In an interview with a French magazine posted in June 2007 on their website, Iskander Hasnawi indicated that the costs and difficulties of recording the orchestral music associated with Elend have made it impossible to continue with the Elend project. Both composers will be continuing with personal projects, including L'Ensemble Orphique.
Official website: www.elend-music.org
Umbra
Elend Lyrics
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And in the dead of light,
The Seventh Angel poured his vial into the air.
Embosomed in my Temple is a statue bereft of life.
Sweet umberbird, lighten her eyes lest she sleeps the sleep of death,
For she has seen the Face of God and her life must be preserved.
And crowned her with emeralds and innocence.
But she was wearing the cobalt raiment of the Angel of Death.
Your bloodstained hair sears me in a sea of snakes,
A sun of amaranths,
With rays crawling on the Fields of Tears.
Adorn me in your torpid temple
And forgive me if I cannot wake this dormant smile in your eyes.
The Cyllenian god did love my sweet music forlorn.
Elohim, Elohim Sabaoth, Eloï Shaddaï, Adonaï,
Y H V H
When the sun remains silent,
I will lay my angels down,
For the Arch of my Temple is a parchment of blood.
Even death has fled from me.
I have seen the Face of God
And yet my life has been preserved.
The Bride of the Lamb poured herself into me.
And Despair fell on us,
As if we had entered the heart of darkness...
The song "Umbra" by Elend consists of poetic and metaphoric lyrics that are open to interpretation. The song's opening lines refer to "the heart of darkness," which can be interpreted as a reference to Joseph Conrad's novel by the same name. The next line, "And in the dead of light, the Seventh Angel poured his vial into the air," refers to a biblical passage in the book of Revelation, where seven angels pour out vials of God's wrath upon the earth.
The lyrics continue with a reference to a lifeless statue in the temple, which is brought to life by a mythical creature named Luvadea. Luvadea is crowned with emeralds and innocence, but she is also wearing the garments of the Angel of Death. The next lines are cryptic and difficult to understand, but they seem to refer to a sea of snakes, with the singer being seared by bloodstained hair. The song then concludes with religious references, including the names of God in Hebrew, and a statement about the singer seeing the face of God and having their life preserved.
Overall, "Umbra" is a complex and deeply symbolic song, full of religious and mythological references. The song appears to be about a journey through darkness and despair, with the singer encountering both death and life along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
We entered the heart of darkness.
We journeyed into a place of great evil and despair.
And in the dead of light,
Amidst the blinding brightness,
The Seventh Angel poured his vial into the air.
A divine being poured out their wrath upon us.
Embosomed in my Temple is a statue bereft of life.
My inner sanctum holds a lifeless statue.
Sweet umberbird, lighten her eyes lest she sleeps the sleep of death,
Oh gentle bird, revive the statue before it dies forever.
For she has seen the Face of God and her life must be preserved.
The statue has witnessed something holy, and its existence is too important to be lost.
We met Luvadea, Maughter of mine,
We encountered my own creation, Luvadea,
And crowned her with emeralds and innocence.
We adorned her with precious jewels and purity.
But she was wearing the cobalt raiment of the Angel of Death.
But she was adorned with the color of death and danger.
Your bloodstained hair sears me in a sea of snakes,
Your hair, soaked with blood, frightens me amidst a hostile environment.
A sun of amaranths,
A shining beacon of purple light,
With rays crawling on the Fields of Tears.
Whose beams illuminate a place of great sorrow.
Adorn me in your torpid temple
Decorate me with your lifeless inner sanctum.
And forgive me if I cannot wake this dormant smile in your eyes.
Pardon me if I can't bring life back into your empty gaze.
The Cyllenian god did love my sweet music forlorn.
A deity appreciated my melancholic melodies.
Elohim, Elohim Sabaoth, Eloï Shaddaï, Adonaï,
Various names for a divine being.
Y H V H
A Hebrew name for God.
When the sun remains silent,
When there is an eerie silence,
I will lay my angels down,
I will put an end to my divine guardians,
For the Arch of my Temple is a parchment of blood.
Because my inner sanctum is marked with violence and death.
Even death has fled from me.
I am so terrifying that even death fears me.
I have seen the Face of God
I have had a holy vision
And yet my life has been preserved.
And yet, despite the dangers, I am still alive.
The Bride of the Lamb poured herself into me.
I have been infused with a divine spirit.
And Despair fell on us,
And we were overwhelmed by hopelessness,
As if we had entered the heart of darkness...
As if we had journeyed deep into the depths of evil and despair...
Contributed by Alaina G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Matt H.
Impressively beautiful.
Victor Hugo
Superb.