One of Zach Hill's most defining characteristics as a drummer is his footwork. Many drummers are surprised when they realize that he only uses one bass drum and a single bass drum pedal when he plays. For example, in the song Imaginary Friends from Hella's Church Gone Wild record, Hill employs his characteristic double-stroke bass drum method throughout much of the song, leading many to believe he is using more than one foot to do so, when he is only using his right foot. Zach Hill's set thus far had had generally very low-tuned tom-toms and floor-toms. When playing rhythms back and forth between his bass drum and these tom-toms, it often sounds as if it is all being created by the bass drum. His snare drum sound is often a contrasting highly tuned "crack" sound.
A unique aspect of Zach's style is his liberal use of unconventional sounding cymbals, often referred to as "trash" cymbals. His most commonly and characteristically used trash cymbal consists of broken cymbals (usually between 3 and 4) stacked on top of each other, mounted just to his right of his high tom. This setup produces a harsh sound similar to that of a China cymbal, but with much less sustain. This is easily heard on almost every single Hella release.
In addition Zach has a custom made cymbal with a very warped shape that can be heard on the Holy Smokes album Masculine Drugs (clearly audible starting at 1:36 on the song Masculine Drugs (Tri-Duplex Edit)) the Hella album Church Gone Wild, The Ladies' first album, They Mean Us, and the Zach Hill & Mick Barr album Shred Earthship.
Zach also utilizes complex time signatures into his drumming. Zach has developed these time signatures through playing, and goes by feeling a beat rather than figuring it out "traditionally".
Another notable aspect of Hill's playing is that he is an extremely hard hitter. His equipment tends to wear down very fast due to the combination of the speed and power of his playing, which has been known to break lug casings and bend the top hoops of his drums from the sheer force of his technique.
In addition to music, Zach is also a visual artist. His art has been featured in the packaging to many of his musical releases. One of the most notable examples is his fully illustrated book Destroying Yourself is Too Accessible which included the Zach Hill and Holy Smokes album Masculine Drugs, released in 2004 on TNI books and Suicide Squeeze Records. The cover art of the Hella album The Devil Isn't Red, the artwork to There's No 666 in Outer Space and The Bitches Ain't Shit But Good People EP, and drawings in The Ladies They Mean Us are all credited to Zach; as well as art direction credits on many releases such as Hella's debut full length, Hold Your Horse Is, and their Total Bugs Bunny on Wild Bass EP, and the eponymously titled Nervous Cop record. He receives photography credit in addition to his many musical contributions on the debut Team Sleep album. He has also designed t-shirts and promotional posters for Hella and Team Sleep.
The Sacramento, California art space Fools Foundation ran an exhibition of Zach's art, titled Poltergeist, from April 1 to April 29 in 2006. Parts of the exhibit are visible in the photos accompanying Zach's article in the August 2006 issue of Modern Drummer and on the Fools Foundation.
The Primitives Talk
Zach Hill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
weather on a spree, i'm a missing person
i'm not supposed to understand your words
no splitting personalities
don't force it all
why is everyone's face blurred?
tell me that you saw what i just saw
'cause the days are crossing out
THE PRIMITIVES TALK
going higher than that now
breaking down a box
just because it works
the sky starts from here, where it really hurt
the meaningless behavior of the mirror
dizzy from a decade of sleeping
why is everyone's face blurred?
i don't think i'm supposed to understand
'cause the days are crossing out
THE PRIMITIVES TALK
going higher than that now
because the days will cross me out
THE PRIMITIVES TALK
going higher than that now
The lyrics of Zach Hill's song The Primitives Talk are open to interpretation, but a possible reading is that the singer is disoriented and disconnected from reality, questioning the reliability of their perception and communication. The mention of being burnt onto the sight and nerve could suggest the memory of a traumatic event that influences the present. The line "weather on a spree, I'm a missing person" could imply feeling disconnected from the environment or society at large. The line "no splitting personalities, don't force it all" could reference the importance of maintaining a cohesive identity, as opposed to fragmenting oneself to adapt or please others. The repetition of the question "why is everyone's face blurred?" could signify the difficulty recognizing or relating to others, or doubting their intentions. The phrase "the meaningless behavior of the mirror" could evoke the existential quest for self-awareness and meaning.
