The band was formed in Norway in 1989 by guitarist Tore Østby, singer Dag Ø… Read Full Bio ↴The band was formed in Norway in 1989 by guitarist Tore Østby, singer Dag Østby, drummer Werner Skogli and bassist Freddy Samsonstuen. In 1990, after a demo tape, Arve Heimdal replaced Werner Skogli and Ingar Amlien replaced Freddy Samsonstuen. A year later, Dag Østby quits, and the band is forced to search for a new vocalist. After many auditions, the band hooks up with Roy Sætre Khantatat (Roy Khan), a classically trained opera singer.

Their somewhat short-lived career (the band disbanded in 1997-8) was characterized by a unique and distinct sound on the power/progressive metal genre which was slightly altered with their last studio release, Flow.

Conception was reunited in 2005, playing the important American prog-metal festival Prog Power USA 2005 (Friday September 16) and Norwegian Scream Magazine 15 Years & 100 Issues Festival (Saturday October 1), bringing guitarist Tore Østby (Ark), singer Roy Khan (now lead singer of Kamelot) and the rest of the band back together.

Conception reunited again in 2018 and released an EP, My Dark Symphony.

Discography:
* (1991) The Last Sunset
* (1993) Parallel Minds
* (1995) In Your Multitude
* (1997) Flow
* (2018) My Dark Symphony (EP)

Line-up:
* Roy S. Khan - Vocals (ex-Kamelot, Crest of Darkness as guest artist)
* Tore Østby - Guitars (Ark, ex-DC Cooper)
* Ingar Amlien - Bass (Crest of Darkness)
* Arve Heimdal - Drums

Retrospect
Conception Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In cover of a dazzling fullmoon
I pace in the hall rendered harmless
By the memory of what I used to be
Night's soon over I dread another sunrise

The pain of knowing I might have changed the world
I couldn't pass with a compromise
But the healing hand belongs to the living

And I am no longer the world will go on without me

I'm no longer
When I leave I'll feel a soft asuagement
And with minimal manliness
I'll bow to hail the light

When night's over
I'll sink into oblivion
But still I will remember
I could have changed the world

I couldn't pass with a compromise
'Cause the healing hand belongs to the living

And I am no longer the world
Is the same without me I'm no longer

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Conception's song titled Retrospect is a melancholic reflection of the singer's life. The song is about accepting one's fate and acknowledging that life will go on without them. The opening lines suggest the singer is alone in a hallway under the full moon, and he is lost in thought, reflecting on his past life. He is rendered harmless, and he feels like he is a shadow of his former self. The singer says he dreads the sunrise because it is a reminder of another day he has to face, where he is no longer the same as before.

The singer then goes on to reflect on how he could have changed the world but chose not to compromise. He regrets not being able to achieve his dreams, but the healing hand belongs to the living, and he is no longer part of the world. The singer acknowledges that when he leaves, it will be a relief, and he will bow to hail the light. He will sink into oblivion, but he will remember that he could have changed the world if he had not compromised. The song's overall message seems to be that life will go on without us, and we must accept our place in the world.

Line by Line Meaning

In cover of a dazzling fullmoon
Under the shimmering light of the full moon

I pace in the hall rendered harmless
I wander around in a benign hallway

By the memory of what I used to be
Haunted by the reminiscence of my past self

Night's soon over I dread another sunrise
As the night ends, I fear another dawn

The pain of knowing I might have changed the world
The agony of realizing I had the power to make a difference

I couldn't pass with a compromise
I couldn't make a deal and passively continue

But the healing hand belongs to the living
Healing is for those who are alive

And I am no longer the world will go on without me
I am no more, but the world will continue without me

When I leave I'll feel a soft asuagement
As I depart, I'll sense placation gently

And with minimal manliness
With a bit of courage

I'll bow to hail the light
I'll humbly and joyfully embrace the brightness