1. A metalcore band … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 2 bands known as Élan Vital:
1. A metalcore band started by Dakota Alvarez of Hollow Front.
2. A band formed in 2015 at artist-run creative community None Gallery in Dunedin, New Zealand, consisting of Renee Barrance, Danny Brady and Nikolai Sim. Their sound takes contemporary European cold-wave synth-pop dance music layered on analogue drum machines, then blends in the warm psychedelic organ sounds of 1960s garage rock. Distorted, overdriven bass guitar adds a further element of chaos into the mix.
Their debut album Shadow Self was released in 2017 on Dunedin label Fishrider Records, and is currently available on bandcamp. The expression Élan Vital describes the vital force or impulse of life. The music on “Shadow Self” represents that life impulse in an ambiguous zone between machine and human worlds. A dense claustrophobic swirl of dark dance-tempo synth-pop blooms from gloomy cold industrial dance music with vocoder vocals into uplifting melodic dream-pop catharsis about memory, longing, and obsession.
Blackheart
Élan Vital Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feed on my pain
Tear down my hopes and dreams
Suffer, look through the seams
Close your eyes and soak in black
Soak in black
Look into my eyes
Your actions are like bullets and this moments like the trigger
Carry out the fire
And know my insides turn to ash
You'll see the smoke begin to rise and then you'll see the flash
(Blackheart)
I have too much compassion
(Blackheart)
To spend my time on such a waste
Come on
Stop this petty game
Tear down this veil of deception (deception)
And accept honesty
Just leave me be
I've cracked beneath the pressure
And it's controlling me
Controlling me
Thank you, I've changed for the better
Thank you, I've changed, I've changed
Thank you, I've changed for the better
Thank you, I've changed, I've changed
Thank you, I've changed for the better
Thank you, I've changed, I've changed
Thank you, I've changed for the better
Thank you, I've changed, I've changed
Thank you, I've changed for the better
Thank you, I've changed, I've changed
Remember this, remember me
Remember this, remember me
The lyrics of Élan Vital's "Blackheart" speak to the experience of being hurt and broken by someone, whether it be a friend, family member or romantic partner. The singer addresses the person who has hurt them, asking them to break them, feed on their pain and tear down their hopes and dreams. The singer is asking for the person to see the consequences of their actions and the damage they have done, and to stop playing games and accept responsibility for their deception.
The chorus of the song speaks to the inner conflict of the singer, who acknowledges that they have too much compassion to be consumed by anger and hatred towards the person who has hurt them. They want to be left alone and have cracked under the pressure of the hurt they have experienced. The song ends with a repetitious chant of "thank you, I've changed for the better," indicating that through the hurt and the pain, the singer has come out stronger and more resilient.
Overall, "Blackheart" is a poignant portrayal of the emotions that come with being hurt by someone you loved and trusted. The lyrics are raw and honest, and speak to the painful process of healing and moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
Break me
Take me down, destroy me
Feed on my pain
Take pleasure in causing me suffering
Tear down my hopes and dreams
Shatter everything I believe in and long for
Suffer, look through the seams
Feel my pain and understand the depths of my struggle
Close your eyes and soak in black
Embrace the darkness and despair that surrounds you
Soak in black
Let yourself feel the full weight of your negativity
Look into my eyes
See the true depth of my emotions
And see my life succumb to murder
Witness the slow death of my spirit
Your actions are like bullets and this moments like the trigger
Your hurtful acts are pushing me closer to the edge
Carry out the fire
Continue to cause destruction and pain
And know my insides turn to ash
Understand that your actions are killing me from the inside out
You'll see the smoke begin to rise and then you'll see the flash
You'll witness the destruction you've caused and its aftermath
(Blackheart)
This is the chorus of the song, which can be interpreted as the internal struggle between the good and bad parts of oneself
I have too much compassion
I care too much to continue with this cycle of pain and self-destruction
To spend my time on such a waste
To use my energy on something that brings me down?
Come on
Let's do something else instead
Stop this petty game
Let's stop playing this destructive game
Tear down this veil of deception (deception)
Let's drop the facade and be honest with each other
And accept honesty
Let's embrace the truth
Just leave me be
Let me find my own way without your interference
I've cracked beneath the pressure
I've reached my breaking point
And it's controlling me
I'm struggling to maintain control of my own life
Thank you, I've changed for the better
I've grown and become a better person because of all the pain and struggle
Thank you, I've changed, I've changed
I'm grateful for the transformation I've undergone
Remember this, remember me
Don't forget what we've been through and who I am
Contributed by Lillian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bryce Hall
are you guys playing with asking alexandria
Bryce Hall
+Élan Vital I really like your music !!
Élan Vital
We'd love to see ya out there with us!
Bryce Hall
+Élan Vital chances are im gonna see you guys :)
Élan Vital
Yes we are!