Fall Of Carthage - KERNEL PANIC (2024)

Release: 2024 via MDD-Records

Songwriting, Guitars, Production, Mix, Master: Arkadius Antonik. Vocals, Lyrics, Artwork: Sascha Aßbach. Drums: Ken Jentzen. Bass: Sebastian Jensen.

Tracklist
  1. DON'T CALL ME
  2. GATE TO NOWHERE
  3. SINK OR SWIM
  4. NO BUGFIX
  5. EVERY OTHER YEAR
  6. PUSHBACK
  7. MOSS
  8. BLACK GAFFA
  9. UNSEEN
  10. WALNUT PARRATS

FALL OF CARTHAGE - DON'T CALL ME

... In the video you can see the room getting flooded at some point. This is related to the massive floodings that occured in Europe within the last years due to climate change. The second song on the album "GATE TO NOWHERE" is dealing with that topic.

Lyrics

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01. DON'T CALL ME I was asking for workation cause the others already had theirs. And what happened had me puzzled like “Internal Affairs”. See i, CIO (see i owe) you nothing! I’m burnt out, I need a break. Thanks. I’m cancelling your noise actively. And I act on your cancels noisily. You ask us to show unlimited loyalty Man, i need a break. Send a text, but please don’t call me. there’s a really good chance i’m not into your story. you’re aimed to bow to them and follow their trail. you say let’s do what the others did but i don’t see the benefit. you wanna count the slides? count how many empty words you handed out as magnificent insights. well, not to mention your instinct to betray that woke your inner imposter, but how much did it cost ya? how much? And what the fuck is wrong with you? DON’T CALL ME, DON’T CALL ME. Leave me alone with your chit-chat, Buzzwords are coming in a big pack, Superficial, dull conversations, Small-talk to my ass. Send me a sign but you better not call me. you wanna count the slides? count how many empty words you handed out as magnificent insights. well, not to mention your instinct to betray that woke your inner imposter. but how much did it cost ya? how much? Don't call me, Don't call on me, Don't. DON’T CALL ME, DON’T CALL ME. Leave me alone with your chit-chat, Buzzwords are coming in a big pack, Superficial, dull conversations, Small-talk to my ass. || DE || PT || — 02. GATE TO NOWHERE In the maze of chaos, where truth and lies collide, A soul marches to the beat of dissent, nowhere to hide. The gate to nowhere looms, a monument to despair, A testament of doom, in the air that we share. A curse upon these lands, a line we just crossed. And in void we trust. Through the ashes of our sins, we seek a sliver of redemption, But the fire within dims, lost in the frustration. Throwing garbage to the winds, the rivers answer with extension. Humanity has failed, in spite of all revelation. Under the weight of the world, our knees buckle and bend, In the silence, our cries are hurled, into the abyss we descend. a line we just crossed, And in dust we rust. Rust. Through the ashes of our sins, we seek a sliver of redemption, But the fire within dims, lost in the frustration. Throwing garbage to the winds, the rivers answer with extension. Humanity has failed, in spite of all revelation. The gate to nowhere looms, a monument to despair, A testament of doom, in the air that we share. Through the ashes of our sins, we seek a sliver of redemption, But the fire within dims, lost in the frustration. Throwing garbage to the winds, the rivers answer with extension. Humanity has failed, in spite of all revelation. — 03. SINK OR SWIM I’m trying to do my best to set my dreams astray. But more than that i wish i knew what i wanna say. Oh, I was feeding the monsters, Knowing well what I did. There were so many options Growing up, yet I skipped. I’m still focussing on things that are out of my reach and it's weird being the same age as old people that preach. but i was... trying to do my best to set my dreams astray. But more than that i wish i knew what i wanna say. I’m sticking in my own past, pretend that i’m o-kay. But obviously I’m wasting my precious days away. 5-0 on the papers, 27 at heart. hanging out on the lawn was a ritual. Having drinks, talking deep, playing basketball. Making memories that stay, unforgettable. Some of us already gone, it’s unbelievable. Those were the days, no doubt. But there’s more to see and feel, more to be grateful about. Can’t go back but we can write new stories and wrap em. Live in the now and make things happen. Making peace with my demons! Cause I am sicker than they’ve ever bee.n Making peace with my demons! Cause it’s now or never, It’s sink or swim. It’s sink or swim now. IT’S SINK OR SWIM, SINK, SWIM, SINK OR SWIM. I’m trying to do my best to set my dreams astray. But more than that i wish i knew what i wanna say. I’m sticking in my own past pretend that i’m okay. But obviously I’m wasting my precious days away. IT’S SINK OR SWIM, SINK OR SWIM. — 04. NO BUGFIX Ask a bot to solve a task and it supplies. Ready or not, AI is on the rise. Fortune telling with predictive analysis. Question is: how do we make the best of this?! The powers of the super-rich Intensify Deep-fake politics. Make you believe in the hypocrite. But what you see ain’t what you get. There’s no control anymore. No bugfix and no