1) Amphitryon were formed in 1996 at Boulogne-sur-Mer, by Matthieu Scarpa (guitar), Johann Simon (drums). Christophe Viandier (death voices) came a few later. The band plays first a 'heavy-thrash-death' style. Laurent Desvignes (guitar) joined this line-up about six months after and then, Aurélie Hais (keyboards & female vocals) and Gianni Leone (bass) during the beginning of 1997.
Each musician brings different influences which turned Amphitryon music to a sort of doom, heavy, death and black metal, with a significant atmospheric touch already. The band thus composes his first songs like "Land of Tears" and gets on stage.
In August 1998, the line-up gives several concerts and gets in Studio to record 2 songs for a French compilation entitled "Intramurock # 5". Amphitryon plays then on his first large stage at the Intramurock Festival.
Christophe decides to leave the band at the end of 1999 because of the vocal structures evolution and an increased part of clean vocals by Gianni. Therefore, Amphitryon is plunged in a long time of chaos before being able to recover a new effective line-up.
Vocals are completely reorganized during 2000 with the participation of the whole band - except Johann - to form a choir. Céline Malfoy and Sarah Barisèle, are recruited too for female vocals and Laurent finally assumes the death voices. New songs evolve thus to a much more symphonic style.
Amphitryon knows then a turning point for his career with the recording of a first autoproduced M-CD between February and March 2001 : "l'Entremonde". This record offers a certain notoriety to the band in the French Underground according to critics.
But the band is touched by changes of line-up again : Céline leaves Amphitryon at the end of 2001. Johann and Aurélie are also constrained to in September 2002. Another line-up is thus set up with Barbara Haigneré (vocals & flute) and Olivier Fourrier (drums).
This new formation gets on stage in November 2002 and shows immediately a real effectiveness. The band then plays for his most important live as 'revelation' at the Rotonde Festival 7 with After Forever, Sonata Arctica, Shaman, Paradise Lost & Saxon.
After the Rotonde Festival experience, Amphitryon starts the "Sumphokéras" project. Pure fresco as well musical as pictorial or literary, this project is based on Le cycle d'Ephapsaménée, an epic and fantastic novel written by Matthieu. The band works again with the painter Daniel Péron, also with the photographer Rémi Vimont, in order to illustrate the universe of Sumphokéras.
Once the new opus recorded, Amphitryon signs a deal with the label Thundering records/Manitou music at the beginning of 2006. Meanwhile, the band separated itself from Olivier. The replacement is then ensured by Christophe Demazeux (drums) towards the end of June of that year. After some gigs, Amphitryon is confirmed to play at RaismesFest 2007 with Therion, Finntroll, Glenn Hughes & Pain Of Salvation.
2) Amphitryon is a french DJ from Bordeaux, France. He has released 5 EPs, since 2016.
A quest for Hegemony
Amphitryon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the plains of Laconia.
Hatred ! Domination !
They want to be heard.
The dawn unveils
Over the Aegean sea.
The warriors are near to death,
The dawn unveils itself,
Over the Aegean sea.
A quest for hegemony,
Releases pain and destruction.
The fall of autonomy,
Hatred, the Grecian hordes.
Aigos Potamos,
Useless battle.
It's a real enactment
Of a brutal victory.
They have walked to a certain death,
A blood veil recovers the plain.
Triumph ! Ancestral bliss !
This conflict breeds a dreadful harmony.
A quest for hegemony,
Releases pain and destruction.
The fall of autonomy,
Hatred, the Grecian hordes
The song "A Quest for Hegemony" by Amphitryon is a historical representation of the conflict and war that occurred in Laconia, Greece during ancient times. The lyrics describe the Middle-East's influence in the region and how their quest for power and domination has resulted in pain and destruction. The warriors are near to death, and the only thing that seems to be in sight is the brutal victory that ensues. The song discusses the Grecian hordes and the hatred that has resulted from the fall of autonomy.
As the dawn unveils over the Aegean Sea, these warriors continue their brutal battle for hegemony, leaving behind a blood veil that recovers the plain. The conflict breeds a dreadful harmony that is too harsh to witness. Aigos Potamos is a useless battle, representing the pointlessness of the conflict.
The song's historical significance is evident in the way it depicts the cruelty of war and the thirst for conquest. It serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of power-hungry leaders and the destructive consequences that result from their actions. Amphitryon's lyrics offer a powerful commentary on the human condition and the consequences of seeking dominance over others.
Line by Line Meaning
Remind again the Middle-East,
Let us recall the conflicts in the Middle East,
In the plains of Laconia.
Specifically, let us remember the struggles in Laconia.
Hatred ! Domination !
These conflicts were driven by themes of hatred and a desire for domination.
They want to be heard.
The parties involved in these conflicts had grievances they wanted to express.
The dawn unveils
As a new day begins,
Over the Aegean sea.
With the Aegean Sea serving as a backdrop,
The warriors are near to death,
The soldiers were closer to death than victory,
Everyone's drawing closer.
The opposing sides were moving inexorably closer to one another.
The dawn unveils itself,
Again, the dawn brings new hope,
Over the Aegean sea.
Again, with the Aegean as a backdrop,
A quest for hegemony,
This conflict was about a struggle for supremacy,
Releases pain and destruction.
The pursuit of that goal led to pain and destruction for all involved.
The fall of autonomy,
In the face of this quest for power, any hope of autonomy was lost,
Hatred, the Grecian hordes.
And hatred drove the Greeks to join this conflict.
Aigos Potamos,
The Battle of Aigos Potamos,
Useless battle.
Despite the cost in lives and suffering, this battle changed little.
It's a real enactment
This conflict was a real-world demonstration,
Of a brutal victory.
Of how victory can sometimes come at a terrible price.
They have walked to a certain death,
The soldiers went into battle with the expectation that many of them would not return alive.
A blood veil recovers the plain.
After the battle, the land was left covered in blood and the veil of death.
Triumph ! Ancestral bliss !
Despite this carnage, a victory was declared and celebrated.
This conflict breeds a dreadful harmony.
The victory came at a cost, however, that left a lingering sense of horror and sadness.
A quest for hegemony,
Again, this all began with the pursuit of power,
Releases pain and destruction.
And the end result was pain and destruction for all involved.
The fall of autonomy,
The cost of this pursuit was a lack of autonomy for all.
Hatred, the Grecian hordes.
And the root of it all was hatred that drove even the Grecian hordes to join the quest.
Contributed by Maria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.