"Sycophant" — a brand new technical death metal track by Jason Aaron Wood (Ol Sonuf, Todesbonden).
The first release since his 2017 album “Emanations,” which featured 8-string guitars exclusively, this song, in contrast, is written entirely on a 6-string, specifically for the challenge of making my heaviest recording yet on a 6-string that’s not severely down-tuned. (The tuning is E-flat standard.)
While the form this song ultimately took came to be over the course of about 1 month, the concept for a song called "Sycophant" is something I've been taking notes and mentally toying with for over 7 years.
Suddenly in April 2020, something clicked in my mind and I realized that Technical Death Metal was the perfect vehicle for delivering this idea. Plus, it was a chance to expand my musical palette and get a feel for writing and playing on a level of technicality that I haven't yet explored.
[Q&A:]
Q: “Dude, is this song supposed to be about me?“
A: Probably not, but if the shoe fits, wear it. If not, you probably have nothing to worry about, although you may want to determine what makes you see a reflection of yourself in someone else’s work.
Q: “You do realize there’s a difference between giving a compliment and kissing your ass, right?”
A: Absolutely. Admiration and praise for something that you genuinely admire and enjoy are the whole reason for art: the very aim is to create those feelings in people. When that admiration and praise is solely given in order to gain position, however, then you can’t trust a word of it because it’s coming from the mouth of someone who will say anything to get what they want and/or to look good in front of others.
lyrics
[LYRICS:]
Like a moth drawn to the light
You just cannot resist
You’ve got to be seen, no matter what
You desperate narcissist
When you just can’t hack it on your merit alone...
You can always catch a ride on the back of someone else as if it’s all your own
Climb, climb, climb!
It’s elbow rubbing time...
Just climb up on the coattails of your betters and take them for a ride
You’re quite the legend within your own mind
Another alliance kicked to the curb
As you chase the illusion
Just one more bridge in smoldering embers
In the haste of delusion
Climb, climb, climb!
Is it name-dropping time...again?
Once again you hop on those coattails and take them for a ride
You’re quite the legend within your own mind
Yet, something seems amiss...
Which ass did you forget to kiss?
Could that be it, you fucking sycophant?
...Like it’s some
Magic spell that no one can see through?
But no one’s buying your bullshit
While you’re the only one who seems to
The irony of it’s almost
Tragic... you’re like a cancer that brags about its famous host as you metastasize
And cling in abject desperation onto the very THING YOU CANNOT BE
How many “friends” so far have you later gone and stabbed in the back?
And with such destruction in your wake, how do you even keep track
Of all those bridges that you’ve burned?
Posturing, thirsting for a status beyond what you have actually earned...
As you try to walk the tightrope
Between your station and the lie
Your illusion starts to crumble
As you reach the end of what your empty words can buy
Hard times with reality
Setting in, we can clearly see
Toady... hanger-on...
There’s nothing that you wouldn’t do
To bask in another’s light
Such cloying flattery
Such a nauseating sight
How can you even stand yourself?
Yet still you’re falling over yourself
As you dig your own grave
Fawning still at the feet of your betters
For the attention you crave
‘Cause you still can’t hack it and your word’s not worth a goddamn thing
And deep down inside you know you’re nothing but another fucking clown amongst kings
Climb, Climb, Climb!
It’s desperation time...
It’s not what you can DO, but WHO they think you KNOW
And the sycophant that you are finally begins to show
...Just one more sycophant...
credits
released May 18, 2020
[CREDITS:]
Written, performed, recorded, produced & mastered by Jason Aaron Wood during the COVID-19 lockdown, April/May 2020.
Artwork concept & design by Laurie Ann Haus & Jason Aaron Wood.
This album features some great musicianship & dynamic progressive metal songwriting, with powerful, memorable melodies and impressive technical melodic riffing that still exudes a killer groove. Jason Aaron Wood
36 choice cuts - one from each 2015 LP, plus music from new signings on the mighty and 25-years-strong Relapse label. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 4, 2015