backdoor. There’s no way to run and vent. It tends to fail. Wants for me to pay, (and) then some. And what is in it for us anyway? What paves the way? n’I came to play with the beginners Who then turned to aces. Turn our heads around, That’s what the new plague does. There’s no escape From virtual rape. Says who? Says who? Wireless souls and artificial demons, a curse invented and created by mankind Itself. Doomed to live in the ether. We’re slaves to the unbeliever. The powers of the super-rich Intensify Deep-fake politics. Make you believe in the hypocrite But what you see ain’t what you get. There’s no control anymore. No bugfix and no backdoor. See fuckin people like Musk do their thing. X’ing out what has been. Anti-social media digesting, Generative molesting. Algorythms feed our kids with the unbearable. Video clips praising violence, just terrible. their parents don’t even know. They’re NPCs in their Game-Show. — 05. EVERY OTHER YEAR Please remember the fun we had. Not my grumpy face and not, not the wrinkles and the tones i missed. Not the gray hair. not my fat belly, mistakes I made. Not the doubts that I had. oh remember I loved to spend time with you. You meant the world to me. and you still do. there’s no distance only the one we invent. Guess what, it was not the drinks we had not the money we lend It was the time that we spent together, that is meant to live forever. In our hearts we have a million memories that are worth more than the calories. that recharged our batteries. i’m so glad we had all these. It was not the beers we had, it was the time we spent together. It was the smiles, laughter and hugs when we said good night It was the dreams we shared and tried to put in words. Or even songs. It was the beats tickling on our tongues. Just one wish. Just one wish. I would like to ask you to visit my grave. Wherever that be. Sit down and smile maybe. I would like to ask you to visit my grave. You don’t have to shed a tear. Just think of me every other year, every other, other year maybe. And if you can’t, light a candle. That’s okay. Watch those beautiful curves the flames create. And how the shadows play. Make a wish when you look into the sky And watch the clouds pass by. When you feel the wind blowing through your hair. that’s where I’m at. That’s where I’ll be. guess where i’m at that’s where i’ll be — 06. PUSHBACK Does it feel like coming Home after they’re gone? It was last november, That is if i’m not wrong. They make you feel like you’re not alright alright, like you’re something worth less and you can’t escape this fight, this fight- (I’m) probably missing something but i cannot get it straight For this does not make any sense, it’s just pure hate. Can you feel safe in this place right here? i don’t know, i don’t know, i don’t know, They promised you a new start, a new career But instead you live in constant fear. There’s that guy at the other side of the street. He’s on the porch yelling swelling. Hey, is it hatred or envy? You’re doing your best to gain and achieve. He’s not able to see and conceive. His fascist friends are his fam’ly Take some action now. Resists and unbound. Make use of your voice. Does it feel like coming Home after they’re gone? It was last november, That is if i’m not wrong. DOES IT FEEL LIKE A CHANGE, A NEW ERA? OR IS IT JUST THE SAME OLD SICK TERROR? SAME OLD TERROR. How can we feel safe in this world right here? i don’t know (3x)- they promised us a new start, a new career. But instead we live in constant fear. There are millions of us in the streets Supporting what minority needs. look what a colorful unity. Yet, there’s more to be done and told While their secrets and plans unfold. We must stand guard for truth and democracy. Take some action now. Resist and unbound. Make use of your voice. pushback. resist and unbound for love and respect. for tolerance and unity. cause we’re all the same. we’re all the same. all the same. irrelevant parts of the game. we’re all the same. — 07. MOSS We have come here together to mourn the loss of and say farewell to our beloved friend. You’re not here, but your presence lingers in the shadows. Your words like daggers Sling through the air, you know? Smiles and hugs at the final show Met some with indifference, their soul left to bare. Betrayed by their own stare, (own stare) Buried beneath the trees This apathy, unforgiving grief. In this graveyard of darkness, there you’re left to brood, neglected care Now your last beat Has been played Can’t believe this is not a bad joke We’re gonna wait for ya. Why did you leave it all up to yourself? We would have been there for you Now saying prayers and lighting up candles Is the only thing that we can do Once revered, your golden mind roared with might, (roared with might) Now a haunting whisper in the dead of night. Ignored and unnoticed (unnoticed), your spirit’s been betrayed, no, No solace in the silence, silence weighing heavy like dismay, eternal dismay. Now that we just lost a friend Life is not the same again Not the same without you man I know we will meet again Oh, Moss upon the tombstone, where memories decay, Once cherished and adored, now fading