Remember the Heroes: Brett Hoffmann

 

FOR REASONS SPECIFIED IN THE POST, I WILL WRITE TODAY IN ENGLISH ONLY

(z powodów wymienionych w poście, dzisiaj tylko po kolonialnemu) 

Today I want to spent a minute about a man, whose works were crucial in my learning of English. I'm talking about Brett Hoffmann, the late vocalist of Malevolent Creation, who died in 2018 due to colon cancer.

When I was young and naive, I thought that my music exploration would probably end with some Alt Metal, Grunge and some Alt House / Rave music. Little did I know that I would actually go much much deeper. I still remember the first time a friend of mine, whom I got into Metal, presented to me two albums: Immolation "Close to a World Below", and Malevolent Creation "Warkult". At first I was like "I already know way too many bands, why bother with another?". Heh. Anyway, while it took me a while to appreciate Immolation properly, M.C. kinda clicked instantly, majorly due to their style being a hybrid of Slayer / Sepultura, but with much more brutality, technicality and savagery. I was listening to "Warkult" over and over again to the point that I decided to purchase some of their albums. As such, over time I got their first three records.

I was really obsessed with them, and one day I thought that I should translate and analyze their lyrics. It wasn't my first rodeo, because before I did the same with some Alt. bands, and Marduk and Immortal, but this time I wanted to translate the stuff meticulously. If only I knew what I got myself into...

The lyrics were extremely sophisticated, eloquent, and used such obscure words, that quite often I needed at least 2, sometimes even 5 dictionaries to find the meaning of a specific word. Sometimes it got so ridiculous that I asked my English teacher for help. At first we thought that maybe there was some typo, but nope, we did eventually find specific word in some technical, advanced almanach with less-used words. That's how eloquent Brett was, as for him it was easy-peasy to write such lyrics.

I was so proud of myself when I finished my little project with translating these three albums, I still keep the files on my computer after all these years. And as an extra tribute and a feature, I decided to present to you the short version of what each song was about, so you can see how varied and interesting the lyrics were. These are my interpretations, and of course, people might disagree with me.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

I.MEMORIAL ARRANGEMENTS - the song is structured as a prayer, which is mourning the whole humankind, bidding the farewell, and condeming the world to hell

II.PREMATURE BURIAL - brutal, nihilistic text that can be interpreted in 4 ways. First, the literal, describing the mindset of a person, who was mistakenly buried. Such things happened, before the advancement in medical science. Second way, in which the song deals with a depression, and a person, who feels burned out, and compares himself to a living dead. Third, as a deluded person, who is not aware that is actually clinically dead, and tries to fight with his slowly fading consciousness. Fourth - as a discarded member of society, which does not treat him as a living being, and is considered a dead end, without any future, and left to rot.

III.REMNANTS OF WITHERED DECAY - the lyrics allude to movies like "Apocalypse Time". The song poses a question: "what will remain of us, if we keep waging wars in the name of democracy"? The description of war is universal enough that it can be about any war, whether in Vietnam, Iraq, Cambodia, or nowadays, Ukraine. The lyrics are written from the point of view of a soldier, who starts questioning his beliefs. There is also a section implying the use of LSD, which was given to soldiers in the past, to make them more effective.

IV.MUTLIPLE STAB WOUNDS - this one deals with serial killers, and tries to get inside of a mind of such psychopath, and their fears, and reasoning. The killer can be a religious fanatic, a schizo, or just a sexual maniac, or all of them.

V.IMPALED EXISTENCE - the text metaphorically compares governments, especially dictatorships, to the rulers of hell. The king is presented as a "Malevolent Creation" (something of a leitmotif during the early era of M.C.), in constant need and craving for neverending bloodshed. The kind of beast, who brings life to people so they can be manipulated, and live in constant suffering, clearly implying Christianity, albeit it can be also treated as a description of oppression to both religious people, as well as crusades and inquisition. The only crime committed by humans in the lyrics are the fact that they are alive. And the punishment is death.

VI.THOU SHALL KILL! - being aligned with the title of the album, a satirical anti-commandment given by the Malevolent Creation. It deals with numerous topics: a dog-eat-dog world, the fall of values, and lamenting how little worth is given to human life. The song could be treated as a protest against the modern world, if read properly.

VII.SACRIFICIAL ANNIHILATION - the song starts with the detailed description of deceased bodies, being in a state of rigor mortis, decay and agony. There is an implication between the verses that they're part of some secret ritual, supposed to summon some mysterious Malevolent Creation. The landscape seems to be a post-nuclear desolated land. Near the end, the creature awakens, and destroys those, who summoned it. But the lyrics can also have a completely different meaning: namely... a poetic and surreal description of a live show, where the bands wants to conquer the world, and completely demolish the audience with their sound. It can also be seen as a love letter to Death Metal, and the sacrifice for the sake of art. Pretty nifty.

VIII.DECADENCE WITHIN - A rebellious piece from the point of view of a young person. It has elements of anarcho-punk, but it also serves as a warning about the fragility of life. There is a main theme, presenting how various civilization led themselves to destruction. Some fragments mention religion, others allude to holocaust.

IX.INJECTED SUFFERAGE - a pretty straightforward metaphor about drugs and the destructive outcome of substance abuse presented as a surrealistic nightmare. The first album actually did have the "stop the madness" logo, so it might be the band playing part in that campaign. The descriptions are livid and pretty brutal, just like Death Metal should be.

X.MALEVOLENT CREATION - self-referential song, summarizing the whole album, presenting the crucial bits, namely wars, serial killers, and love for the music. The lyrics present a threat to anyone, who would try to stomp the band in their mission of spreading the Death Metal gospel.

