“Think” is a guttural reminder of the brevity of life and a cry for self-examination. A soldier heeds duty’s call, assuring his love that he won’t forget her (“Love and War”).
Let’s start with the CD cover: A blond bursting out of her bikini top (emblazoned with a pentagram on each breast) looks ready to do some damage with an aluminum bat. Lyrically, there’s a lot of rebellion, frustration and alienation. The band has no patience with hangers on and one-way relationships on “Numb” (“All you want is everybody’s sympathy/So why don’t you take all this and go away?”) and “Cast Me Aside” (“You never came through/And now you want to come along for the ride”). It’s hard to imagine any good coming from the violent threats on “Step Up” or the despair contained in “This Life,” “Forget” and “Killin’ Me.” The angry “Bringing Me Down” growls, “How much more … ’til I break and drive that stake right into that thing you call your heart?” Then there’s “Hate,” an oppressive anthem of spiritual anarchy. Lines such as “Bury the priest and burn religion alive” and “Forget about the crucifix/My rising sign is 666” precede an invitation to ignore Judgment Day and sell one’s soul.
This band was named for the movie playing on TV when bassist Stevie Benton surrendered his virginity. Here, misery, bitterness, “Hate” and a few f-words are ample reason to keep teens from getting Desensitized.