away. (aaaaah) Moss upon the tombstone, Say will we meet again? Scratch the moss from your epitaph, I feel like we are close Close again Your words like daggers Your sharp mind, we had to let it go Smiles and hugs at the final show Met some with indifference, their soul left to bare. Betrayed by their own stare, (own stare) Buried beneath the trees This apathy, unforgiven grief. In this graveyard of darkness there, you’re left Now your last beat Has been played Can’t believe this is not a bad joke We’re gonna wait for ya. Why did you leave it all up to yourself? We would have been there for you Now saying prayers and lighting up candles Is the only thing that we can do I’m yearning for our tears, our remorse-laden cries, (cries) To taste the bitterness, the pain that never, (the pain that never) the pain that never dies. But alas, it's too late, it's too late, time slips away, (slips away) No redemption in guilt, just shadows (fuck shadows), shadows at play. Shadows at play , Shadows at play , Shadows at play , …. — 08. BLACK GAFFA In the full moon’s dark delight, a tale of dread, Where fear and anxiety, in silence spread. Under Lunas rigid eye, your silhouette. Without hand-gloves, a brainless act. A saw whispers secrets, a knife confirms, and with black gaffer, it all returns… Fear grips tight with every step, Substance eats away what is trapped. As you awake to the scene, It’s not a bad dream. It glows in your eyes Like fireflies. You wanna see the world burn. Should be our concern. But we’re too surprised By your alibis. Bones won't mend, no peace o’ mind. Errors etched in the sands of time. With trembling hands, the tape is torn, A futile fix for a soul so worn, now. Pa-nic ri-ses, conscience screams, You can’t escape … fragments of a life once whole, Buried deep in memories cold. And as you face what you've done, There's nowhere to run. The darkness inside, No, you cannot hide. You try to piece it all back, there's no double-check The damage is done, There’s nowhere to run. Run from the darkness, Run, run from the cold. Ain’t no way to fix it motherfucka You’re sold. As you awake to the scene it’s not a bad dream. it glows in your eyes. but we’re too surprised. but we’re too surprised. Sold to the dark side, You traded with the beast. You’re in it’s hands now, damned forever at least. See, duct tape won’t settle anything. This abuse keeps you hanging from a string. Marionette, will you regret, well it doesn’t make a difference, no, it’s too late to let go… — 09. UNSEEN When you first went to school you were in good spirits. Didn’t take long until you start’(ed) to fear it. Being bullied on your way home, first grader. Aggression grows inside until you burst a little later. Despite the secrets that you kept, you either join or you’re fucking stabbed. Hey parents, happy with your job? You said the kids are fine, No they're not. No friends, No love, nobody to talk to and your brother shows you how to fight. Loose ends, closed doors and the shit that you walk through. Turnoff to happiness is out of sight. Depressive at the age of 6. Imitating what you see, Trying to get your fix. The struggle is real, cause you just don't wanna be like them, you feel unseen. Don't wanna be like them, just don't wanna be like them. Don't wanna be like them, just don't wanna be like them. You’re not the only one having a hard time growing up, with mother and father not showing up There’s that boy whose talents are still ignored wishing for clothes that he cannot afford, no His mama’s beaten every other day He hides inside his room, covers up and plays GTA The knife in his drawer is close And you still think our kids are okay? No friends, No love Nobody to talk to And your brother shows you how to fight Loose ends, Closed doors And the shit that you walk through Turnoff to happiness is out of sight Depressive at the age of 6 Imitating what you see, Trying to get your fix The struggle is real Cause you just don't wanna be like them you feel unseen don't wanna be like them. don't wanna be like them. just don't wanna be like them. don't wanna be like them. just don't wanna be like them. No friends, No love Nobody to talk to. And your brother shows you how to fight. Loose ends, Closed doors. And the shit that you walk through. Turnoff to happiness is out of sight. Suicidal at the age of 6 Imitating what you see, Trying to get your fix The struggle is real Cause you just don't wanna be like them you feel unseen. You’re not the only one having a hard time growing up, with mother and father not showing up. There’s that boy whose talents are still ignored wishing for clothes that he cannot afford. His mama’s beaten every other day. He hides inside his room, covers up and plays GTA. The knife in his hands hold tight. And you still think our kids are alright? — 10. WALNUT PARRATS There’s at least a dozen rats in the basement, nagging on my wood and on my nuts. With green parrots as their true companions, They provide for all supplies. Traps and poison fail. With green parrots as their true companions. Underneath the azure skies. And my dog is not quick enough,no. And i’m myself i ain’t quick enough To get em all, no.