RETRIBUTION

I.EVE OF THE APOCALYPSE - opening manifesto to young people to take the initiative and reclaim the power from the boomers. As the Eve is usually associated with Christmas, it can also be treated as a metaphore of the birth of the new era. It can also mean that Death Metal is here to stay, as back in 1992, the genre had its heyday, meaning that the more extreme music surpassed traditional styles.

II.SYSTEMATIC EXECUTION - this one is really interesting, as it probably deals with the WWII, albeit it can very well be about genocide in Cambodia, or the Tiananmen protests. On one hand a daily struggle, trying to survive the conflict, while also detailing the tragedy of brutalized civilians, families being massacred by bombing, interogations by secret police, etc.

III.SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENCE - a mandatory song about serial killers, this time dealing with the infamous Night Stalker. The lyrics compare the main character to sadistic animal, who gets a relief everytime he indulges in his murderous whims. Victims are picked at random, they don't matter to the killer, and the more die, the better, the grander he feels.

IV.CORONATION OF OUR DOMAIN - lyrics about the downfall, and crumbling society, albeit it might also deal with fascism. It details the rise of evil to power and its the desire for conquest. I wouldn't be surprised if it was also another song about Death Metal domination, who knows? Albeit I feel like betting on a social commentary this time.

V.NO FLESH SHALL BE SPARED - second commandment. The song is a satire about how media treat serial killers, where the society is both frightened, and fascinated by them, making them sort of celebrities, equal to rock stars and actors. In a way it's also a criticism of American mentality and pop culture.

VI.THE COLDEST SURVIVE - the song can be read twofold, as it compares soldiers participating in a conflict to gang wars, as both follow their personal code of conduct, which requires to abandon humanity, morals, conscience and mercy, as well as extreme prejudice in eliminating the enemy, hence the most brutal will survive in the end.

VII.MONSTER - my personal favorite lirycs. This time we get an anti-nicotine song. It fantastically compares the lung cancer to a monster growing inside lungs. It also accuses the nicotine companies of trying to censor for years the truth about the dangers of smoking, as well as governments profitting from keeping people addicted. There is also a side-plot about a junkie attempting to kill an innocent person to get money for the "fix".

VIII.MINDLOCK - anti-dictatorship song, mocking the system, mindlesness of people involved in it, as well as terrorism, and every people who allow themselves being manipulated into complete obedience and trust of immoral authority. The author criticizes people who lack the backbone and courage to resist such evil.

IX.ICED - mercenaries, dogs of wars, snipers, killers for hire are the main topic of this song. Their hearts are made of ice, and as such, lack any conscience, as their deeds fill their voids in their souls, and lack of personality.

STILLBORN

I.DOMINATION RESURGENCY - unusual song, describing in an erotic manner, the need of some people to be slaves, if taken literally. But of course, considering it's an opener, it might be a callback to the dedicated fans of Death Metal. It does present some doubts, whether the mission of spreading Death still makes sense. The band back then went through a crisis, so the lyrics probably reflect that.

II.THE WAY OF ALL FLESH - the third commandment. Violence in art. Or the art in violence. Killing compared to art, and blood as a metaphor of a paint. There were killers, who treated their deeds as the highest act of art. And again, it can be also treated as a metaphor about Death Metal.

III.DOMINION OF TERROR - religion as an opium of the masses. People too afraid to think for themselves, who need to follow power-hungry preachers. The threat of eternal damnation, and for some reason the constant staple in all historical eras.

IV.GEARED FOR GAIN - the lyrics deal with the problem of unethical capitalism, and profitting without conscience, sometimes not quite legally. Text is about people who exchange lives for dollars, and see everything in a monetary value. With limitless greed and funds, they are capable of influencing politicians and governments, corrupting the law, and marketing themselves as either eco-friendly, or through virtue signalling. The image that the corporations present is a facade with only one goal: more money, more profits, no matter the social cost.

V.STILLBORN - this song is a little hard to interpret. At first I thought it was dealing with slavery, as it described the hopelesness of a trapped life of a person, who cannot escape, who is not treated as a real person, and who doesn't exist for the outside world, and is treated like an object. Then I thought that because the song is called stillborn, then it deals with the abortion. But ultimately, I feel like it's about a depression and general disdain for the world, and dealing with existential problems, and meaning of life. I suspect that it also might have been about the conflicts within the band.

VI.ORDAIN THE HIERARCHY - song about evolution? Song promoting nature over humankind? Song about saving the environment? Or maybe a song dealing with the natural order that should have been maintaned? It certainly asks the question about the role that humans should fulfill in this world.

VII.CARNIVOROUS MISGIVINGS - the lyrics deal with the instincts behind a carnivore predator. What is it that drives one being to kill another? Hunger? Survival? Or is it the thrill of hunting? Is the song set in a post-apocalyptic world? And who was the mysterious king?

VIII.GENETIC AFFLICTION - nuclear war, chernobyl, AIDS - how it will affect our offspring? Will it mutate us into more ruthless species? The song summarizes the path that humankind decided to partake and criticizes society's shortsightedness.

IX.ETHNIC CLEANSING - lyrical content seems to be straightforward. Racism, fanaticism, apartheid, terrorism, genocide. Cruelty commited due to the lack of tolerance and mutual acceptance. Killing in the name of god. It also deals with various subcultures and how eagerly humankind divides itself, from a street gang, up to political parties. On every step, there is "us vs them" mindset that cannot be helped.

X.DISCIPLE OF ABHORRENCE - the third Malevolent Creation ending the album. The words do seem to describe the cover, as well as the general idea of internal suffering. It also seems to be directed towards the listener, and seems to be something of a farewell.