“Parasite” by Wolves At The Gate Song Meaning: The thoughts that feed on our minds

Wolves At The Gate’s “Parasite” is a triumph on their album Wasteland, accompanied by a cinematic, apocalyptic lyric video that plays like a short film. With the band’s signature brutal riffs from Joseph Alarcon, the chilling back-and-forth clean and screamed vocals between Steve Cobucci and Nick Detty, and kick drums from Abishai Collingsworth that you’ll feel in your chest, Wolves At The Gate is uniquely equipped to depict a brutal world in this high-concept album.

Nick Detty took the time to share the meaning of the song “Parasite” — and what we can do when thoughts of despair feed on our minds.

What events inspired “Parasite?”

15 years deep into their career, Wolves At The Gate is in a good position to flex their creative muscles. So when clean vocalist and primary lyricist Steve Cobucci suggested a concept album, everyone was on board.

“We were trying to think outside the box, and Steve pitched the idea of doing a concept album — telling a story, world-building,” recalls screamer Nick Detty. “It's really beautiful the way it turned out, because it expanded and grew into this story with Jess, his eyes being opened to the sickness and the depravity of the wasteland, and him starting to slowly put things together. You get to see a little bit of that in our ‘Parasite’ music video and some of the bits and pieces in the teasers — getting to have a perspective through Jess's eyes of this chaotic post-apocalyptic wasteland.”

For the members of Wolves At The Gate, who hold a deep faith, the symbolism is intense enough to make the album almost a modern-day metal parable.

Nick unpacks it: “It's translating our hearts and our nature into something tangible for people, following a character's story, and viewing the parasite as sin-sickness. It's such a unique and interesting way that we've developed in our ability to tell a story that people have gravitated toward.”

What is the meaning of the song “Parasite?”

Anyone who has spent time living with their humanity has experienced some level of soul-sickness. For Nick, who has endured his own mental health struggles, “Parasite” captures that experience. 

“‘Parasite’ talks about the sickness that infests us, warps our mind, and tears us from end to end — going in and telling us lies, telling us things that are not true, or things that are not what we would think in the forefront of our mind about ourselves or others,” Nick explains. “That resonates with me because I'm guilty of being inside my own head constantly about everything. That's when you feel the true weight of life. With the day-to-day, it's really easy to start picking yourself apart.”

For Nick, that has sometimes been a mental health spiral that has led to literally fighting for his life. Anxiety and depression have pushed him into experiences of immense isolation where it’s easy to believe lies about himself.

“That is that sickness. The parasite feeds upon my open veins; it continues to grow. We all know how easy it is for that snowball effect to happen. All it takes is one thought, and it spirals down.” 

The good news is that these parasitic thoughts don’t have to have the final say. Inviting others in can offer different voices, voices that speak the truth to that spiral.

“I have struggled so hard with asking for help,” Nick confesses. “When you are isolated and distant from people—because it is easy to draw away from people when you're in that space — I would say number one: you are loved more than you could ever comprehend or fathom, truly. Number two: you are absolutely not alone.”

He’s experienced that personally, through his faith and the people around him.

The singer says, “My wife is the most perfect example. All she wants to do is help. When I'm going through something and truly struggling mentally, I have to force myself to reach out to people. Whether you think it's the end or not, I promise you it's not. There is always a way out. Giving up is never the answer. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Somebody is going to hold your hand, come to you, and meet you where you are.

“I know life can feel overwhelming, and the day-to-day struggles of existence in general can feel very daunting. But that's why I love the metal community and why I love music. Music is an insanely beautiful catalyst for people.”

What is Wolves At The Gate’s message on mental health right now?

The way people have resonated with “Parasite,” and with Wasteland as a whole, is nothing new for a band who has never shied away from heavy, existential themes. Part of what sustains and grows that resonance is the light Wolves At The Gate shines into the most apocalyptic dark nights of the soul.

“It's been the same philosophy the entire time we've been a band: being purposeful and intentional about reaching out and using music as a catalyst,” Nick Detty says of Wolves At The Gate’s tenure as a metalcore mainstay. “That hope comes from sharing the gospel through our music as well. It’s finding that message of hope in who Christ is, and in others in the same community you're in, and reaching out and saying something. I know that's tough, especially when you feel isolated. But you wouldn't believe the things you learn about other people that make you feel so connected to them. That's why I love music and the hardcore scene. Music is probably the most beautiful way people have been connected together to say, ‘I feel the exact same way you do.’ It has an anthem effect.”

And for Nick, he’s not saying that lightly: he’s lived it.

“Being someone who has literally fought for his own life and had others fight for my life in a very visceral manner—something I'll never forget—I can't say it enough: you're not alone. There are so many people out there going through a very similar situation. Given all of the struggles I've personally been through mentally, quitting is the worst thing you could do. I would strongly urge you, and I pray that you would reach out to someone—someone at work, at home, your mom, dad, a friend, a relative, or even somebody you met at a show. When it comes down to it, we are here for each other. We are here to support one another, have a good time, and build that community. I pray you see that this is not the end, and that you know there is a love far greater and far more unimaginable than you could ever see, and it is here for you. It's made for you, and you're the object of that love.”

Full interview with Wolves At The Gate

“All of us in the band want to produce authenticity and be genuine because it's who we are; it's just what we do. I'm very thankful that it's a part of the personality of the band,” Nick explained.

He went into more depth about what that means in the Wasteland era in the full interview, which you can watch below. Wasteland is streaming everywhere now, and you can find it at https://watg.ffm.to/wasteland. 

“Parasite” by Wolves At The Gate lyrics

You lie
Parasite

Numb, I walk this path, my veins aglow
But still the Novocain won't last, I feel it break me
Give me my fix, poisonous bliss
Seal it with a venomous kiss, I die (I die)

Everybody tries to kill away the pain
With their own brand of Novocain and silence
Nothing I take will drown out the noise that lives inside
Every path that I tread still brings me back inside your jaws
To my open grave

Listen to the devil speak
Filling my veins with what I seek
And the venom tastes of your deceit
Listen to the doublespeak

Every single word he spits lies
Every time I hear your voice, you lie
You lie
You lie

All I hear within are voices speaking
Of the promises of sin, I feel it break me
Give me my fix, poisonous bliss
Seal it with a venomous kiss
I hear you hiss, serpent

Listen to the devil speak
Filling my veins with what I seek
And the venom tastes of your deceit
Listen to the doublespeak

And I died a million deaths to live
A parasite that feeds upon my open veins and drains the river dry
Why do I feel this love for you and sing this broken melody?
My enemy still sings his siren song

Contaminating, it sinks its claws
Reanimating the serpent calls
Turning all my fear into desire
Boiling in my veins
Boiling in my veins

That hateful leech in my blood
Every single drop inside, poisoned
Circulate in my veins, all of the sin I've chosen
Dissociate misery from the poison
Reanimate the pain it brings
I am the enemy

And I died a million deaths to live
A parasite that feeds upon my open veins and drains the river dry
Why do I feel this love for you and sing this broken melody?
My enemy still sings his siren song

Why do I crave misery?
Reanimate the pain again, serpent