Monster

Starset's 'Monster' delves into the profound struggle of an individual grappling with the changes within themselves, changes that are often influenced or triggered by external forces. The lyrics suggest a transformation that has taken place, one that the protagonist feels was forced upon them, leading to a loss of innocence and the emergence of a darker self. The repeated line 'You're the pulse in my veins' indicates that the influence of the other person is deeply ingrained, almost vital to their existence, yet it's a presence that's both sustaining and destructive.

The song's chorus poses two poignant questions: 'Can you change me?' and 'Will you cage me?' These lines reflect the internal conflict between wanting to be different and fearing the loss of one's identity. The protagonist seems to be asking if the person who has caused this change can undo it, or if they intend to confine them within this new, monstrous identity. The duality of love and hate, and the comparison of the other's influence to a drug, underscores the complexity of the relationship and the emotions involved.

The bridge of the song introduces the metaphor of the heart as an 'artifice' and a 'decoy soul,' suggesting that the protagonist's true self is hidden or has been replaced with something artificial. The imagery of 'digging shallow holes' and 'dropping the darkness in' evokes a sense of burying one's true feelings or self, allowing the darkness to take root and grow. The repeated declaration 'I am the darkness, I'm the monster' is a powerful acceptance of the new identity, whether it's a reluctant acknowledgment or a defiant embrace of the change.