The title of the song, The Primitives Talk, could suggest the theme of primal instincts or impulses that transcend language or rationality. The chorus, with its repetition of "the primitives talk" and "going higher than that now," could represent a return to a more instinctual or elemental state of being, away from the constraints of society or language. The verse "breaking down a box just because it works/the sky starts from here, where it really hurt/dizzy from a decade of sleeping" could suggest a desire to break free from routine or stasis, and explore new possibilities. The final repetition of "because the days will cross me out/the primitives talk/going higher than that now" could imply both a fatalistic acceptance of mortality, and a hopeful embrace of transcendence or evolution.
Overall, The Primitives Talk is a song that invites multiple readings and associations, drawing from the raw energy and experimental approach of Zach Hill's music.
Line by Line Meaning
burnt onto my sight and later on the nerve
A deeply disturbing event has been imprinted onto my memories so strongly that it's now affecting me on a physiological level.
weather on a spree, i'm a missing person
Things are changing rapidly and I feel like I'm not keeping up, like I'm losing myself in the chaos.
i'm not supposed to understand your words
I feel like I can't comprehend what you're trying to tell me, like I'm missing some fundamental piece of knowledge.
no splitting personalities
I'm not going to pretend to be someone else to make you happy or fit in with your expectations.
don't force it all
I don't want to feel like I have to push myself to conform to arbitrary standards or expectations.
why is everyone's face blurred?
I feel like I'm disconnected from the people around me, like I can't properly see or understand them.
tell me that you saw what i just saw
I need confirmation that what I experienced was real, that I'm not losing my grip on reality.
cause the days are crossing out
Time is slipping away and I feel like I'm losing control of my life and my experiences.
THE PRIMITIVES TALK
The basic, primal parts of who we are, often hidden beneath sophisticated veneers, are clamoring to be heard and acknowledged.
going higher than that now
My experiences and understanding are transcending what I previously thought possible, but it's both exhilarating and terrifying.
breaking down a box
I'm challenging narrow-minded or limiting ways of thinking and looking for new possibilities.
just because it works
Traditions or established norms shouldn't be blindly followed just because they've been successful in the past.
the sky starts from here, where it really hurt
My understanding of the world and my place in it is rooted in my past pain and struggles.
the meaningless behavior of the mirror
I'm calling out the superficiality and shallowness of focusing on physical appearance and societal beauty standards.
dizzy from a decade of sleeping
I feel like I've been sleepwalking through life for years and I'm only now starting to awaken from the haze.
because the days will cross me out
I'm worried that the time I have left to make my mark on the world is rapidly dwindling.
Contributed by Alice V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
gbrs
Burnt onto my sight and later on the nerve
Weather on a spree, i'm a missing person
I'm not supposed to understand your words
No splitting personalities
Don't force it all
Why is everyone's face blurred?
Tell me that you saw what i just saw
'Cause the days are crossing out
THE PRIMITIVES TALK
Going higher than that now
Breaking down a box
Just because it works
The sky starts from here, where it really hurt
The meaningless behavior of the mirror
Dizzy from a decade of sleeping
Why is everyone's face blurred?
I don't think i'm supposed to understand
'Cause the days are crossing out
THE PRIMITIVES TALK
Going higher than that now
Because the days will cross me out
THE PRIMITIVES TALK
Going higher than that now
Felton Gailey
By God, it just doesn't get old!
You spend a couple of hours in a nail salon breathing the fumes... you really start to feel this!
net6
fucking ok Patrick Bateman
gbrs
Burnt onto my sight and later on the nerve
Weather on a spree, i'm a missing person
I'm not supposed to understand your words
No splitting personalities
Don't force it all
Why is everyone's face blurred?
Tell me that you saw what i just saw
'Cause the days are crossing out
THE PRIMITIVES TALK
Going higher than that now
Breaking down a box
Just because it works
The sky starts from here, where it really hurt
The meaningless behavior of the mirror
Dizzy from a decade of sleeping
Why is everyone's face blurred?
I don't think i'm supposed to understand
'Cause the days are crossing out
THE PRIMITIVES TALK
Going higher than that now
Because the days will cross me out
THE PRIMITIVES TALK
Going higher than that now
BigFef
meth lyrics go hard
mfjess
this is the loudest song at 28% volume i've ever heard
BigFef
paper tearing as loud as a jet engine directly in ya ears
humanoid978
I love death grips but jfc I want more solo Zach Hill content so bad
Justin
Don't be sad that it's gone, be grateful that you experienced it :)
Gregory Ivanov
I recall listening to this on a mini laptop in my parent's old FX-35 in their dark garage when an undisclosed person was invited into the house to conduct a ritual. I REALLY was against it and since high school graduation I moved out.
Serious Bismuth
Ummmm now I'm curious.. wtf?😐