American Head Charge
The Feeding

DRT Entertainment, February 2005
Offensive Words: 6
Genre: nu metal
Check out Project 86 or Disciple.

American Head Charge, the Minneapolis-based industrial metal band, which had its genesis nine years ago when Martin Cock (then known as Cameron Heacock) and Chad Hanks (now known as Mr. H.C. Banks III) first crossed paths in a Minnesota rehab facility, has up to now been known primarily for the radically dysfunctional behavior of the band members.

"We were definitely out of control on our first tour, Ozzfest 2001," Mr. Banks admits. "It wasn't enough to just play our music; we also had to fire shotguns on stage and throw pigheads at the crowd. Chalk it up to a desperate bid for attention." The Head Charge rap sheet includes getting into bloody brawls with their fans, smashing equipment they couldn't afford to replace, reacquainting themselves with hard drugs and occasionally being locked up by the enraged fuzz. (from their bio)

Musically
There are so many influences within this band and you can hear glimpses of death metal with extreme hard driving bass lines in songs like "Take What I've Taken" and also touches of Korn metal styles in songs like "Leave Me Alone." Musically the band is all over the board with metal at the forefront and make-your-ears-bleed metal core. I can honestly say I was not familiar with these guys until I was sent this cd so I can't compare it to their former life. Overall a very solid and head banging cd with hard driving bass lines and guitars of fury screaming through the 11 tracks. A few tracks I wasn't thrilled with musically but overall a good cd but nothing overly original in the metal world. The band tries doing some experimentation on tracks like "Walk Away" and "To Be Me" but fall short on those tracks. The band really picks up the pace with a mosh induced frenzy on "Cowards." 

Lyrically/Vocally
Vocally, again pretty good but nothing that really stands out. The pipes are there, don't misread me, and especially when the band belts out the screaming vocals. But again, nothing that really stands out that I haven't heard from other metal bands.  Lyrically the cd is very dark and depressing.  Most of the songs deal with heartache and feelings of being alone.  Not something I would consider a positive influence.  Six offensive words are scattered throughout the cd and nothing other than the outright depressing lyrics stood out at offensive.  

I give the cd a 'pg-13/r' rating for depressing content and language.  Overall, the band really didn't do anything for me so I think I will stick to bands like Disciple which give the same basic styles of music and vocals with a bit more originality and Christian influence.

"Loyalty"
It's just a reason to deny
All the limits that border
On the thinnest frailties
that makes a sudden change

I'll pay my soul into sleep
I'll make up words that I keep
Letting nothing go to anyone at all

Where is your loyalty now
When all the cards have been left on the table?
Where is your loyalty now
When all the cards have been left on the table?

"Pledge Allegiance"
Watch us coming
While you drop away
Bow your f***ing heads
And pray for us
Cause it's my time
And it's our side
You can't stop us any longer

Bow your head
Pray for us
It's our time
It's our side

"Dirty"
It's been after me
In this place
A pleasant threat perfect void
Stuck in modality
With all this damage beyond repair

When all our time fades away
Just like everything else
That proves that we are
Dirt
So dirty dirt
Dirt
So dirty dirt


"Leave Me Alone"
Is the very thing that I disgust
Promise me again
And I hope your jaw f***ing rusts
I did what you wanted didn't I?
So, shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up

Why don't you leave me alone?
Always on the verge of something
Almost about to leave it all
I don't need you

Open your blessed wings
And wrap them around all your things
Keep yourself in the company of kings
Cause it's their hands' that bleed from the strings

"Cowards"
This is the way to find my harlequins face
To my junkie dead body
Still covered in lace
The flesh still warm where skin had once been my lips
My smile just scattered fragments lining the ditch
You like to watch when I bleed

(like a coward)
I've got some right here for you
I push you down on your knees

(such a good whore)
I make your dreams come true

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