Captive Bolt Pistol

Album: Surgical Steel (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A captive bolt pistol is used to stun livestock before they are slaughtered. In our interview with Carcass lead singer Jeff Walker, he explained that the music was written first, and he wrote the lyric to complement it. Said Walker: "To me that song was short, straight to the point, had a lot of impact, it just remind me of the captive bolt pistol from a slaughterhouse."
  • Carcass is an influential British Metal band who released their first album in 1988, then broke up after their 1996 LP Swansong. Surgical Steel was their first release since the group re-formed. Along with lead singer/bass player Jeff Walker, original guitarist Bill Steer appears on the album along with new drummer Dan Wilding.

    Said Walker: "Bill and Dan basically constructed the track. If I had it my way, I would have mixed it up a bit, because it's a quite linear song: verse/chorus/verse/chorus/break. Very simple song. It actually in some respects sounds like a mash-up of an older song we have called 'Tools of the Trade.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lip-Synch Rebels

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.