Elis was a symphonic metal band from Vaduz, Liechtenstein, formed in 2003 a… Read Full Bio ↴Elis was a symphonic metal band from Vaduz, Liechtenstein, formed in 2003 after the split of Erben der Schöpfung in 2002. They split up in 2012. The final members of the band were Pete Streit (guitars), Chris Gruber (guitars), Tom Saxer (bass, harsh vocals), and Max Naescher (drums). Former members included Sabine Dünser, Franco Koller, René Marxer, Jürgen Broger, Sandra Schleret, and Simone Christinat.

Elis began their musical career under the name Erben der Schöpfung in 2000. In 2001, they released their first single Elis as well as their debut album Twilight. The band has appeared live at the Wave Gotik Festival in Leipzig, among others, has held on to favorable positioning on the DAC-Charts, and has remained well represented in the scene's press. Germany's Orkus Magazine, for example, featured Erben der Schöpfung as their top newcomer act of the month. This choice was later more than confirmed by the publications readership, who extended the honor by choosing the band as their Newcomer of 2001.

Following their split with Oliver Falk, the band re-emerged in 2003 under the new alias Elis. Produced at Mastersound Studio by Alexander Krull (Atrocity, Leaves' Eyes), "God's Silence, Devil's Temptation" was simultaneously released on Napalm Records with the re-release of Erben der Schöpfung's 2001 debut Twilight.

Soon after the release of their debut album, Elis focused their energy on writing new material for their second offering. Between their song writing and recording duties, they found time to tour in a headlining capacity with label mates Eisheilig and The Vision Bleak. The tour took them to Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium.

In March 2004 they returned to the studio, under the guidance of band manager and producer Alexander Krull once more, to record the twelve new tracks featured on their second album. Released in October 2004, Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky, showed a maturation of the band's sound. A video clip for the album's opener, Der letzte Tag, was included with the release as well.

The Dark Clouds tour took place in April 2005. Elis played in Germany, Austria, and Belgium, and were supported by Visions of Atlantis and Lyriel. The band offered a preview of the new material during festival performances at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen and M'era Luna Festival. Further opportunities for the fans to experience the new album live were planned for October, as the band embarked on a European Tour with Atrocity, Leaves' Eyes, and Battlelore. This tour ended with a performance at the Metal Female Voices Fest 3. This concert wasn't just the last of this little tour, it also was the last concert with guitarist Jürgen Broger, who left the band amicably soon after.

The third release from Elis, a concept album titled Griefshire was planned for release in late 2006 or early 2007. The band wanted to complete a tour with Leaves' Eyes and Atrocity, but unfortunately on July 8, 2006 Sabine died of a cerebral hemorrhage. An announcement on the band's official website has stated that the album would be released in Sabine's memory. A further announcement in September stated that the band would continue with a new singer.

Griefshire was released in Europe on November 24, 2006 on Napalm Records. The North American release date was January 16, 2007. On December 28, 2006 it was finally announced that the new female singer is the Austrian metal singer Sandra Schleret, former vocalist of Dreams of Sanity and Siegfried, and guest singer on some Samael's albums.

After that, they started a tour that took them for the first time to Mexico (as guest stars for the Festival Oscuro event in August of 2007).

In order to show how Sandra's voice would appear on the next studio album, the band released the Maxi-CD Show Me The Way on November 2, 2007 in Europe and on November 6, 2007 in the United States, that features Sandra Schleret on the two new versions of the song Show Me The Way as well as three non-album tracks from Griefshire recording sessions, still with Sabine Dünser's voice.

Latest album Catharsis was released on November 27, 2009 by Napalm Records.

Sandra Schleret left the band in summer 2011.

Her replacement was Simone Chrisinat.

In late February 2012, Simone Christinat announced to the rest of the band that she would would be departing from the band, due to increased stress. A few days later, the band opted to call it quits.

Official site: www.elis.li

Phoenix From the Ashes
Elis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We will rise
From the ashes
Many days and many years
I tried to live how she told me
But I was yearning for something more
To fill the emptiness inside
And it never was enough
To fill me up

And it never was enough

For my restless mind
Phoenix from the ashes
Our wounds will be healed
Phoenix from the ashes

We'll be born again and rise
Now that I have found a way

To salvation I know I will be
So much stronger than before

Nothing will ever break me
And it's gonna be enough
To fill me up
And it's gonna be enough
For my restless mind

Phoenix from the ashes
Our wounds will be healed
Phoenix from the ashes
We'll be born again and rise

We will rise
From the ashes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elis's song Phoenix From the Ashes are about rising above difficult times and circumstances. The figurative language of the phoenix rising from the ashes is used as a metaphor for this idea. The first lines of the song establish this theme: "We will rise from the ashes." The singer has experienced many hardships and has tried to live as others have urged them to, but they feel a restlessness and emptiness inside. They are searching for something more substantial to give their life meaning. The phoenix imagery is used again later in the song, "Phoenix from the ashes, our wounds will be healed. We'll be born again and rise." The singer has found a way to achieve salvation and feels stronger than ever before. They are confident that they can overcome any obstacle and that they will be fulfilled.

The song speaks to the human experience of struggle and resilience. It acknowledges that life can be difficult and that it's okay to search for something more. The phoenix metaphor suggests that we can burn away old patterns and rise anew. The song's message is hopeful and empowering. It encourages listeners to keep going and to have faith in their own inner strength.

Line by Line Meaning

We will rise
We will overcome any obstacles and rise to the top

From the ashes
We will start anew after a tragedy or failure

Many days and many years
There were countless days and years of trying to follow someone else's advice

I tried to live how she told me
I tried to live my life according to someone else's rules and expectations

But I was yearning for something more
However, I had a desire for something more empowering

To fill the emptiness inside
To satisfy the feeling of emptiness and loneliness within me

And it never was enough
And nothing that I tried was ever satisfying or filling enough

To fill me up
To feel complete and whole

For my restless mind
For my constantly thinking and wandering mind

Phoenix from the ashes
A renewing process of emerging from the struggles and challenges stronger

Our wounds will be healed
Overcoming pain and hurt from the past