Some background info by Sascha

First published on instagram, Oct. 26th 2024

Arkadius and i started working on new FOC songs exactly one year ago. I remember well because Schröpke had just passed away and i put my feelings into the song „MOSS“. At first we decided to publish each new song seperately on Bandcamp right after they were finished. Arkadius was working on the new SuidakrA album as well. But sometime in summer this year we were getting in such a great flow with the recordings that we totally agreed to make it an album. And when there were 8 songs, we couln’d stop and wrote two more. Ken joined in to give the drums his special treat and Seebis bass lines rounded out the massive sound.

It was our decision to not wait until february or even march with the release but share the songs with you as soon as possible, which is NOW, just days after Arkadius finished the mastering of the album.

I was dealing with AI a lot at the time, what lead to the album title „KERNEL PANIC“, which is a severe error of which an operating system is unable to easily recover. This, as a metaphor fits on each and every song on the album. They are about xenophobia, climate catastrophy, the dangers of AI, drug abuse, bullying at school, devastation, loss and death. What has the world and people in general come to?! Check the website for more details (in this case, that's where you're reading ;)). There are some „easter eggs“ in the cover artwork… (read below)

I’m proud of what we made here with „KERNEL PANIC“. And i hope you like the songs as much as we do. Give them a listen, it’s only on bandcamp atm but Spotify and the likes will publish KP on Nov. 1st. A visualizer video is out on Youtube for the opening song „DON’T CALL ME“ (talking to you sales people).

Thanks to my family who had to endure my screams during the vocal recordings :D.

And thanks to everyone for your support! Stay safe.

What are the songs about?


All lyrics are by Sascha, so it's from his personal point of view...

  1. DON'T CALL ME: This song is about bad working conditions, working overtime and not being rewarded for it. Layoffs. Feeling burnt out. Being sick of people that get appreciation for meaningless bullshit. Presentations with a million words, but no valueable content. People that steal your time by trying to get you on the phone after spamming your inbox.
  2. GATE TO NOWHERE: It's about climate catastrophes and the end of the earth. Floods, garbage everywhere. Humanity has fucked it up with its careless behavior.
  3. SINK OR SWIM: Hanging on to old times, you're 50 but 27 at heart, having difficulties of letting go off the past. You realize that you have to accept and make the best of what you got. And what you got is more than what your demons make you believe. Take heart and look ahead!
  4. NO BUGFIX: The dangers of AI with which some powerful people are turning us into stupid slaves and NPCs. Also about the evolution of Social Media to Anti-Social-Media. Elon Musk "x-ing out what has been", meaning killing the good thing about twitter. With X being the new name for the platform, which has been an important place for many before it turned into a place full of hatred and fake shit.
  5. EVERY OTHER YEAR: A heartfelt thank you and a last wish to friends and family. That when i'll die, they will remember me fondly, remember the good things, light a candle for me now and then and watch the flames dance. I'll be there somewhere, in the wind and in the clouds...
  6. PUSHBACK: A song against xenophobia and fascism, a call to protest and get loud for democracy and diversity.
  7. MOSS: It's about the death of a close friend. The first text I wrote for the new album right after the funeral. Sascha was the bass player of my first band in the early 90s, that is what the line "now your last beat has been played" is about. It was good to see so many old friends saying good-bye to you. Rest in Peace, Schröpke. Love you.
  8. BLACK GAFFA: It's about a guy on drugs who has killed and dismembered someone or is in the process of doing so and slowly he wakes up and is afraid and has remorse and wants to try to fix everything with cheap black gaffer tape. The bones, his thoughts, the mistakes he has made. But it's not that simple. Fictional of course. I saw a roll of black duct tape laying around and have probably watched too many bad horror movies.
  9. UNSEEN: A young kid being bullied at school. Feeling unloved and left alone, fleeing into virtual worlds, games, video-clips. Ignorant, uncaring parents. He doesn't want to, but he's soon gonna be the bully, even more ruthless.
  10. WALNUT PARRATS: There are dozens of green parrots in Saschas Walnut tree, picking the nuts from it, throwing them down to the ground where rats eat em. And these are not only nagging on (my) nuts but also on (my) wood(en furniture). Seems to be a real good friendship. It’s a true story. „Parrats“ is „Parrot“ and „rats“ combined, Arkadius came up with this brilliant word.


What is the album title about?

Wikipedia says: "A kernel panic (sometimes abbreviated as KP) is a safety measure taken by an operating system's kernel upon detecting an internal fatal error in which either it is unable to safely recover or continuing to run the system would have a higher risk of major data loss." This as a metaphor fits on each and every song on the album.

Easter eggs on the cover

If you look close you will find a few things that occur in the songtexts, like a green parrot in the window. The frame is covered with moss. A rat and black gaffa tape right next to the chair. The rat-like-creature holds a phone. Yet you better not call him. A red grave candle is standing on the floor. In the lower left corner there is black fluid one could try to sink or swim in. On the right side you can see a destroyed terminal that shows a kernel panic, ain't no bug fixing though. The whole place looks like a catastrophe just happened. Somewhere there's a game controller laying around i bet. The mutant creature is a metaphor for humanity changing, evolving into something malicious. You don't know if it's the victim or the perpetrator.

Do you see anything else?

Cover and easter eggs