Elegeion arose from the ashes of the underground Australian Black Metal band Greydawn in 1995 under the name Transcendence, consisting of Anthony Kwan and James Wallbridge. Although Elegeion's style predominantly reflects that of mournful doom, many of the early tracks were in fact written and played in black metal style throughout 1993-1994 with Greydawn.
1996 saw the release of the demo of epic proportions "Induction to eternal rest..." which gave rise to interest from several European labels, tape traders and magazines worldwide. 1997 saw the demo's release on MCD by Candlelight Records under the title "Odyssey into darkness" and the new band name Elegeion. The EP was aptly described as "gothic / classical metal with the emphasis on trance-like, hypnotic riffs with powerful operatic female vocals and mournful violins". Subsequent reviews and advertising followed in both mainstream and underground fanzines worldwide. Sales of the demo were in excess of 2000 units.
In 1998/99, rehearsal and demo tapes of the new album were recorded. In 2000, differences in musical direction resulted in Elegeion consisting solely of Anthony, although past collaborations with James still feature in recent works. With a lack of Australian musicians who sympathized with this direction in music, the rest of the line up consists of Dieudonnee on vocals and session musicians on drums / percussion, cello and violin. Having undying passion and conviction behind the concept and direction of Elegeion, Anthony believes that working solo with selected musicians who are masters of their trade has proven to be the strongest and most effective line-up yet.
The year 2000 saw Elegeion travel interstate and enter the supreme Nesci Recordings studio for two months to record the ultra-emotive epic album "Through the Eyes of Regret". Recorded, mixed and produced by the eccentric old man Tony Nesci, of Henry Rollins, Chalice and Long Voyage Back fame, the album has a world standard production, full of warmth and character.
In 2002, Elegeion recorded an as yet unreleased single entitled "For Blacker Things", featuring a temporary regression back to black metal roots, with guest vocals by ex-Greydawn and Hellspawn vocalist Morbius Warseth.
2003-2004 saw a creative collaboration with Dieudonnee and former member James, which resulted in Elegeion re-entering Nesci Studios in March to record their 3rd epic "The Last Moment". The album takes you deeper into the bands unrelenting descent into the boundless pit of despair. And, although like the Loch ness Monster, this band rarely raise their heads above the black murky depths to bring an offering to the surface, you will see that this new chapter in the Elegeion journey is well worth the wait. It features supreme artwork by Travis Smith of Katatonia, Death and Opeth fame, Justin Hartwig from Chalice on lead guitar and exceptional violin and cello passages.
The quest of Elegeion is to transcend all existing boundaries of aestheticism, capture the darkest of all emotions and delve through the forgotten recesses of the mind. This music is for those seeking to surpass the musical ambit and redefine its boundaries. Although this quest may never be ultimately achieved, it will never be abandoned. Hopefully, it can only inspire and temporarily satisfy the ears of those searching for the ultimate emotive experience...but until then, listen...
Thoughts
Elegeion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching life go by
I see the darkest night
Under the pale blue sky
To know what''s real
I cannot see
Hidden beneath the mask,
I have been blinded
Afraid to see
The darkness in the light
Elude the truth, the way it be.
On a Winter''s morn
I see the Grey Dawn
The cold chills my spine
Like the hatred in my mind
I went to the forest
I went to the lake
Saw my own reflection
I saw two eyes, so full of hate
(Please help me )
As I gaze into the sea
I wish there was no one here, but me
To be at one with this earth
Let all rest in peace, allow a rebirth
(Let your life go )
The lyrics of Elegeion's song Thoughts convey a sense of sadness and disillusionment towards life. The first two lines reveal the singer's feeling of helplessness and melancholy as they watch life pass them by. The image of the darkest night under the pale blue sky seems to suggest a feeling of loneliness and isolation, highlighting the singer's alienation from the world around them.
The second stanza talks about the singer's struggle to determine what is real and what is not. The mask referred to could signify any false facade or persona that people put on to hide their true selves. The last two lines suggest that the singer has been blinded to the truth and finds it difficult to see things as they really are.
The third stanza describes a winter morning that seems to reflect the singer's mood. The cold, grey dawn chills the singer's spine, symbolizing the hatred and negativity that exists within them. The singer then goes to the forest and lake and sees their own reflection, which seems to evoke a sense of self-loathing and disgust. The final two lines make a plea for help, suggesting that the singer is struggling to cope with their own negative emotions.
The final stanza expresses the singer's desire for peace and tranquility. By gazing into the sea, the singer wishes to be alone with their thoughts and to find catharsis through introspection. The last two lines seem to suggest a letting go of life's worries and stresses, allowing oneself to be at peace with the earth and to undergo a rebirth.
Line by Line Meaning
It makes me sigh
I feel sad and helpless when I observe my life passing by.
Watching life go by
I feel like an observer just watching the world around me without taking part in it.
I see the darkest night
I feel overwhelmed by the darkness and negativity that surrounds me.
Under the pale blue sky
Despite the apparent tranquillity of the environment, I feel the sadness here too.
To know what's real
I desire to understand what's true and genuine.
I cannot see
But I feel like I'm getting lost and can't clearly perceive what's around me.
Hidden beneath the mask,
I perceive people and things that conceal their true emotions and intentions from me.
Even when reality be
Even if the truth is present, it's tricky to see it through the facade.
I have been blinded
I'm incapable of seeing things as they are.
Afraid to see
I'm scared to face what I would discover if I seek the reality.
The darkness in the light
I realise there's evil lurking in what seems good and pure.
Elude the truth, the way it be.
It's exhausting since I'm never sure what's absolutely right or wrong anymore.
On a Winter's morn
On a chilly wintery morning,
I see the Grey Dawn
I see the bleak and gloomy sunrise that matches my spirit.
The cold chills my spine
The cold weather influences me to feel more sorrowful and downtrodden.
Like the hatred in my mind
Just like how negativity is rife in me, the cold also inflicts feelings of malice and anger.
I went to the forest
I seek refuge and solitude by going to the woods.
I went to the lake
I looked at the peaceful water to calm myself down.
Saw my own reflection
I looked at myself in the mirror and saw that a lot of negativity and misery seethes within me.
I saw two eyes, so full of hate
I saw that my eyes are overflowing with hatred and anger.
(Please help me )
I request the universe to give me control over my thoughts and emotions.
As I gaze into the sea
As I stare into the blue waters,
I wish there was no one here, but me
I yearn for solitude and crave to have no one else around but me in this world.
To be at one with this earth
I aim to connect with nature and feel at harmony with it.
Let all rest in peace, allow a rebirth
I wish for all things to be calm and peaceful, to begin anew and to create a future that's full of hope and positivity.
(Let your life go )
I encourage everyone to release their bitterness and sadness, to let go of negative thoughts and to experience the beauty of life.
Contributed by Austin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.