time
The person is resigning themselves to being forgotten, acknowledging that their legacy will not last and their name will eventually fade into obscurity.
Out of life
The person has died or is dying and is no longer able to experience the joys or sorrows of life.
Out of time
The person's time has run out and they can no longer do anything to change their fate or the events around them.
Out of love
The person is devoid of love, either because it has been taken away or they are simply incapable of feeling it.
Out of my mind
The person is losing their grip on reality and experiencing a surreal, distorted version of the world around them.
And you break and you crawl and it slips away like day
The person being addressed is struggling to hold onto something, but it keeps slipping away like daylight turning into night.
In your eyes while you die in this last goodbye again
The person being addressed is watching the other person die and experiencing the pain and sadness of saying goodbye once again.
And you break and you fall and it slips away like rain
The person being addressed is once again struggling to hold onto something that is slipping away, this time with a sense of sadness and loss like rain falling from the sky.
In your eyes this time you lied to me again
The person being addressed is feeling betrayed and hurt by the other person's actions or words.
Rust on the cross and the maggots eat the skin
The corpse is decaying and being consumed by nature, with rust and maggots being just a few of the signs of this process.
Puke again like a ghost hallucinates so clever
The person speaking is experiencing a sense of disbelief or nausea at the sight of the decaying corpse, which seems almost like a clever trick or hallucination.
All that's lost, all that rains
Everything that has been lost or taken away, including tears or other symbols of sadness and grief.
All the things that remain,
Despite everything that has been lost or taken away, there are still some things that remain or endure.
So vein,
The artist is acknowledging that their own obsession or fixation on something may be selfish or foolish.
Please forget,
The singer is begging the other person to forget about them and move on with their life.
Please please forget my name
The singer is pleading with the other person to forget about them completely, including their name and any memory of their existence.
In this last goodbye
The artist is saying goodbye for the last time, acknowledging that this may be the final parting between them and the other person.
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@valeriyvnv4484
Died on a cross and the hatchets tore his skin
Like a ghost who forgot his way to haunt the living
Features mourn, the fog enlightened, to stay out of grey
You'll forget my name, you, you'll forget my name in time
Out of life
Out of time
Out of love
Out of my mind
And you break and you crawl and it slips away like day
In your eyes while you die in this last goodbye again
And you break and you fall and it slips away like rain
In your eyes this time you lied to me again
Rust on the cross and the maggots eat the skin
Puke again like a ghost hallucinates so clever
All that's lost, all that rains
All the things that remain,
So vein,
Please forget,
Please please forget my name
Out of time
Out of life
And you break and you fall and it slips away like rain
In your eyes this time you lied to me again
In this last goodbye
In this last goodbye
@BEAKER6868
when it comes to favorite VAC songs, this ranks very high.
@valeriyvnv4484
Died on a cross and the hatchets tore his skin
Like a ghost who forgot his way to haunt the living
Features mourn, the fog enlightened, to stay out of grey
You'll forget my name, you, you'll forget my name in time
Out of life
Out of time
Out of love
Out of my mind
And you break and you crawl and it slips away like day
In your eyes while you die in this last goodbye again
And you break and you fall and it slips away like rain
In your eyes this time you lied to me again
Rust on the cross and the maggots eat the skin
Puke again like a ghost hallucinates so clever
All that's lost, all that rains
All the things that remain,
So vein,
Please forget,
Please please forget my name
Out of time
Out of life
And you break and you fall and it slips away like rain
In your eyes this time you lied to me again
In this last goodbye
In this last goodbye
@user-es8tt4nr2z
I want this to be played at my funeral
@orlandolopezfranco9659
Me too
@dameblackeyed9846
For one single more time Bryan Erickson hypnotized me with his music..as he always does with every album.
amazing song!
@00IIIIIIIII00
30 Years, and I want more VAC!
@jinagibson6818
Bobobobi Bobobobo me too! Making my rounds and stressing. Fuck everything right!
@guardiananger1641
Last year they have released "Ora Oblivionis" if you've missed it. And its amazing.
@00IIIIIIIII00
@@guardiananger1641 Oh I didn't miss it, just hope it never ends.
@King_Thulsa_Doom
...Has it really been that long?