Secular Era and Drexl Bowie’s collaborative album, While Nero Played, is a searing 12-track concept album that dives headfirst into the dark complexities of society. Blending elements of metal, punk, grunge, and alt-rock, the record is both a sonic powerhouse and a philosophical exploration of humanity’s greatest flaws. Through blistering instrumentals and thought-provoking lyrics, the album confronts heavy themes like systemic racism, political corruption, addiction, imperialism, and the looming specter of climate change. Each track brings its own raw intensity and perspective, offering a gripping commentary on the state of the world while pushing the boundaries of genre.
The first track kicks off with distorted guitars and raw, angsty vocals, setting an intense tone right away. When the drums join in, they amplify the track’s driving energy, turning it into a powerful sonic punch. In terms of genre, this song leans more punk than metal. Titled “Master Mortality,” the song draws inspiration from German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s concept, introduced in On the Genealogy of Morality. The term delves into the contrasts between good and evil, and master versus slave morality. Nietzsche described good as what is beneficial and bad as what is harmful, with Master Morality embodying traits like strength, pride, power, and nobility. Lyrically, this song explores Nietzsche’s themes and compares them to the current society.
“Ides of March” powers forward with heavy drums, distorted guitars, and raw, distorted vocals, veering more into metal territory than punk. The industrial guitar work gives the track an anthemic edge. The lyrics explore themes of deception, betrayal, power, and war, drawing directly from the historical assassination of Roman general Julius Caesar by senators Brutus and Cassius. Delivered with fiery intensity, the vocalist declares: “Face your suffering for your pride and drift in eternal night. Lost elation. Your jubilation was a love that I can’t stand. We’re meant to die.”
“Martyr” charges ahead with relentless double kick drums and heavily distorted guitars. The verses are delivered with a punk rock flair, while the high-speed choruses erupt into raw, screamed vocals. The lyrics navigate both historical and contemporary themes, confronting the societal chaos of today. The song takes aim at systemic issues, including racism in America, with searing lines like: “America is spelled with three K’s, And all we have is discord these days. The violence in the night will leave you like an open wound to exploit, oh so nice.”
“Men of War” pulls no punches, delivering hard-hitting truths with a mix of low-toned growls and an epic, sung chorus that amplifies its intensity. The lyrics confront the harsh realities of American and European imperialism, the atrocities of slavery, and the genocide of Native Americans, all driven by the relentless pursuit of power. The band declares: “Face yourselves in these vile, raging souls, Take your role in this dance of sweet control.” Adding to the song’s grandeur, a high-speed guitar solo punctuates its powerful message.
“Women, Whiskey, Money” bursts to life with a strong sense of urgency. The guitar rips through like a machine gun, firing notes into the speakers with raw emotion. The song delves into themes of addiction and escapism, illustrating how vices transcend class, race, and wealth. Lyrically, it explores the shame tied to poor life choices, yet reveals how that shame often fails to break the vicious cycle of addiction. The character clings to escape as a means of survival, singing: “Shame you’ll never intervene. You could never. Don’t break my high. I think I’d rather die than face the world.” Heavy tom-tom drums and a low, growling bass line add even more intensity and power to the track. This is a great track with a message that lingers.
“A Beautiful Lie” resonates deeply in today’s climate, particularly in the wake of recent elections. As books are banned and history is erased or whitewashed, the United States continues to bury its past mistakes while perpetuating new horrors. The band implores listeners to seek the truth and uncover a more accurate history of the nation, singing: “All our history is white-washed. Don’t turn from the tales they’ve made lost. Open your heart to what we really are.” The song directly confronts the racism that the American government neglects to address. When the full truth comes to light, pride in the nation becomes impossible, only shame remains. The lyrics drive this point home: “Take pride all you want, but I won’t. There’s too much that you do not know. Dig down just beyond the surface tensions. You’re nowhere near the end.”
“Plata O Plomo” digs deeper into the problem that the previous song discusses. This song accuses the government of being bribed and corrupted by organized crime leaders. This song has a memorable chorus section, while the verses pack a fiery punch. The guitar solo is intense yet very tasteful, adding to the story telling of the song. The lyrics go:
All their machinations are hard to beat,
‘Cause you can never get far enough out their reach
When they’re coming with their well oiled death machines
And a fortune made of blood and little cocaine leaves.
Gotta run. Hide. Ride the night.
Put the trenchcoat on and avoid the lights.
Send the kids and the wife where the streetlights died.
Just hope for the best, but know you won’t survive.
They said do what we want or you’re dead.
They are liars with silver or lead for your hire.
They. Are. You’re. Not.
The title track of the album provides a brief respite from the relentless distortion. It begins with a clean guitar riff before drums, bass, and vocals join in to elevate the energy. The opening leans more toward punk and grunge than metal, adding another layer of depth to the track. By the midway point, the song transforms into a full-blown metal anthem, complete with a chaotic whirlwind of sound and screamo vocals. Lyrically, it tackles the urgent and pressing issue of climate change, addressing humanity’s role in the destruction of the Earth with raw intensity and relevance. The lyrics are strikingly vivid, capturing the imagery of Earth’s downfall: “I fear it’s time to watch our modern Rome just burn to ashes.”
“The title track, “While Nero Played,” was definitely my favorite to write, because it’s far and away the most personal of the twelve songs. I’ve struggled with a fear of climate change and societal collapse for a while now, so getting those feelings off my chest was extremely cathartic.”
“The Judge” begins with a chant, “He says he never sleeps. He says he’ll never die.” After the 4th repeat, it turns into a whisper and becomes haunting. The band says that this song was based on “Judge Holden, the main antagonist of Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.” This song is a heavy metal anthem with blood-curdling vocals, powerhouse drums, and distorted guitars.
“They Don’t Know” shows another musical side of the band. This song leans more grunge and alt-rock than it does metal, giving the listener a new sound to dig into. The lyrics are delivered in a rhythmic fashion that is very catchy. After this vocal rhythmic section, the song explodes into a guitar solo that is bursting with flavor. He sings, “Still our neighbors say the prophecy has come now after all.”
The tempo surges back to life with “A Night Nameless and Eternal,” a track brimming with raw energy and angst. Lyrically, it delves into themes of death and the chaos of the end of days, alternating between pop-punk-style vocals and intense screamo metal. The song channels the urgency of expressing emotions, rage, fear, and defiance, while there’s still time, especially through art. This sentiment resonates in the lyrics: “We all know what’s coming. We all know how this ends. So sing. And scream.” The band confronts an impending doom, acknowledging its inevitability while admitting an inability to fully grasp the darkness that lies ahead: “We all know it waits, but we can never comprehend, All the pain and all the madness we will witness in the end.”
The final track, “Slave Morality,” serves as a thoughtful counterpart to Nietzsche’s concept that opened the album, bringing the record full circle. It ties together the album’s overarching themes while revisiting the apocalyptic imagery explored in earlier songs. Musically, the track leans toward a ballad style, gradually building in intensity before culminating in a heavier sound. It’s a fitting and reflective conclusion, offering a powerful nightcap to the album’s journey.
While Nero Played is a bold and unflinching exploration of humanity’s darker truths, amplified by a fusion of relentless soundscapes and deeply evocative lyrics. Secular Era and Drexl Bowie deliver a thought-provoking and musically diverse narrative that challenges listeners to face uncomfortable realities about society and themselves. By intertwining themes of philosophy, history, and urgent modern issues, the album serves as both a wake-up call and an emotional outlet, making it a powerful statement for our tumultuous times. Listen to the album on Spotify now:
Written by Ryan Cassata
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