Discography:
1993 - Unholyunion (Act I)
1994 - Daemoonseth (Act II)
1996 - Moonlight (Act III)
1997 - Darkside
1998 - Trilogy
1999 - Elysium
2002 - Live - Apocalypse
2007 - Demonology
2008 - Condemnation (forthcoming)
The first four albums were re-released as double compilations:
2000 - Unholyunion (Act I)/Daemoonseth (Act II)
2000 - Moonlight (Act III)/Darkside
Current lineup:
Cezar - Guitar, Vocals
Reyash - Bass, Vocals
Icanraz - Drums
Full biography:
The beginnings of CHRIST AGONY date back to the first months of 1990 and until today, are inseparably connected with Cezar, the founder, the guitarist and the vocalist of the band. The 90s are the start and at the same time the quick prime for CHRIST AGONY. It led to establishing of the band in the leading edge of metal scene and earned the legions of faithful fans.
When in 1990 Bathory released "Hammerhearth", Cezar with the first lineup of the band, i.e. Zurek (drums) and Ash (bass and vocals), worked on the material that was released as the first band's demo, "Sacronocturn". The second demo, "Epitaph of Christ, released in March 1992, drew attention of Carnage Records. It resulted not only in many concerts, but above all, in the publication of full-time album, "Unholyunion", in 1993. The new way of CHRIST AGONY music led to widely understood black metal, and true emotions in their music quickly earned credit among fans and reviewers. "Unholyunion" was to become one of the most original and significant recording in the world of black metal, and CHRIST AGONY themselves were to lay out the direction for that genre.
The next recordings only confirmed the craft and the status of the band on the throne of black. In less than a year after, CHRIST AGONY recorded their second album, "Deamonseath Act II". Apart from signing to Polish Carnage Rec., the band sign their first contract with a foreign label, French Adipocere Rec. The album was promoted with the series of shows that attracted legions of fan.
Despite the lineup commotion the band grew in strength. The rhythm section was taken over by the members of death metal band Dies Irae, Mauser (bass) and Gilan (drums). In that new lineup CHRIST AGONY recorded their third album, "Moonlight Act II". The international label to release that album was British Cacophonous Rec., which had under their wing such bands as Bal Sagoth, Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth, to name a few.
It was 1996. The trilogy came to an end!
The Change
1996 was a productive year. Darkthrone released "Total Death", Varg Vikernes was working in his prison cell, and in Poland, CHRIST AGONY were preparing to begin a new era. The time of changes was coming. The effect, "Darkside" album, was visible in 1997. It was released in Poland by Morbid Noizz, and by Hammerhearth abroad. And despite the fact that Cezar had entered the studio alone, during European tour, where they shared the stage together with Behemoth and Hellheim, he was accompanied by Gilan and Mauser. "Darkside", being an experiment inspired by the works of 17th century English poets, foreshadowed changes. And the changes it brought, however paradoxically, it was the beginning of the break.
The Projects
The break in CHRIST AGONY work, that was caused by misunderstandings as to the created music, gave birth to solo projects, on which Cezar spent his all effort. While the style of MOON has its roots in the music of CHRIST AGONY, the works of WHISPERS are closer to Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath. MOON released two official albums, "Daemon's Heart" and "Satan's Wept" (Pagan Records). WHISPERS' "Passions" was released on tape by Demonic Rec.
The differences in style between the two projects were the products of one mind. Cezar gave vent to his indefatigable energy, passion and ideas that were a bit different from the music he had created before. The plans for CHRIST AGONY were becoming distant also due to the Cezar's need of self-fulfillment in other fields. He wrote poetry, short stories, scripts and audiovisual performances that he has not staged until today.
The break was also a big change for Mauser, who joined VADER.
The Comeback
CHRIST AGONY came back in November of 1997, when Cezar invited his fellow musicians to Selani Studio in Olsztyn to record material under the title of "Trilogy". Various artists took part in the session: Blackie on bass, Gilan on drums and instrumentalist Marek Kutnik (Hermh, Prophecy, SS 2666), who programmed drums and played the keyboards. Stylistically, "Trilogy" was the continuation of the first albums, and contained remastered tracks from the cult "Epitaph of Christ" demo tape. The concert lineup, Cezar, Blackie (bass) and Gilan (drums), hit the road, this time with Lux Occulta and Hate. "Trilogy" was released by Pagan Rec.
