‘One of My Bad Days’ is the name of a brand-new track from Johannesburg-based Industrialised Thrash Metal veterans Chaos Doctrine. This is a tale of a mass murderer relaying his crimes … not confessing, just relaying.
2022 saw two single releases from Chaos Doctrine. First there was ‘Lifting the Veil’, a hateful orchestration of 200 BPM Industrial Death Metal. More recently, they also gave us two versions of a track called ‘Martyr’ (Clement V Mix, and the Jeanne D’Arc Mix), described by some as a doomy balladic track akin to bands like Paradise Lost. ‘Martyr’ was featured and hailed by Metal Hammer ‘one of the top 10 tracks of the week’ when it released.
‘One of My Bad Days’ is not balladic, at all. It has no symphonics, no clean vocals, nor acoustic guitar. ‘One of My Bad Days’ is what Chaos Doctrine is known for doing best. It is angry, fast, and super heavy! If you like Thrash Metal with hints of Death Metal, whether you know the band’s back catalogue or not, this track will make you happy in your pitch-black heart.
Drummer Jason Eedes recalls the first time he heard the song, sharing “I just joined the band, and the guys wanted to start rehearsing this track for our live set. I was immediately attracted to the ferocious pounding of the drums, ranging from groovy beats to outright blasts, driving the catchy riffs and the spitting vocals. Definitely one of my favourites to play live!”
Alec Surridge, band guitarist and engineer affirms that “when I wrote this track, I wanted something that reflects my deep love for Swedish Death Metal, but clearly says THIS IS CHAOS DOCTRINE. We took a much lighter Industrial touch this time to leave the spotlight on heavy guitar riffs and maintain that old school feel, and when Dr D laid down a vocal (that I can only describe as Sepultura-meets-Testament), I knew we hit that magic spot!”
Bass guitarist and band visual artist Phil Carstens agrees, adding that “this track is definitely much more classic old school Thrash: relentless riffs, grooving drums, and lyrics about a mass murderer that freely admits to everyone he killed but refuses to accept any guilt!”
‘One of My Bad Days’ also brings the band’s second collaboration with a South African visual artist for the track imagery (the first being Martyr’s track image done by Lisa Botes of ‘Art Defrosted’). This time, the band worked with local Surrealist Artist Ras Steyn, who is making a name for himself producing outstanding artworks that harken back to masters like Dali.
Vocalist Dr D explains that “I came across Ras’s portfolio on Facebook, and I absolutely love his stuff. We started talking about a collab, and when the band agreed that ‘One of My Bad Days’ would be our next single, I knew his work would be perfect to reflect the overall song pathos and intent. He did NOT disappoint, it is great!’.
The artist himself, Ras Steyn, adds that “When Chaos Doctrine asked me to create the art for their new single, I listened to the track a few times and knew that I had full license to amplify my already dark Surrealist style. It's a deeply distressing song so I had to respond with an equally unnerving and confrontational cover. It was a beautifully dark experience and one hell of a ride! And I'm ready for more of their stuff!”
lyrics
This is not a confession
That would imply guilt
This is not an admission
I don’t need forgiveness for my
Deeds, my dark and wondrous deeds
That define my reality
Fly closer to the sun
Fly closer to the flame, I refuse
To submit to your morality
Built on the lies of a god I can't see
In that moment it was just them and me
It's in those moments that I would become me
I will not submit to laws beside mine
They just met their fate on one of my bad
Days, my dark and wondrous days
That defined me in every fucking way
That I wanted to come alive
That fuelled my psychotropic haze, the
words of the judge still rings in my head
You will hang by your neck until you are fucking dead
But who are you to judge the error of my ways?
It was after all just one of my bad days
I will not submit to laws beside mine
They just met their fate on one of my bad
days, the thrill, the hate that trigger moment
Weighed and found wanting, on one of my bad days
One of my bad days
Bad days
My bad days
Just one of my bad days
Put the bag over my head
The noose around my neck
The rope pulls tight my end is here
My laughter fills the air
I will not submit to laws beside mine
They just met their fate on one of my bad
days, the thrill, the hate that trigger moment
Weighed, and found wanting, on one of my bad days
credits
released July 21, 2023
Authors & Composers: Chaos Doctrine
Performers: Chaos Doctrine
Mix & Master: Alec Surridge
Producer: Alec Surridge
Artwork: Ras Steyn (Surrealist Artist)
PR: Devographic Music Agency
Chaos Doctrine is a metal band from Johannesburg, South Africa. The band creates a unique sound by blending classic thrash and death with newer waves of metal and industrial.
On the forthcoming Tombs album "All Empires Fall," the band expands their scope and range, balancing brutal riffs with melancholy melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 29, 2016
