Over the next few years Asrai worked on perfecting their sound, image, and musical relationships - picking up Manon, Rik and Martin as permanent members to create the rich and epic sound they have today.
Touch in the Dark was recorded on indie Dutch-euro label Transmission Records in 2004 (produced by German gothic metal studio wizard Roman Schoensee of The Bloodline/Dreamside) and mixed by Sasha Peath.
They have appeared at over 20 European festivals in 2005 and 2006, and showcased their new single at Paradiso in Amsterdam in May 2006. Asrai went 2008 on a European tour; The Darkest Tout, with Septhic Flesh, Gorgoroth, (now called Godseed), Moonspell and Cradle of Filth. And in 2010 Asrai was part of the Rubicon tour, with Unsun and Tristania.
Margriet - Vocals
Rik - Guitar
Manon - Synth
Jett - Bass
Karin - Drums
Former band members:
Martin - Bass
Sour Ground
Asrai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And lived a lie within
The sadness and sorrow
For the loss that came again
Water washed the tears away
But the emptiness stayed
Tamed itself with outrage
And spit the bitterness away
This water won't feed the earth
Nothing grows on sour ground
She cannot calm the screams
To silence in her head
Staring with her empty eyes
Try to feel what she had
She wrote her name in sand
And loved a lie within
Where beauty can be cruel
And beauty takes it all
This water won't feed the earth
Nothing grows on sour ground
I will swim with you
And play amongst the waves
Where mermaids will be singing
Where the sweet song remains
Like a comfort whisper
To be together again
She wrote her name in sand
And believed her lie within
This water won't feed the earth
Nothing grows on sour ground
This water won't feed the earth
Nothing grows on sour ground
The song Sour Ground by Asrai focuses on the themes of loss, deception, and emptiness. The opening lines "She wrote her name in sand And lived a lie within" showcase the idea that the singer is living a false reality, unable to cope with the loss they have experienced. They try to ease their pain but cannot change the empty feeling inside, as the chorus suggests, "This water won't feed the earth, nothing grows on sour ground." The metaphorical use of water in the song also shows the cycle of washing away the tears, but the emptiness still remains.
The lyrics also showcase the singer's struggle to deal with the memories that haunt them. "She cannot calm the screams, to silence in her head" refers to the internal turmoil the singer experiences. The juxtaposition of the beauty and cruelty of life is highlighted, and the chorus suggests that nothing can change or grow on a sour, unhealthy foundation. In the end, the hope that the singer sings about lies in the idea of being reunited with their loved ones, as shown in the lines "Like a comfort whisper, to be together again."
Line by Line Meaning
She wrote her name in sand
She left a fleeting reminder of her existence in a transient medium.
And lived a lie within
She deceived herself by pretending to live a life she didn't have.
The sadness and sorrow
She experienced grief and misery.
For the loss that came again
She suffered from repeated bereavement.
Water washed the tears away
Her tears were wiped away by the cleansing power of water.
But the emptiness stayed
Despite the purification, she still felt lost and unfulfilled.
Tamed itself with outrage
She tried to control her emotions by channeling them into fierce anger.
And spit the bitterness away
She expelled her resentment through a violent outburst.
This water won't feed the earth
The liquid cannot nourish the soil and sustain life.
Nothing grows on sour ground
Unhealthy conditions prevent anything from flourishing.
She cannot calm the screams
She can't silence the voices tormenting her from within.
To silence in her head
She longs for inner peace and quietness.
Staring with her empty eyes
She looks aimlessly with a lack of expression and vitality.
Try to feel what she had
She attempts to recall and relive past happy moments.
Where beauty can be cruel
The superficial attractiveness of things can bring harm and pain.
And beauty takes it all
The obsession with appearances and aesthetics can consume everything else within.
I will swim with you
Another person offers to share the experience of being adrift with her.
And play amongst the waves
They will take joy in the natural rhythm of the water.
Where mermaids will be singing
They imagine the mythical creatures luring them with enticing melodies.
Where the sweet song remains
The sweetness of the melody lingers on, echoing through their minds.
Like a comfort whisper
It soothes and eases the pain of their struggles.
To be together again
They cling to the hope of meeting their loved ones once more.
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mreastlands2
AWESOME