Cezar kept on creating and exactly a year after, in November 1998, started recording of the material under the title of "Elysium". Among the musicians invited to the studio were Patrick Bissonette (vocals), Marek Kwadrans (bodhran), Bart (drums) and Docent (drums). The new concert drummer became Thoarinus of Sacrilegium. The album was released by Metal Mind Productions and the next set of shows followed, among others Metalmania ’99 and the excellent show at Thrash'em All Festival.
At the end of 1999 a conflict between the band and the management burst out, which resulted in CHRIST AGONY disappearing from the scene for several months, until autumn of 2000, when the musicians started their next tour in Poland together with Domain and Yattering. During one of those shows new material was recorded. It was a live album, "Live-Apocalypse", released by Apocalypse Productions as late as in 2002. The same year, remasters of the first four CHRIST AGONY albums, "Unholyunion/Daemoonseth Act II" (Pagan Records) and "Moonlight/Darkside"(Apocalypse), were released.
Soon after that, Blackie and Thaorinus were replaced by Supreme Lord members: Reyash (bass) and Vitold (drums). However, Vitold did not stay with CHRIST AGONY for long.
The Union
In 2003 Polish metal scene grew in strength. However, for CHRIST AGONY it was the most bitter year in their history. Cezar was fighting against his left hand condition. Ulnar nerve injury had caused paralysis in the left palm, which in turn made it completely impossible for him to play the guitar. After some time he decided to be operated on, and after several months of rehabilitation came back with the material that originally had been meant to be another stage in CHRIST AGONY history.
Frustration caused by those events and meaningless search for help led to signing of a contract due to which the band was forced to change the name to UNION. "Christ Agony" was the name of their album released in 2005. The lineup changed only a bit. The members of UNION were Cezar, Reyash and Mlody, Dissenter drummer.
Next abandonments by the publisher, the general state of affairs in Poland cause Cezar to take another difficult decision - he emigrated.
The Rebirth
2007 was a turning point for Cezar. After he had returned from exile, he didn't lose time: CHRIST AGONY came back to life.
At the moment, the band has finished the session for full-time album "Condemnation". The first act of this album is "Demonology" promo. The author talks about the album with excitement: "'Demonology' contains 5 compositions of sophisticated, devilish taste and truly poetic warble. It's a combination of massive and heavy sound of the guitars, distorted bass, rhythmically pulsing drums and poetry hidden in the lyrics". This is the way the next CHRIST AGONY act is supposed to be. The current lineup, apart from Cezar (vocals/guitar), includes Reyash (bass) and a new personality - Icanraz, drummer already well known from Abused Majesty / Devilish Impressions. That promo, released in limited edition of 666 hand-signed copies, will surely be a rarity for the band's supporters.
The Key
Christ Agony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
W zwierciadle nocy
Utajonym znakiem ognia
Imieniem bestii jestem
Nocnym strozem
Aniolem upadlym
U bram piekiel
Nie ptakiem
Lecz skrzydlem wiatru
Nie bostwem
Nocnym demonem
Nie ptakiem
Lecz skrzydlem wiatru
Nie bostwem
Nocnym demonem
Ma klatwa
Jest kluczem wszechswiata
Piesnia prorocza w ustach karlow...
W grzechu upodlam swe ziemskie cialo
Ku czci nocnej orgii zbawienia
W ta noc zaplone na krzyzu
A wiatr rozniesie me czlonki
Na oczach kaplanow...
-To znak ciszy
W ktorej umieram...
