By 2000, Archer and Lynch were moving the project in a darker electronic/dance direction, resulting in a self-released full length album entitled ‘Dragonfly’.
After a short hiatus from recording and a lengthy period of trial, error, and revision, and many regional live performances, Ego Likeness signed with Dancing Ferret Discs/ Noir Records for the release of 2004’s ‘Water to the Dead’. This album featured the band’s electronic roots while exploring a bit of a heavier rock
sound.
2005 saw the band tour Germany, Luxembourg, and the continental US with label mates The Cruxshadows, as well as performing at several festivals on the east and west coast, including Convergence 11 (San Diego CA), Dracula’s Ball (Philadelphia PA), Black Sun Festival I (New Haven CT), Freaks United (DC), Eccentrik Festival I (Raleigh NC), and others.
Their first album ‘Dragonfly’ was re-released on Dancing Ferret Discs in 2005.
In addition to The Cruxshadows, they have had the honour to share the stage with Voltaire, The Damned, Chris Connelly, Collide, Razed in Black, Bella Morte, Das Ich, Rasputina, The Start, Iris, Decoded Feedback, The Azoic, More Machine Than Man, In Strict Confidence, Combichrist, and many others.
They have also appeared on numerous compilation CDs, including several Asleep by Dawn releases and 'Where's Neil When You Need Him?' (a tribute to the work of author Neil Gaiman, DFD July 2006); released remixes for The Cruxshadows (Cassandra-Fortress in Flames), The Last Dance (Terribly When- Reflections of Rage), Thou Shalt Not (Inside of You, In Spite of You- The Projectionist), and Black Tape for a Blue
Girl (Tarnished- Scarecrow); and appeared on Voltaire's album Then and Again. EL has also been featured in publications such as Gothic Beauty, Outburn, ABD, Sideline and Sonic Seducer, to name a few.
Their third full length album, ‘The Order of the Reptile' (release date July 4th 2006, Dancing Ferret Discs) ventures back into the realms of heavy electronica, a bit of trip hop, and darkwave.
Archer and Lynch have been married since October of 1999 and currently live in Baltimore. Steven is also the creator of the atmospheric electronica project Hopeful Machines, and performs with the industrial/ power noise act Blind Till Now. All three members of EL, along with Alexx Lackey of echomatrix make up the experimental/ spoken word outfit The Trinity Project.
Former band mate Justin ‘Dingo’ Sabe also lives in Baltimore with a lovely belly dancer and some rather large cats. When not performing with EL, he spends his time on fire and robots and knitting, and can often be found at festivals that involve fire, robots, and/or knitting. He also plays the tuba and hopes to form a marching band in the very near future.
Current line up:
Steven Archer - Guitar/ Programming/ Music & Words/ Vocals
Donna Lynch - Vocals/ Piano/ Words & Music
Mike K. Johnson - Drums
Former members:
Justin 'Dingo' Sabe - Keytar/ Synths/ Noise
Official Site: www.egolikeness.com/
Steven also works on a solo project at www.hopefulmachines.net
Hydra
Ego Likeness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Into your life
Shatter divine
I've seen the seeds fall out of pylons
Collapse and fall behind
As we walk upon the wire
As we walk along the mountains
And scatter seeds on shore
This is where we are
This is what we become...
I've never seen the truth like this
Had the blind eyes turned to fire
Been the hydra on the landscape
Became one with you
I've seen the little summer come
And bring with it hope
Of the new line spread before us
The light, fire and smoke
Of the face upon the water
The soul beneath the skin
Of your hand beside my heart
A new reason to live
This is where we are
This is what we become...
The lyrics to Ego Likeness's song Hydra are rich and multifaceted, portraying an intricate weave of themes around truth, rebirth, and transformation. The first verse reveals a sense of vulnerability and rawness as the singer talks about the truth falling out of their mouth and shattering something 'divine.' It could be interpreted as the fear of the dark and the unknown, the fear of revealing one's true nature, or the fear of change. The second verse takes us on a metaphorical journey "upon the wire" of life experiences, where we scatter seeds on the shore and walk along the mountains. This could represent the path of life, with its ups and downs, ebbs and flows, and how each experience shapes our destiny.
The chorus 'This is where we are, this is what we become' is a powerful statement of self-determination and acceptance. It's accepting where you are and how far you've come, and embracing the person you have become. The third verse talks about seeing the truth in a new light, as the blind eyes turn to fire. It's about seeing things from a fresh perspective, with renewed insight and clarity. The singer also talks about being the hydra on the landscape - a mythical creature with multiple heads that represent rebirth, transformation, and renewal. The fourth verse is about hope, new beginnings, and the joy that comes with a new season. The face on the water, the soul beneath the skin, and the hand beside the heart all denote deep emotional connections and a desire for something more profound in life.
Overall, Ego Likeness's Hydra is a reflective song that portrays life's complexities and the need for self-acceptance, renewal, and transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen the truth fall out of my mouth
I've spoken the truth before and have witnessed it come to life
Into your life
The truth I spoke came into your life
Shatter divine
It has shattered the divine (the god-like or holy aspect of things)
I've seen the seeds fall out of pylons
I've seen the downfall of strong, towering structures
Collapse and fall behind
They crumbled and fell apart in the background
As we walk upon the wire
As we carefully balance our way through life's challenges
Of these lives that went before
We are influenced by the lives of those who came before us
As we walk along the mountains
As we journey through life's ups and downs
And scatter seeds on shore
And leave a small piece of ourselves in the world
This is where we are
This is our current state in life
This is what we become...
This is what we ultimately evolve into
I've never seen the truth like this
I've never experienced the truth in this way before
Had the blind eyes turned to fire
My once blind eyes have been opened and filled with passion for the truth
Been the hydra on the landscape
I've been the multifaceted monster in this world
Became one with you
I've become united with you in this world
I've seen the little summer come
I've witnessed the warmth and beauty of life's small moments
And bring with it hope
And with those moments, it brings hope for a better future
Of the new line spread before us
Of the new path laid out before us
The light, fire and smoke
The energy, passion, and mystery of life
Of the face upon the water
The reflection of our true selves in life's fleeting moments
The soul beneath the skin
The essence of who we truly are beyond just our physical bodies
Of your hand beside my heart
Of the intimate connection we share with one another
A new reason to live
A renewed sense of purpose and motivation in life
Contributed by Kennedy D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.