The project ultimately took shape in 2006 with its first album: "The Ereyn Chronicles Part 1: The Journey of Beginnings″, the first installment of a planned trilogy based on the writings of Quentin Borderie. With the help of Damien Rainaud (drums) and a very warm welcome from the press (such as "Album of the Month" in the French issue of Rock Hard magazine in December 2006), Hugo teamed up with Nathalie Olmi (vocals), Yann Mouhad (guitars), and Julien Negro (bass) in order to perform the album live during a series of live concerts.
After releasing its second album, "The Chain Reaction", in 2009, Anthropia again received accolades from the press: "Album of the Month" in the French edition of Rock Hard magazine in April 2009. Mixed by François Merle, guitar player from Manigance, and mastered by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids, …), the album also features Kevin Codfert from Adagio as a guest.
In 2010, Anthropia released their first live album, "Acoustic Reactions", an unplugged performance recorded in an intimate venue. In addition, the show was captured on film and is available on YouTube.
"Non-Euclidean Spaces", an homage to H.P. Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos, was released in 2015 after a successful Kickstarter campaign. The album, which title refers to the impossible and cyclopean architecture that the writer held so dear, revisits themes featured in the universe of his novels and short stories, developing an original scenario of its own. The album features the following guests: Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One) who plays the narrator on the whole album, Pascal Allaigre (lead guitar on "The Snake Den", and Edu Falaschi (Almah, ex-Angra) (vocals on "The Snake Den").
The Band
Hugues "Hugo" Lefebvre - Vocal, GuitarsYann Mouhad - GuitarsJulien Negro - BassJNathalie Olmi - VocalsDamien Rainaud - Drums
Discography
Anthropia - Demo, 2004The Ereyn Chronicles Part I: The Journey of Beginnings - Studio Album, 2006The Chain Reaction - Studio Album, 2009JAcoustic Reactions - Live Album, 2010Non-Euclidean Spaces - Studio Album, 2015
Album Notes - The Ereyn Chronicles Part 1: The Journey of Beginnings
"I was not a huge fan of fantasy, but I was so truly captivated by Quentin’s story that I wrote music around it." Hugo says. He realized that the only way to capture the many nuances of Quentin Borderie's story was to write and record three separate records to coincide with the exciting episodes that sprang from Borderie’s fertile mind. “With an in-depth story like this, we felt the best way to present the main events of the story was to separate them into three major parts,” Hugo says. “Basically, each song represents a chapter of Quentin’s novel.”
Anthropia’s classical-metal-prog hybrid enraptures the listener in a world of sound, vision, and imagination. In classic prog-rock long-suite fashion, The Journey of Beginnings opens with “Welcome to Ereyn” -- a visual-aural overture surveying the entire Ereyn epic. “I really am more of a classical guy than a metal guy,” Hugo admits. “I’m proud of the record: I don’t like filler tracks,” Hugo says. “I prefer a record that is 30 minutes with only five songs, than a 60 minute-CD with filler. Hopefully, I’ve put together a record that listeners will sit an listen to uninterrupted.”
That shouldn't be difficult: The Journey of Beginnings buzzes with flashes of Iron Maiden’s gritty conceptual metal, Dave Mustaine/Megadeth lightning-speed riffing, Dream Theater’s sweeping storytelling, Yngwie Malmsteen’s neo-classical minor-scale mining, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway-era Genesis atmospherics, Kansas’ busy symphonic boogie-rock, classical guitar beauty and flair, and Rush’s dark ‘70s sci-fi/fantasy explorations.
Album Notes - Non-Euclidean Spaces
The album follows the footsteps of Randolph Carter who, in order to retrieve his dreaming faculties which will allow him to travel through time and space, will have to face the Great Old Ones' threat while the stars are starting to align.
The One-Man Band - Hugues "Hugo" Lefebvre
Hugo’s classical guitar playing, a skill he learned through intense study at “école de musique d’Antibes” (a music academy in Antibes, France), is just as important as any character in this fantasy-drama. “I studied classical guitar and theory from age six to nearly 18,” Hugo says. “It wasn’t until I was in high school that I was introduced to bands like Iron Maiden and eventually started listening to Dream Theater and Symphony X. It had a profound effect on me and my music.”
This marriage of classical, prog, and metal is evident in the headbangin’-dreamlike “Through the Sleeping Seaweed”, the infectious “Where the Secrets Lie” (which Hugo describes as “emotional” and “a soft song that holds the listener’s attention”), the soaring recurring melodic themes of “Forgotten”, and the alternately melancholy and rhapsodic closer “The Desert of Jewels” (in which Hugo interprets Antonio Lauro’s Venezuelan Waltz #3 for classical guitar). Hugo truly uses all the means at his disposal for this dynamic, near-perfect prog-metal-pop track. “It was a hard song to compose ‘The Desert of Jewels’,” Hugo says. “I just wanted it to be the perfect fit for the final track of the album. It’s a long song, but I think listeners won’t get bored hearing it."
