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
Save Your Serpent
Ego Likeness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stagnated spaces and your cold-blooded brother
Into the mud until the summertime comes
Into the mud and back to your blood
(Save your serpent)
Your talismans can't help you now
We can't evolve much farther if we let them weigh us down
We worship the rivers and the seas
We worship the stone
The only gospel that we know is encoded in our bones
We are of reptiles
We are of stardust
We are of mercury
And these things are our kin
We are of dignity
We are of mercy
We are of cruelty
And this is not our sin
Build no temple
Just remember
What you came from, who you are
And you're owed nothing
Just feel lucky
To leave a trace of who you are
(Save your serpent)
Build no temple
Just remember
what you came from, who you are
And you're owed nothing
Just feel lucky
to leave a trace of who you are
Build no temple
Just remember
What you came from, who you are
And you're owed nothing
Just feel something
And leave a trace of who you are
The lyrics to Ego Likeness’s “Save Your Serpent” express a deep connection with one’s primal and elemental origins, urging listeners to discard meaningless rituals and symbols and to embrace the elemental forces that shape us. The opening lines set the stage for a journey of transformation and renewal. The “egg of the mother” is a clear reference to the primordial origins of life, and the “stagnated spaces and your cold-blooded brother” refer to our reptilian ancestry. The image of wallowing in the mud is a metaphor for the process of shedding one’s past and returning to one’s true nature. By invoking the serpent, the song taps into the complex symbolism of serpents as both a force of destruction and of rebirth.
Throughout the song, the lyrics contrast the false promises of religion and mysticism with the unfailing truth of nature. “Your talismans can’t help you now,” sings the vocalist. “We can’t evolve much farther if we let them weigh us down.” This is not an argument against spirituality in general, but rather a call to reject the trappings of organized religion and to seek truth and meaning in nature. The verses acknowledge both the beauty and the brutality of nature, expressing reverence for the rivers, seas, and stones, while also acknowledging the inherent cruelty that is part of life. Ultimately, the message of “Save Your Serpent” is one of living in the present, staying true to one’s primal instincts, and accepting the natural cycle of creation and destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of the egg of the mother
We are all born from our mothers
Stagnated spaces and your cold-blooded brother
We come from stagnant environments and from our primitive, reptilian ancestors
Into the mud until the summertime comes
We come from the earth and must wait for the right season or opportunity to flourish
Into the mud and back to your blood
We remain connected to the earth, and our physical bodies return to the earth when we die
(Save your serpent)
Preserve your primal self and your connection to the natural world
Your talismans can't help you now
Our symbols of protection or power are useless in the face of reality
So cast them to the stony ground
Surrender the false sense of safety that our totems or artifacts provide, and embrace the rocky path of life
We can't evolve much farther if we let them weigh us down
Our fixation on physical objects limits our growth and development
We worship the rivers and the seas
We honor and respect the natural elements that sustain us
We worship the stone
We recognize the solidity and timelessness of the earth
The only gospel that we know is encoded in our bones
Our intuition and instincts are our truest guide in life
We are of reptiles
We are primitive and instinctual like our ancestors
We are of stardust
We are made of the same elements as the universe, a reminder of our interconnectedness
We are of mercury
We are changeable and adaptable, like the element mercury
And these things are our kin
We are intimately connected with the natural world and its elements
We are of dignity
We have inherent worth and value
We are of mercy
We have the capacity for compassion and forgiveness
We are of cruelty
We also have the potential to cause harm and suffering
And this is not our sin
We must acknowledge our flaws and strive for self-improvement without shame or guilt
Build no temple
Do not construct an idol or worship material possessions
Just remember
Stay mindful of your origins and nature
What you came from, who you are
Acknowledge your history and identity
And you're owed nothing
Do not expect or demand anything from life
Just feel lucky
Be grateful for the opportunity to exist
To leave a trace of who you are
Strive to make a positive impact and be remembered for your actions
(Save your serpent)
Remember to honor your primal instincts and stay connected to nature
Build no temple
Do not get caught up in material possessions or symbols of power
Just feel something
Embrace your emotional and intuitive side
And leave a trace of who you are
Make a meaningful impact in the world and be true to yourself
Contributed by Aaliyah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.