Everyzine Everyzine Vol.1 - 2020

trying to manipulate him.
The next set of lines compare parts of the human
body to parts of a city - glass spires,
concrete, sewers and a city wall. The description
of a spine as a glass spire may be showing
the fragility of human life as well as commenting
on political and social leaders who often
have ‘no spine’ and act out of cowardice and
fear. The comparison of blood to a sewer is
likely showing that these leaders who lie and
manipulate are toxic people - sewers are where
all the waste and fat and everything people
don’t want is stored - which could be showing
how the politicians are in the eyes of our narrator
like waste and everything wrong with society.
This theme is explored in further depth 5
years later on Arch Enemy. The skin being the
city wall clearly shows how these politicians
have thick skin and don’t let anything get to
them - they’re almost indestructible. Overall
the description of the city may be hinting at
the narrator thinking of becoming a terrorist,
looking at the city he may possibly be about to
destroy and blow up.
The narrator then says he wants to be different,
but acknowledges that he cannot unless he
takes drastic measures and may never be able
to be ‘different’. He doesn’t want to be corrupted
by power like politicians and important
figures, but he wants to change society.
The next lines about ‘promising heaven’ could
be interpreted in a few different ways. It could
be showing how politicians often make false
and outlandish claims, often to get people to
vote for their party, or alternately could
reference terrorism - many ISIS bombers are
brainwashed and told that they will ‘get to
heaven’ (which ironically is the album title) if
they commit acts of terrorism such as
becoming suicide bombers. The fact that he
has been told it will ‘happen soon’ could also
make sense in both interpretations - they’re
either committing acts of extremism to try and
change society, or this politician is about to
rise into a position of greater power such as
the president.
‘Can you boil inside me’ could refer to his
growing anger with society as well as calling
back to the ‘and your blood is a sewer’ line -
boiling water gets rid of any bacteria, and the
narrator could believe that committing these
acts will cleanse him of any wrong. ‘Can you
radicalise me?’ Establishes that this song is almost
definitely about terrorism - the politicians
and corrupt leaders stir up trouble and create
a society surrounded by greed and power.
The narrator is asking someone to radicalise
him. He feels like he has nowhere else to go
and wants to take drastic measures to change
society and cause a reaction, likely through
violence. ‘Can you take away everything?’
shows the narrator in desperation, pleading for
this person can take away all of the problems
in the world, and may also refer to suicide
bombing - taking away their life and others
to spark this change. It represents how these
terrorist recruiters and politicians often take
advantage of those who are weaker and going
through pain.
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