The group began releasing their dark Mass albums in 2003 and have been experimenting with both sound and live shows ever since. In 2013, the ensemble joined Neurot Records to release their fifth full-length album. The label was founded by Neurosis; a band that has been influential in Amenra's style and career.
Their origins were tied to traditional sludge with hardcore elements and shorter songs. They began incorporating post-metallisms into their overall sound with the release of Mass II, the first songs displaying this change of direction being 'From Birth to Grave. From Shadow to Light' and 'Ritual'. By the release of Mass III, they had completely embraced this new sound and composed longer songs.
Their 2021 record 'De Doorn', saw them temporarily interrupting their string of Mass albums because they felt this new record was not in line with what the Masses sound like and represent, De Doorn is different from those, yet still very Amenra-like. This is in part due to second guitarist Lennart's more active contribution to the writing process, something of which he had not done much in the past for some reason. He was feeling very distraught and affected due to Oathbreaker's hiatus (a band where he is the primary composer) so the rest of his Amenra mates wanted him to channel all those dark feelings into an album, an experiment that proved successful. This record itself is also different because it was exclusively composed for a string of special live performances and was only going to be a one-off affair, not an actual Amenra record; however, it turned out to be so good to them, that it eventually became their new record. The final and more distinctive aspect of the record is that it is their first sung entirely in Flemish, their native tongue, which very much fits their music. It was their Relapse Records debut since leaving Neurot Recordings.
Recurring themes in Amenra's music are the duality of birth and death, light and darkness, and pain and sacrifice. The band uses psychological and religious motives. Though calling himself agnostic, Van Eeckhout acknowledges the presence of spirituality and religion in the band's work. Amenra often collaborates with visual artists and choreographers, including Willy Vanderperre and Berlinde de Bruyckere.
Colin's clean vocals approach is very much inspired by the one and only Maynard James Keenan from Tool, something Amenra themselves do not try to deny as they have openly covered Tool song(s), specifically on their live acoustic album. Lead guitarist Mathieu is a self-taught musician and as such, many of Amenra's signature riffing and guitar techniques were devised by him alone, he had to figure them out on his own. Additionally, since Oathbreaker is on indefinite hiatus; their vocalist Caro Tanghe and Lennart's colleague, joined Amenra's roster in 2021 as a second vocalist, something that added a new dimension to Amenra's unique sound. She has collaborated with Amenra in the past so her addition was not that unexpected or out of place/nowhere.
Their style encompasses many aspects of post and non-post-influences and even though their music is not pioneering anything or creating new genres; it's still rather unique and uncomparable, proving to be very influential in the atmospheric and post-scenes, with even some 'copycats' springing around. They have a penchant for quiet clean guitar melodies passages wherein Colin's clean vocals are featured very prominently; sometimes singing, sometimes whispering intertwined with emotional and colossally heavy riffing sections wherein Colin screams at the top of his lungs using a quasi screamo-esque shriek that sounds very desperate and pained in nature. Their riffing style is comprised of semi-melodic sludge patterns, memorable and crushing in nature, very distinct and punctuated by Mathieu's own style.
Members:
Colin H. van Eeckhout (Kingdom) - vocals;
Mathieu J. Vandekerckhove (Kingdom) - guitar;
Lennart Bossu (Living Gate, Oathbreaker) - guitar;
Tim De Gieter (Doodseskader) - bass;
Bjorn J. Lebon - drums;
Caro Tanghe (Oathbreaker) - Vocals.
Former members:
Vincent F. Tetaert - guitar;
Kristof J. Mondy (RDS 220) - bass;
Maarten Kinet - bass;
Levy Seynaeve (Living Gate, Wiegedood) - bass.
Official Site
Bandcamp
Dance Of The Dead
Amenra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics to Amenra's song Dance Of The Dead are rich in metaphorical meanings pertaining to the concept of mortality and the inevitable cycle of birth, life, and death. The first line "Prick my finger and watch the hurt bleed away" suggests that pain is not permanent, and with a little bit of discomfort, it can be overcome. The following line "when you see blood.don't forget to breathe" indicates that even though witnessing the sight of blood may be overwhelming, it is essential to maintain composure and take deep breaths to calm oneself. The line "when Blood sees Blood.don't forget to die" seems to allude to the idea that like-blood attracts like-blood, and that ultimately all living things will face their mortality.
The verse "the cancer is spread.this is the dance of the dead" can be interpreted in various ways. It may refer to a physical ailment akin to cancer that spreads through the body and eventually leads one to the eventual path of death. Alternatively, it may hint at a more abstract concept reflective of societal and humanitarian issues, with "cancer" being symbolic of the evils that plague the human race. Lastly, the line "i stepped out my body to lead myself through these darker of days.i took my own hand to lead me through this all" could be interpreted as a courageous and empowering act of self-reliance during times of struggle and adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Prick my finger and watch the hurt bleed away.
Engage in a painful act and observe how it helps to alleviate emotional pain.
When you see blood, don't forget to breathe.
In the midst of chaos or discomfort, take a moment to focus on your breath in order to remain calm and grounded.
When Blood sees Blood, don't forget to die.
When confronted with death, one must accept the inevitability of their own mortality.
The cancer is spread.
A negative force or influence has spread through a system or community, causing harm and destruction.
This is the dance of the dead.
Metaphorically speaking, life can sometimes feel like a macabre dance where individuals are powerless to control their own fate.
I stepped out my body to lead myself through these darker of days.
The singer describes a moment of dissociation or detachment from their physical self in order to navigate a difficult period in their life.
I took my own hand to lead me through this all.
Instead of relying on others for support and guidance, the singer has taken control of their own life and is leading themselves towards a better future.
Contributed by Landon I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.