“It also taps my classical background,” Hugo continues. “I tackle some of my favorite classical pieces in a ‘metal’ way on this record. I like playing the electric guitar. I am captivated by the possibilities the electric guitar presents.”
Aside from a few guest appearances and the steady hands (and blazingly fast double-kick action) of drummer Damien Rainaud, Anthropia is in reality a one-man band led by Hugo. As a solo act, the 24-year-old composer stretches the limits of normal creativity. (That's fitting. The title of the band references, in part, mankind's awareness of its divine origins -- its place in the grand scheme -- and the beauty and complexity of the universe.) “We used to be a trio, but the other members went on to become computer electronics engineers,” Hugo says. “I guess I wanted to live the musician’s life and just decided to do everything alone under the moniker of Anthropia. While I’d occasionally like the advice of other musicians, I also don’t have to worry about defending my ideas or working hard to protect a decision I’ve made.”
For the Ereyn Chronicles Part I, Hugo spent a year writing his compositions in his home studio on the French Riviera and a month to record them in Harkam Studio near Monaco. “I program the drum machine so that I can record quickly the guitar, bass, vocals, arrangement to have a demo of the music,” Hugo says. “When I record the songs for real, I track the guitars first, because it is the main instrument of Anthropia, and the songs may change a bit from the demo version. (In this way, I am free to change riffs and structure.) Afterwards we record the drums and bass.”
Hugo is hard at work on a second record – a record that is independent, not a continuation, of the Ereyn Chronicles series. “I might do an unrelated record in between each Ereyn Chronicles release,” Hugo says. “I have been listening to quite a bit of the classic prog band like Yes and Genesis lately as well as the Finnish metal band Nightwish. It is turning out to be a mixture of metal and prog.”
Sounds great, but isn’t taking a break from the Ereyn Chronicles a bit risky, Hugo? “I hope not,” Hugo says with a laugh. “I hope it causes some kind of dependency on the storyline, so that people are waiting for the second and even third parts.”
The World of Ereyn: Notes on the Storyline
The fictional universe of Ereyn, ruled by queen Lunne, has sunk into chaos and disarray. The old ways have been forgotten, and the road to redemption – an ancient wisdom that has been buried for ages – is lost. (A situation exacerbated by minions of the dark counterworld Empyr.) With aid, the main character, the young Amryl, must search for the all-knowing oracle in order to save his misguided people. However, he soon becomes a victim of a near-fatal shipwreck and is separated from his search party. His boat is in ruins and so is his life: Amryl suffers from amnesia and can’t remember who he is. Suddenly, an expansive search for truth and knowledge transforms into a mission of self-discovery. "The hero of the story is not a mighty warrior and doesn’t wield a mighty sword," explains Hugo. "He’s young and naïve. He doesn’t know a lot of things about the world, but by the end of [the story] that all changes."
Part I ends as our soon-to-be hero thinks his journey and existence are over. What’s in store for him? As if we’re watching an elaborate Saturday-morning-matinee cliffhanger, we’ll have to wait to find out...
Forgotten
Anthropia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The maze of my blind soul
Each way leads to a wall
As hard and dense as stone
Oh we’re not alone
As long as we got goals
Oh I am so alone
I don’t know
Cast in a new coast of the weat
Leaving all behind the rest
Oh tell me who I am
Please I beg
Oh i’ll walk alone
As far as my sorrow
Oh and I’m so alone
Driven by strange forces
I don’t know
Forgotten in a land
Spared by decadence
The gods seem only here
In their silent stones
Strange is a new world
And its lore of legends
So distressing the way
They’re forgotten
A brand new weapon
In my arm in my soul
A gift from a martyr
That lives on and on
But you know when you must go
Called by the unknown
New start with no return
For my past for my future
Strange forest of life
Blurred by the Syl sprites
Haunted by some orcs
Ruled by a white lord
I saved your life my friend
Loyal defender
Our first meet was brief
But in your eyes I see
Deeply
The future of the world
Surrounded by terror
Will show new actors
Bringing new powers
Forgotten demon’s race
Will spit its venom straight
Down into Ereyn
Which is still on unknown place
Lead me
I feel deep inside
That we’ll fight one day
Side by side
The song "Forgotten" by Anthropia is a mournful and gloomy reflection on the plight of the human experience. The lyrics of the song describe being lost in a tortured haze of sorrow, where every direction leads to a wall as hard and dense as stone. Despite this, the singer insists that they are not alone as long as they have goals. However, they feel driven by strange forces that they can't quite comprehend. As they journey through a new world, one that is forgotten by the gods and haunted by malevolent forces, they feel both alone and compelled to explore the mysteries that surround them. Throughout the song, the singer struggles with questions of identity, purpose, and destiny, ultimately concluding that they are fated to fight side-by-side with a trusted friend against the horrors that threaten to engulf the world.
