Due in part to their deft musicality, impressive live performances (including at festivals like Wacken Open Air) and fresh, modern sound, the band quickly gained the attention of leading rock and metal label Napalm Records, who re-released Aephanemer's sophomore album, Prokopton, in October 2019.
On the verge to release their third album, A Dream of Wilderness, mixed by Dan Swanö and mastered by Mika Jussila from the prestigious Finnvox Studios, Aephanemer intends to establish themselves as one of the leaders of symphonic melodic death metal.
Memento Mori
Aephanemer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While it's getting closer angst is growing every day
The grim saraband
The black rondo
The frantic jig
For the young and the old
All are taken away to a sudden end
What we are, they were
Those who lie in their graves
May the worms and decay be our common fate
Yesterday was time to dance footloose upon the earth
Now you can't refuse to give up all things of worth
No time for contrite regrets, no more bitter cries
Now come, for everyone must finally die
Crooked bones lead the dance
Doomed ones coerced to prance
The noisy scream of pipes
Bring them to their demise
Here they are the still and silent
Ossuary residents
Ironic naked teeth
Smiling at our deep conceit
How unworthy our concerns are
Tempers, pledges and desires
As bodies buried, nothing lasts
This is where the sad truth lies
Crowded skulls as a looking-glass
The whole world is a charnel house
Lively corpses on respite
Behind beauty, decay hides
Beware to not being caught off guard
Gloomy tragedy of a lifetime marred
We don't know when we'll take our last breath
There's no reprieve for the dance of death
When will come the final breath?
No reprieve for the dance of death
The lyrics of Aephanemer's "Memento Mori" explore the universal theme of mortality and the inevitability of death. The song starts by portraying the growing anxiety and awareness of death, represented by the drums that gradually get closer. The mention of "the grim saraband, the black rondo, the frantic jig" symbolizes the different ways in which death manifests itself.
The lyrics then emphasize the equality of death, as it doesn't discriminate between the young and old, the starved and the crowned. All are taken away abruptly, leading to the acknowledgment that what we are now, the deceased once were. The mention of worms and decay as our common fate serves as a reminder of the impermanence of life.
The second verse highlights the abruptness and finality of death. Yesterday, there was time for joy and earthly pursuits, but now there's no refusal to give up all worldly possessions. Contrite regrets and bitter cries hold no significance anymore as everyone must ultimately face death.
The following stanzas depict the dance of death, where the crooked bones lead the way and the doomed ones are coerced to dance. The mention of "the still and silent ossuary residents" and "lively corpses on respite" creates a contrast between the appearance of beauty and the underlying decay. It emphasizes the transient nature of life and the emptiness of our earthly concerns.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing still you hear drums are beating faraway
In a state of stagnation, you can sense the impending doom approaching from a distance
While it's getting closer angst is growing every day
As the doom draws nearer, the feeling of fear and anxiety intensifies with each passing day
The grim saraband
An ominous and haunting dance
The black rondo
A dark, repetitive and melancholic melody
The frantic jig
A frenzied and chaotic dance
For the young and the old
Both the young and the old are affected
Both the starved and the crowned
Regardless of their status or wealth, everyone is affected
All are taken away to a sudden end
Everyone is abruptly brought to their ultimate demise
What we are, they were
The fate that awaits us is the same as those who have already passed
Those who lie in their graves
The deceased individuals who rest in their tombs
May the worms and decay be our common fate
Let us accept that we are all destined to face the same destiny of decomposition
Yesterday was time to dance footloose upon the earth
In the past, we had the freedom to enjoy life on this planet
Now you can't refuse to give up all things of worth
In the present, we cannot avoid relinquishing everything valuable to us
No time for contrite regrets, no more bitter cries
There is no room for remorseful regrets or sorrowful outbursts anymore
Now come, for everyone must finally die
It is inevitable that every individual will eventually meet their death
Crooked bones lead the dance
The distorted skeletal remains guide the macabre dance
Doomed ones coerced to prance
Those who are doomed have no choice but to dance in a forced manner
The noisy scream of pipes
The piercing sound of the musical instruments
Bring them to their demise
Lead them to their ultimate end
Here they are the still and silent
Now they have become motionless and silent
Ossuary residents
Inhabitants of the ossuary, a place for storing human skeletal remains
Ironic naked teeth
The ironic sight of the teeth being exposed without the presence of flesh
Smiling at our deep conceit
Mocking our profound self-importance and arrogance
How unworthy our concerns are
Realizing how insignificant and trivial our worries are
Tempers, pledges and desires
Our emotions, promises, and longings
As bodies buried, nothing lasts
Just like buried bodies, nothing in this world is permanent
This is where the sad truth lies
The somber reality can be found in this understanding
Crowded skulls as a looking-glass
The abundance of skulls serves as a reflection of ourselves
The whole world is a charnel house
The entire world is a place of death and decay
Lively corpses on respite
Vibrant bodies that are temporarily at rest
Behind beauty, decay hides
Beneath the surface of beauty, there is an underlying presence of decay
Beware to not being caught off guard
Be cautious and avoid being taken by surprise
Gloomy tragedy of a lifetime marred
The dark and distressing tragedy that tarnishes the course of one's life
We don't know when we'll take our last breath
We are unaware of the precise moment when we will draw our final breath
There's no reprieve for the dance of death
There is no escape or relief from the relentless march towards death
When will come the final breath?
When will the ultimate breath be taken?
No reprieve for the dance of death
There is no respite from the eternal dance towards death
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Marion Bascoul
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Billy Smith
I love it when Marion drops those cleans out of nowhere like that. Plus everyone in this band is absolutely killing it.
Aephanemer
Thanks much Billy :D
Ymagier
I'm impressed by the ability to switch between clean and harsh vocals quivkly
Dark Mountains of Cold
freaking masterpiece, this band deserves more atention
Aephanemer
Thank you much! :-)
Tarmo Tyyri
And they will certainly get it having just signed with Napalm Records & touring Canada with Alestorm. Go Aephanemer, go - to infinity & beyond!
Сергей Антонов
Одна из моих любимых групп👌✌❤
Aephanemer
Спасибо)
Felipe Santurio
'May the worms and decay be our common fate'... Holy shit, this is deep!! I'm really happy that I can know about this incredible band. Cheers from Brazil!
Aephanemer
Hey thanks Felipe! Cheers from France :D