Track By Tracks: Klaiton - Behind The Ritual (2024)

1. SCAVENGER:

We all die. That’s probably the only thing that unites us and makes us equal. The fact and fear of dying.

However, that same fear has become exploited, used, and marketed for profit. “One man’s death is another man’s bread,” is a popular saying. Yet again, religion plays a big part in this, exploiting the fear of death that most people have and turning it into something that can be appeased by religious sacrifice, something that can be countered by praying or “believing” in the right kind of god.

But it’s also a song about the hypocrisy that people show after somebody’s death by trying to better themselves on the back of those who have died. A great example is how people (eg family members or acquaintances) fight over the heritage that somebody leaves behind after death. So, basically, it’s also a song about human greed and the selfishness people exhibit when there’s a chance of a quick personal and/or financial gain. We would literally kill for personal gain, regardless of the consequences for those left behind.

Sadly the only heritage we’ll leave behind will be a dead world, destroyed and emptied by that very same greed.

But then again, the song is a bit open to interpretation, as almost all of our songs are…

2. SILENCE:

This is maybe our most unambiguous and direct song, as it clearly speaks about somebody who’s on death row or sentenced to death for a crime (s)he did not commit. It’s a rather long, slow, and heavy song reflecting the lyrics and the dark and despairing thoughts somebody must have while waiting for his or her death, knowing it’s all a mistake.

Meanwhile, the crowd outside is screaming for blood and indulging itself in the prospect of another human being’s death. Morbid sensationalism is at its peak, making the spectators feel good about themselves because “justice is served” and it happens to somebody else and not them.

And to stay in the anti-religious theme of the record, religion again plays a big part in this, condemning people and labeling them as “evil” so their demise must be the will of god. Our hidden or subliminal desire for an eschatological ending, where there will be a great end-war where good will triumph over evil and all the wrong-doers or non-believers will perish in fire and brimstone, often makes us not all that better than mere criminals and murderers ourselves. We fear the monsters we have created and try to put them away or kill them so we don’t have to face our own complicity in creating them in the first place.

In the end, no one is innocent….

3. TESTAMENT TO GREED:

Maybe not too much to say about this one, as it’s pretty forward as well. In the name of god and religion terrible crimes are and have been committed. It often seems like the path of the righteous must be paved with gold and that’s basically the only reason that path is chosen.

As stated before, the church has a history of violence, exploitation, murder, and oppression, all in the name of some fairy tale that’s gotten out of hand. Religious leaders, instead of living a life of abstinence and moderation all too often turn out to be blinded by greed, wealth, and power. And often turn out to be just as prone to lust, greed, and depravity as the “sinners” they so feverishly condemn. The separation between church and state all too often turns out to be just an illusion as religious leaders get pardoned for the crimes and atrocities they commit. All too often, they’re still too much of an authority, backed by a powerful organization that lets them get away with behavior other people would not.

They’re often the first to accuse but the last to get accused and this is a constant throughout our history. The massacres committed by the church are still too often watered down and excused as merely “signs of the times” or a means to an end, all dedicated to god so it must be justified, right?

The yoke of religion is still very prevalent in modern society when we should know better.

4. FEARING THE OTHER:

Basically a song about irrational and institutionalized fear. We are taught what or whom to fear, who to distrust, who is righteous, and who is wrong be we often fail to make that judgment for ourselves.

Also, fear is a convenient tool to steer opinion in a certain direction. When you succeed in installing fear into the hearts of the gullible, you often don’t need the necessary, objective proof to back up that fear. All sense of reason goes out the window when that primal emotion is successfully triggered.

A tactic that is all too often deployed by politicians, leaders, rivals, and by religion. Panicmongering proves to be very effective when you want the masses to think in a certain direction.

Fear of the unknown is quite normal and part of the human psyche but it’s only when that fear is exploited and used to control, that it gets dangerous. Fear can be your own worst enemy!

5. BEHIND THE RITUAL:

So this is the title track of our e.p.

Human behavior is comprised of day-to-day rituals, as a way to cope with the uncertainties of what life will bring, but also as something to hold on to when times get rough.

Of course, as with rituals, this can become artificial and shallow over time. Human existence is a tragedy that can only end in death and of course, we try to get the best out of the time we have. Being accepted and having a sense of “belonging” is a big part of this.

Religion smartly plays into this by making its subjects believe that they’re all part of some “big plan”, concocted by their all-knowing god and deity and that everything is pre-ordained and the will of that very same god. Of course, in that way, religion easily provides us with the false impression that we’re all connected, all part of the same scheme, all belonging, all equal and united.

The truth, however, is quite different. All too often people, realizing the futility of their mundane existence, try to enhance that experience by mere artificiality and a race for competition, doing anything to achieve the goals and roles they so desperately covet.

Desperation, hopelessness, hunger for power, and false pride render the fabric of human society inhospitable for those who cannot cope with the pressures of daily life. In contrast, success and social stature are considered in terms of material gain and profit which leads to a race for survival where everything is permitted to reach that goal.

We mirror ourselves to the next reality show in this human peepshow that is our lives and in order to reach the top of that collective food chain we collect likes on social media.

We like to wallow in self-deceit thinking that we “belong” so that we‘re better able to look down upon those who do not or can not take part or decide differently. The result is that in the end it’s all against all and, unfortunately, we die alone.