One interesting fact about "Forgotten" is that it was released in 2006 as part of Anthropia's debut album, The Ereyn Chronicles. The Ereyn Chronicles is a concept album that tells the story of a young man named Eryndor who is drawn into an epic quest to save his world from a dark force known as the Demons' Race. The album features a mix of progressive metal and symphonic elements, with complex arrangements and ornate orchestration. Another interesting fact is that Anthropia is a French band that was formed in 2003 by two childhood friends, Hugues Lefebvre and Philippe Theiler. The band has been praised for its technical virtuosity and lyrical depth, and is often compared to other progressive metal acts like Dream Theater and Symphony X.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost in a tortured haze of sorrow
Feeling completely consumed by sadness and pain
The maze of my blind soul
Feeling lost and confused within oneself
Each way leads to a wall
Feeling trapped in life with no clear path forward
As hard and dense as stone
Feeling like obstacles in life are impossible to overcome
Oh we’re not alone
Even when things are difficult, there are others who share the struggle
As long as we got goals
Having direction in life helps to keep us moving forward
Oh I am so alone
Despite having goals, feeling isolated and disconnected from others
Driven by strange forces
Feeling compelled by unknown or inexplicable motivations
I don’t know
Uncertainty about what is driving or motivating oneself
Cast in a new coast of the west
Leaving a familiar place in search of something new
Leaving all behind the rest
Cutting ties with the past in order to move forward
Oh tell me who I am
Searching for a sense of identity in a new place
Please I beg
Desperately seeking answers to one's questions
Oh i’ll walk alone
Willingness to go it alone, even in the face of uncertainty
As far as my sorrow
Feeling like sadness is a constant companion
Forgotten in a land
Being overlooked or ignored in a new place
Spared by decadence
Finding oneself in a place that has escaped moral decay or corruption
The gods seem only here
Feeling a sense of spirituality in this new place
In their silent stones
Seeing the divine in the structures or objects around them
Strange is a new world
Feeling alienated or uncomfortable in a new place
And its lore of legends
Being surrounded by stories and myths that are foreign or unfamiliar
So distressing the way
Feeling overwhelmed or troubled by the path forward
They’re forgotten
Realizing that history and traditions can easily be lost or overlooked
A brand new weapon
Discovering a new source of strength or power
In my arm in my soul
Feeling a newfound confidence or sense of purpose
A gift from a martyr
Receiving inspiration from someone who sacrificed themselves for a cause
That lives on and on
Their influence and legacy will never die
But you know when you must go
Recognizing that there is a time to move on from a particular situation
Called by the unknown
Feeling compelled to explore something new or take a risk
New start with no return
Starting over without any way to go back to the past
For my past for my future
Acknowledging the things that have shaped them and the unknown that lies ahead
Strange forest of life
Life can be a confusing and frightening place
Blurred by the Syl sprites
Feeling like their perception of reality is distorted by outside forces
Haunted by some orcs
Feeling threatened or pursued by others
Ruled by a white lord
Being controlled by those in power
I saved your life my friend
Having a strong bond with another person
Loyal defender
Someone who is always there to protect and support them
Our first meet was brief
Sometimes relationships can form quickly and unexpectedly
But in your eyes I see
Finding a sense of understanding and connection with another person
Deeply
Feeling a strong emotional bond with another person
The future of the world
Feeling a sense of responsibility or concern for the wider world around them
Surrounded by terror
Feeling overwhelmed by the challenges and uncertainties in the world
Will show new actors
Believing that there are individuals who will rise up to face the challenges
Bringing new powers
Believing that these individuals will bring about positive change
Forgotten demon’s race
Realizing that there are other groups or cultures that have been overlooked or marginalized
Will spit its venom straight
Feeling like these groups will have a negative impact on the world at large
Down into Ereyn
Seeing these groups as a threat to a specific place or region
Which is still on unknown place
Feeling like there is much about the world that is still undiscovered or unfamiliar
Lead me
Feeling the need for guidance or direction
I feel deep inside
Having a strong intuition or sense of knowing
That we’ll fight one day
Anticipating future struggles or obstacles
Side by side
Believing that they will have support and companionship during those struggles
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.