Biography
Demos, AFM years (1992-2003)
Edguy was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students Tobias Sammet, Jens Ludwig, Dominik Storch and Dirk Sauer. The name "Edguy" was an affectionate epithet for their math teacher at the time. In 1994, the band released two demos, Evil Minded and Children of Steel. These tapes were sent to many record labels, all of whom rejected the band, believing they would be unsuccessful in the music business. Undeterred, they self released their ‘unofficial' debut album, Savage Poetry, in 1995. They signed with AFM Records shortly after, who offered to re-release Savage Poetry with more widespread distribution. The band rejected this proposal in favour of recording a new album, Kingdom of Madness, which was released in 1997, but drummer Dominik Storch left the band shortly after. 1998 saw the release of their second album, Vain Glory Opera, with friend Frank Lindenthal filling in on drums. This album helped expose Edguy to a wider audience, thanks in part to guest appearances from Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius) and Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian). The band was joined by new drummer Felix Bohnke and bassist Tobias ‘Eggi' Exxel later that year, allowing Tobias Sammet to solely focus on vocals (he had previously played bass as well handling vocal duties).
In 1999, Theater of Salvation was released. That same year frontman Tobias Sammet conceived the idea for the Avantasia project, a metal opera featuring well known vocalists and musicians from the rock and metal scene. Whilst Tobias focused on Avantasia, the band took the opportunity to re-record Savage Poetry, to make it widely available to newer fans, as the original had become a much sought after rarity.
Following The Savage Poetry re-recording was the band's fifth album, Mandrake, in 2001. The album was accompanied by their first promo video, for the track “All the Clowns”, as well as the Painting on the Wall single. The Mandrake album also led to the band's first headlining tour. Three shows were recorded in Europe and were the basis for Edguy's first live album, Burning Down the Opera. The band's contract with AFM had expired by this point, which led to them signing with Nuclear Blast Records in late 2003.
Nuclear Blast years (2004-present)
Edguy's first release for Nuclear Blast was the King of Fools EP in 2004. This preceded the Hellfire Club album, released shortly after. The song "Lavatory Love Machine" was also released as a single. The band's productivity continued into 2005 with the Superheroes EP and DVD, the latter featuring footage of the band live and in the studio, as well as a making of documentary for the video of the title track. This was followed by the full-length album Rocket Ride in January 2006.
Sammet spent much of 2007 relaunching the Avantasia project. Edguy returned to the studio in 2008 and recorded Tinnitus Sanctus, with a video being shot for the track “Ministry of Saints” in Belgrade, Serbia. After a contract renewal with Nuclear Blast in late 2008, the band released their first live DVD, Fucking with F***, in 2009. This featured live footage of the band shot in São Paulo, Brazil, on their Rocket Ride world tour in 2006. The band supported Scorpions on the German dates of their farewell tour in 2010.
Edguy released their ninth studio album, Age of the Joker, in August 2011. The band toured Europe and South America in support of the record, including dates with Slash and Deep Purple, as well as an appearance on the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise. In a recent interview promoting the latest release from his Avantasia project, Sammet revealed that a new Edguy album will be worked on in the summer of 2013, with a release tentatively scheduled for mid-2014.
On January 28, 2014 Edguy revealed that the album would be titled Space Police - Defenders of the Crown and released on April 18.
Style
Edguy's lyrics are often metaphorical, alluding to metaphysical or social themes: conformity ("The Headless Game", "Mysteria", "King of Fools"), dictation by the church ("The Kingdom", "The Pride of Creation", "Theater of Salvation"), and dangers of modern civilization ("Navigator", "The Devil and the Savant"). To express such themes, Edguy sometimes use esoteric and hermetic expressions. Yet some of their songs are light-hearted or comedic ("Das Reh", "Save Us Now", "Lavatory Love Machine", "Life and Times of a Bonus Track", "Trinidad"). Edguy does not claim to represent any ideology; Tobias Sammet claimed "[the band is] not political and we are not religious; at least there is no key message in our songs telling you what to think in terms of anything". Edguy also employs lengthy and epic sections in almost every album.
