Composer, keyboarder Gerald Peter and his eight-person-band Circle of Illusion released their first progressive symphony. An epic piece of music, which tells the story of "Jeremias - Foreshadow of Forgotten Realms" deals in its final version with the ambivalence of human emotion. Hence the borders between various progressive influences of the rock/metal genre, the jazz-funk-soul and the cinematic music get blurred. Moreover you are taken on a journey through the fantastic worlds of the subconscious of a cast-out and self-critical character. In a mastermind fashion the composer/keyboarder Gerald Peter and lyrics-writer/vocalist Taris Brown were able to give way to their creative urge. With the lofty and complex kind of composition, instrumental virtuosity and an orchestral bandsound "Circle of Illusion" enters new musical paths and is hence a must for all fans of progressive, classic as well as sophisticated rock-music. The band's line up features Gerald Peter on keyboards, Rupert Träxler on guitar, Stephan Först on bass, Aaron Thier on drums as well as Ulrike Müllner on the e-violin. Taris Brown, Cara Cole and Elga Shafran are the lead vocals of Circle Of Illusion, who are representing the characters Jeremy, Jelena and Sarah of COI's prog-rock-concept-album Jeremias.
http://www.circleofillusion.com
The beginning
Circle of Illusion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel so strange in my own body
My normal life is fading away
Are my hands real or am I still dreaming
Running, fleeing from a menace land
No time to think about an escape plan
Now the fear grabs for my vivid flow
However hard I try to hide or flee
Contradicting calls are chaining me
Just one voice that calls with certainty
Welcome to the land of insanity
You're looking so sweet as your running there
Trust me cause I'm gonna guide your way, your way
Let it go just relax and don't you care
The world I'm offering is full of joy to share
I, I want to break out
Find a way back, back to my home
You trying to flee but you got to stay
There is no time to play
Now is the day to face it all alone
Like the bullet of a fired gun
Emotions force me to hide and run
Am I part of a computer game
That tries to take control and drives me insane.
Vicious words I´m hearing loud and clear
That conquers me I´ve got to interfere
Flashes of my own memory
AHH, I realize the monster in me
Can you hear me, I'm your nurse
This potion here will lift your curse, your curse
Let it go just relax and don't you care
Feel the drug and join the dance
Still I climb to flee the rolling flood
I see me falling into toxic mud
The ground I hit is full of broken glass
Reflections torture me
I face my monster at last
I, I want to break out
Find a way back, back to my home
I cannot flee from my past
I did what I did to face it all alone
The lyrics to Circle of Illusion's song "The Beginning" explore the unsettling feeling of being disconnected from oneself and reality. The singer wakes up feeling strange in their own body, wondering if they are dreaming. They try to run away from a threatening situation, but conflicting feelings and voices prevent them from escaping. They are offered an alternative world full of joy, but they know they must face their problems and confront the monster within themselves in order to break free from their current state of confusion.
The lyrics use powerful metaphors to convey the singer's confusion and fear. They compare themselves to a bullet fired from a gun, a computer game that takes control, and a person sinking into toxic mud. The conflicting voices in the singer's mind are conveyed through the contradicting calls that chain them, as they try to figure out if they are part of a curse or a world of insanity.
The lyrics also explore the idea of facing one's past and dealing with the consequences of one's actions. The singer cannot flee from their past and realizes they must face their monster in order to break out of their current state. The song ends with the singer acknowledging that they cannot escape their problems and must confront them in order to truly find their way back home.
Line by Line Meaning
I open my eyes and I am wondering
After waking up, I feel uncertain about my surroundings
I feel so strange in my own body
I am experiencing an unfamiliar sensation in my own physical form
My normal life is fading away
The life I used to know is disappearing
Are my hands real or am I still dreaming
I am questioning whether my hands are physically present or if I am still in a dream-like state
Running, fleeing from a menace land
I am running away from a place that poses a threat
No time to think about an escape plan
I do not have time to strategize a plan for getting away
Now the fear grabs for my vivid flow
Fear is taking hold of me and affecting my thought processes
So I start to freeze and scream out NO!
I become paralyzed with fear and scream out in protest
However hard I try to hide or flee
Despite my efforts to hide or flee, I am being held back by conflicting thoughts
Contradicting calls are chaining me
Different voices or thoughts are limiting my actions
Just one voice that calls with certainty
One voice is urging me on with confidence
Welcome to the land of insanity
I have entered a place where madness reigns supreme
You're looking so sweet as you're running there
Addressing someone who is fleeing and commenting on their appearance
Trust me cause I'm gonna guide your way, your way
I reassure the person by telling them I will be their guide
Let it go just relax and don't you care
I encourage the person to let go of their worries and anxieties
The world I'm offering is full of joy to share
I am offering a world filled with happiness and sharing
I, I want to break out
I desperately want to escape
Find a way back, back to my home
I want to return to the place that is safe and familiar to me
You try to flee but you got to stay
I am telling someone to stay put despite their desire to run away
There is no time to play
This is a serious situation that requires immediate action
Now is the day to face it all alone
I must confront this challenge by myself
Like the bullet of a fired gun
I am moving quickly and with intense force
Emotions force me to hide and run
My feelings are driving me to hide and escape
Am I part of a computer game
I question whether this experience is real or not
That tries to take control and drives me insane.
Whatever this is, it is taking control of me and making me lose my sanity
Vicious words I'm hearing loud and clear
I hear hurtful and harmful words very distinctly
That conquers me, I've got to interfere
These words are affecting me negatively and I must do something to stop them
Flashes of my own memory
I experience brief moments of recollection
AHH, I realize the monster in me
I come to the realization that I am my own worst enemy
Can you hear me, I'm your nurse
Someone is addressing me as their caregiver
This potion here will lift your curse, your curse
A cure is promised to me
Let it go just relax and don't you care
I am urged to let go of my negative thoughts and feelings
Feel the drug and join the dance
I am invited to join in a sort of euphoric dance by using the supposed cure
Still I climb to flee the rolling flood
I continue to try and escape the impending danger
I see me falling into toxic mud
My efforts to escape lead me to a worse situation
The ground I hit is full of broken glass
When I finally stop moving, I am in a place that is full of danger and harm
Reflections torture me
The reflections around me cause me anguish
I face my monster at last
I confront my inner demons
I cannot flee from my past
I cannot escape from my history and the decisions I have made
I did what I did to face it all alone
My past actions were made because I felt like I had to handle everything by myself
Contributed by Vivian B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@soundchaser110866
One of the most outstanding albums ever recorded on this planet.
@TuuliMakinen
This is one of my all-time favourite (metal) albums. I come back to it again and again :)
@davidfeldman5092
This is BADASS!!!!!! It starts off good and builds to fucking greatness.
@fran0162
What an amazing style and pool of talent...metal with jazz...mixed with some R & B...pure genius!
@coolboygfx
Very good taste in combining metal with jazz, symphonic and retro. All compositions in this album are truly inspired
@buddhamisanthrope8021
Overture 0:00
The Beginning 3:55
The Run 11:02
The Memory Returns 20:47
The Party 26:54
Closing Doors 29:11
New Age 35:17
Continuum 43:26
Sarahs Dream 53:18
13th Floor 57:18
Nightmare 1:03:42
@ProgresivePrototipe
thanxs
@mikeemerson9832
What an incredible piece of work. Hugely impressed with this.
@katemurphy1915
I agree.
@andregulow907
...really incredible! What a masterpiece. Thanx for this pleasure.