Bol jest pieknem tworzenia
Samotnosc rozkosza cierpiacych
W lonie ksiezyca
Skladam swoj pokarm nocy
Dzikie znamie wlasnej namietności
Jest tylko jedno prawo
-Jeden kwiat
Pielegnowany w duszy mej
Jest tylko jedna droga
-Jeden spiew
W samotnosci zrozumialy
Cierpienie nocy
Zbudzi cialo twe
Narodzi ciebie w moich oczach
Twa bladosc wzroku
Uczyni mistrzem mnie
Wzbudzi we mnie gniew
Cierpienie mroku
Chwala jednej lzy
Niezapomnianej w chwili śmierci
Jest wiele pragnien
Ukrytych w kazdym z nas -
- To one sa kluczem wszechswiata
Cierpienie nocy
Zbudzi cialo twe
Narodzi ciebie w moich oczach
Cierpienie mroku
Chwala jednej lzy
Niezapomnianej w chwili smierci
The lyrics of "The Key" by Christ Agony are steeped in imagery and symbolism. The opening lines, "My name is the Beast/ In the mirror of the night/ A hidden sign of fire," suggest that the singer is identifying with a demonic entity. This is reinforced by later lines like "Not a bird/ But a wing of wind/ Not a god/ But a nocturnal demon." The Beast seems to be both a source of power and a force of destruction, associated with orgies and suffering.
The lyrics also speak of pain and loneliness as sources of creation, represented by the lines "Pain is the beauty of creation/ Solitude the pleasure of the suffering." The singer seems to find meaning and purpose in these intense emotions, which fuel their pursuit of the Beast and the night.
The chorus of "The Key" emphasizes the idea of suffering as a path to enlightenment, with the lines "The suffering of the night/ Will awaken your body/ And give birth to you in my eyes/ Your pale gaze/ Will make me master/ Stir in me anger/ The glory of one tear/ Unforgettable in the moment of death." These lines suggest that through embracing and enduring pain, the singer will reach a greater understanding of themselves and their connection to the Beast.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Key" convey a sense of darkness, power, and transformation. The singer is on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening, but their path is a painful and dangerous one.
Line by Line Meaning
Imieniem bestii jestem
I am named after the beast
W zwierciadle nocy
In the mirror of night
Utajonym znakiem ognia
With a hidden sign of fire
Nocnym strozem
Guardian of the night
Aniolem upadlym
Fallen angel
U bram piekiel
At the gates of hell
Nie ptakiem
Not a bird
Lecz skrzydlem wiatru
But a wing of wind
Nie bostwem
Not a god
Nocnym demonem
Night demon
Ma klatwa
Has a curse
Jest kluczem wszechswiata
Is the key to the universe
Piesnia prorocza w ustach karlow...
Prophetic song in the mouth of dwarves...
W grzechu upodlam swe ziemskie cialo
In sin I debased my earthly body
Ku czci nocnej orgii zbawienia
Toward the glory of the night orgy of salvation
W ta noc zaplone na krzyzu
In this night I will burn on the cross
A wiatr rozniesie me czlonki
And the wind will scatter my limbs
Na oczach kaplanow...
Before the eyes of priests...
-To znak ciszy
-It's a sign of silence
W ktorej umieram...
In which I am dying...
Bol jest pieknem tworzenia
Pain is the beauty of creation
Samotnosc rozkosza cierpiacych
Loneliness is the pleasure of the suffering
W lonie ksiezyca
In the womb of the moon
Skladam swoj pokarm nocy
I offer my night's food
Dzikie znamie wlasnej namietności
Wild sign of my own passion
Jest tylko jedno prawo
There is only one law
-Jeden kwiat
-One flower
Pielegnowany w duszy mej
Nurtured in my soul
Jest tylko jedna droga
There is only one way
-Jeden spiew
-One song
W samotnosci zrozumialy
Understood in solitude
Cierpienie nocy
Suffering of the night
Zbudzi cialo twe
Will awaken your body
Narodzi ciebie w moich oczach
Will give birth to you in my eyes
Twa bladosc wzroku
Your pale look
Uczyni mistrzem mnie
Will make me a master
Wzbudzi we mnie gniew
Will stir anger in me
Chwala jednej lzy
Glory of one tear
Niezapomnianej w chwili smierci
Unforgettable at the moment of death
Jest wiele pragnien
There are many desires
Ukrytych w kazdym z nas -
Hidden in each of us -
- To one sa kluczem wszechswiata
- They are the key to the universe
Contributed by Alice D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lukasz Koziol
No piękne to
lukashski
Najlepszy kawałek Christ Agony!