Hellfire Club revealed Edguy's interest in experimenting within music by integrating an orchestra into the production. The album featured a variation on Edguy's style, with a less grandiose, more progressive metal approach being embraced. The band's album Rocket Ride features even less power metal elements, and is arguably more oriented towards hard rock. Their next album, Tinnitus Sanctus, contains even more hard rock oriented songs; a large reduction of double bass drumming is evident, in contrast to Edguy's older albums such as Vain Glory Opera where there is very fast double bass which is common in the power metal genre.
When asked if the term "happy heavy metal band" applies to the band, Tobias rejected it and added:
We are a heavy metal band. We play angry, powerful, sometimes tongue-in-cheek metal. We are flamboyant and we don't take ourselves too seriously, but that goes for Van Halen too, right? Are they happy rock? No, they have a sense of humor and kick ass! Just like we do...
Studio albums
Savage Poetry (1995)
Kingdom of Madness (1997)
Vain Glory Opera (1998)
Theater of Salvation (1999)
The Savage Poetry (2000)
Mandrake (2001)
Hellfire Club (2004)
Rocket Ride (2006)
Tinnitus Sanctus (2008)
Age of the Joker (2011)
Space Police - Defenders of the Crown (2014)
Matrix
Edguy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see your made up smile
When the show is over, then what is left behind?
It's in your eyes, it's in your hair
How come they say opposites attract?
When all you feel is a struggle deep inside?
Don't tell no lies, no more disguise
The damage is done, you don't belong
Deep down in the matrix
I'm feeling pushed, from left to right
Is this the way it's meant to be?
Is my destiny crawling on my knees?
Now who is right? And who is wrong?
Who is the one that won't belong?
Who is for real? And who's just pretending to be?
Don't tell no lies, no more disguise
I'm tracing the matrix of my life
The damage is done, you don't belong
Deep down in the matrix
No more lies, no more disguise
Into the matrix
No more lies, no disguise
I'm tracing the matrix
No more...
lies, no more disguise
I'm tracing the matrix of my life
The damage is done, you don't belong
Deep down in the matrix
No more lies, no more disguise
Tracing the matrix of my life
The damage is done, you don't belong
Deep down in the matrix
Into the matrix
The song "Matrix" by Edguy is a reflection on the facades and masks that people wear in their daily lives. The first verse describes seeing someone's made-up smile and wondering what is left behind when the show is over. The chorus calls for honesty and self-reflection, asking for no more lies or disguises while the singer traces the matrix of their own life. The second verse is more introspective, questioning whether destiny is meant to be a struggle and who is right or wrong in the end.
The chorus becomes more urgent and determined, with the singer insisting on tracing the matrix and facing the damage that has been done. The repetition of "no more lies, no more disguise" highlights the importance of being authentic and true to oneself. The final line - "Into the matrix" - implies a willingness to dive deeper into the complexities of life and face whatever truths may be found.
Overall, "Matrix" is a contemplative and introspective song that encourages listeners to examine their own lives and relationships, and to strive for greater honesty and authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
I see your face in a masquerade
I see the fake version of you that you present to the world
I see your made up smile
I see the smile that you put on even when you don't feel like it
When the show is over, then what is left behind?
After all the pretending is done, what is the real you like?
It's in your eyes, it's in your hair
Your true essence and nature can be seen in your natural features
How come they say opposites attract?
Why is it said that people with different personalities are attracted to each other when only inner struggles arise from it?
When all you feel is a struggle deep inside?
Despite pretending to be someone else, deep down there's a feeling of internal conflict.
Don't tell no lies, no more disguise
Stop pretending and show the real you
I'm tracing the matrix of my life
I'm examining my life
The damage is done, you don't belong
The harm that has been done will always keep you from really fitting in
Deep down in the matrix
In the innermost parts of life
I'm feeling pushed, from left to right
I'm being pulled in different directions
Is this the way it's meant to be?
Is this the way our lives are meant to go?
Is my destiny crawling on my knees?
Is my fate really that bad?
Now who is right? And who is wrong?
Trying to figure out who is justified and who is not
Who is the one that won't belong?
Trying to understand who doesn't fit in
Who is for real? And who's just pretending to be?
Trying to figure out who is genuine and who is fake
Into the matrix
Going deeper into understanding and examining life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Linus Nirbrant, Martin Hansen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind