Meat & Greet

Ice Nine Kills' song 'Meat & Greet' is a chilling narrative that draws heavily from the psychological horror film 'The Silence of the Lambs.' The lyrics are a dialogue between the infamous Hannibal Lecter and FBI trainee Clarice Starling, capturing the sinister and manipulative nature of their interactions. The opening lines, 'Hello Clarice, nothing's free at this meat and greet,' set the tone for a quid pro quo exchange, where information is traded for psychological games and dark revelations. The phrase 'Take a seat' invites the listener into this macabre conversation, hinting at the power dynamics at play.

The song delves into the twisted minds of its characters, with Lecter offering his 'refined pallet' to help Starling catch another killer. This is a metaphor for his sophisticated yet perverse nature, contrasting with the 'nasty habit' of the other murderer. The recurring theme of 'defiled, starved then skinned' reflects the gruesome acts committed by the killers, emphasizing the horror and brutality that define their world. The line 'We've all found a flavor we can't resist' suggests a dark, almost cannibalistic pleasure in these acts, blurring the lines between predator and prey.

The imagery of 'The starling spreads her wings' and 'The moth is pulling her strings' symbolizes Starling's struggle for autonomy against the manipulative forces around her. The reference to 'put the lotion in the basket' is a direct nod to the film, encapsulating the dehumanizing and terrifying nature of the killers' actions. The song's conclusion, 'bid farewell then close the casket,' signifies the end of this gruesome journey, leaving the listener with a sense of unease and contemplation about the nature of evil and the human psyche.