I reckon it's about the Financial Crash of 2007-9. It could be about the wall st crash, but I don't think it is as it references the
new American dream. This is my take on it, anyway.
Standing on the backs of angels
Destined to create
Mounting the attack
While heroes carry your weight
This verse is about bankers who go out and spend other people's money/take gambles on shares and markets with money that isn't theirs. This (in the UK, don't know about the US) was a major cause of the crash when banks and firms went under due to rogue traders.
Riding out the wave
Content to feeding the machine
Leading us to death
The new American dream
This references the boom and bust of recent economic times. In times of boom it was easy for bankers to take risks off it and get rich (the old american dream) but eventually they got it wrong and ruined innocent people (the new american dream).
Tears fall from the shameless
Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water
Selfless are the righteous
Burden me, lead me like a lamb to the slaughter
When there were bad times, bankers deceived people that their money is secure (shelter me...) when people asked about it when it had been shamelessly gambled away and the bankers acted like it wasn't their fault at all. The public had to bear the cost of bailing out banks, hence "burden me".
Blurring lines drawn in between
What is right and what is wrong
Victims on the radar
Straining us along
They know at all times what the consequences will be if they mess up on the trading floor with other people's money (victims on the radar...). The first 2 lines are just a slight at the dubious actions of bankers that lead to the crash
We're onto your agenda
The dead end road to nowhere
People have now realised that bankers were bleeding us dry for personal gain and the problem is now being dealt with.