Founded in 1969 by guitarist Frank Bornemann, the band has endured several line-up changes, with Bornemann being the only consistent member of the group. In the 1980s, after a series of major splits (like in 1984 although reformed in 1988) in the group, Bornemann pursued a more commercial direction. Despite attracting a large following, the band never gained popularity in the United States.
However, in later years, former members of the band re-joined, and in 1998 fans delighted in hearing Ocean 2, a return to the classic symphonic progressive genre that the band was so well known for. A sequel to the 1977's original, it is commonly thought among fans that it successfully recaptures the spirit of the band, and is a worthy follow-up to the much beloved classic.
Of the band's numerous records, fans generally consider Inside, Floating, Dawn, Ocean, Silent Cries & Mighty Echoes, Planets and Ocean 2 to be the superior albums.
Despite their nationality, the band is not generally considered krautrock due to their sound which has much more in common with English progressive groups such as Pink Floyd and Yes.
In 2009 after a decade of hiatus Frank Bornemann released a DVD celebrating their 40th anniversary and a new album called Visionairy.
In the following period he worked on a concept double album about the life of the Maid of Orleans, Jeanne d'Arc. The album The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Pt. 1 was released in 2017, followed by The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Pt. 2 in 2019.
Current Line-up:
Frank Bornemann
Klaus-Peter Matziol
Hannes Arkona
Hannes Folberth
Bodo Schopf
Fire & Ice
Eloy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The dreams you're living for
Once more are shattered by thunder
Distorted pictures appear
Steered by an evil force
That's slowly dragging you under
You feel the ground crumbling under your feet
You feel a cold sweat running down your spine
It leaves you searching for a secret retreat
Each time you climb a mountain
You see the world below
It's chaos tears you asunder
You try to keep your balance
You try to stay in tune
It leaves you no time to wonder
Vibrating senses shaking you inside
A timeless moment spent recalling your dream
Lost in confusion lightning in the dark
You see your ruins聽???? aching beside
Now your vision is clear
All your doubts disappear
And you're asking yourself
Is this heaven or hell
Like a storm in the night
All emotions alight
And you try to disguise
You feel the fire and ice
Reaching out for your aim
Yet a pawn in a game
While you try to rebel
Against heaven and hell
In the moments of strife
On the tight rope of life
And your spirit still cries
Torn between fire and ice
In a labyrinth of nightmares
You run an endless race
Down a tunnel with no end
While you're running in the darkness
Your heart is pounding faster
You discover a light
Shining so bright
Shining bright up ahead
Now your vision is clear
All your doubts disappear
And you're asking yourself
Is this heaven or hell
Like a storm in the night
All emotions alight
And you try to disguise
You feel the fire and ice
Reaching out for your aim
Yet a pawn in a game
While you try to rebel
Against heaven and hell
In the moments of strife
On the tight rope of life
And your spirit still cries
Torn between fire and ice
The song "Fire & Ice" by Eloy is an intense and emotional journey of a person torn between conflicting forces. The lyrics describe the struggles of the individual with the values they believe in and the dreams they are pursuing. However, their efforts are being shattered constantly by the evil forces that are disturbing their peace. The person feels like they are in a living nightmare that wakes them up in the middle of the night. They are left searching for a secret retreat to escape from the chaos that surrounds them.
In this song, the conflicting forces of fire and ice symbolize the opposing emotions and experiences that the individual is feeling. They are on a tight rope of life where their spirit is still crying while being torn between fire and ice. The sense of confusion and distress reached a point where they disguise their emotions and try to rebel against heaven and hell.
Despite the struggles, the individual finds hope in the end when they discover a light shining so bright that clears all their doubts. They still question whether this is heaven or hell and feel like a pawn in a game while trying to reach out for their aim. But their spirit keeps pushing them forward, even in the moments of strife.
Overall, the song's mesmerizing melody and powerful lyrics evoke a sense of motivation and hope to strive for what one believes in, even in the face of obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
The values you believe in
Your personal beliefs and principles
The dreams you're living for
Your aspirations and goals
Once more are shattered by thunder
They are destroyed suddenly and violently
Distorted pictures appear
Unclear and misrepresented visuals
Steered by an evil force
Guided by a malevolent power
That's slowly dragging you under
Leading you into an unpleasant state or circumstance
A living nightmare wakes you in the night
A vivid and distressing dream leaves you awake and scared
You feel the ground crumbling under your feet
Your footing is uncertain and unstable
You feel a cold sweat running down your spine
You experience anxiety and fear
It leaves you searching for a secret retreat
You are in need of a safe haven to escape to
Each time you climb a mountain
Whenever you face a challenge
You see the world below
You gain perspective on your surroundings
It's chaos tears you asunder
The disorder overwhelms and divides you
You try to keep your balance
You attempt to remain stable
You try to stay in tune
You aim to maintain harmony
It leaves you no time to wonder
You have no opportunity to reflect
Vibrating senses shaking you inside
Intense feelings causing internal turmoil
A timeless moment spent recalling your dream
Reflecting on a memory that lasts forever
Lost in confusion lightning in the dark
Confused and disoriented, unable to see clearly
You see your ruins ???? aching beside
You witness the destruction and pain caused by your actions
Now your vision is clear
Your perception is no longer distorted
All your doubts disappear
You are free from uncertainty
And you're asking yourself
You are questioning
Is this heaven or hell
Are you in paradise or torment
Like a storm in the night
Fierce and unsettling
All emotions alight
Feelings are intense and ablaze
And you try to disguise
You attempt to hide or mask
You feel the fire and ice
Experiencing conflicting emotions
Reaching out for your aim
Working towards your objective
Yet a pawn in a game
Being manipulated in a larger scheme
While you try to rebel
Striving to resist or oppose
Against heaven and hell
Against the forces of good and evil
In the moments of strife
During times of conflict
On the tight rope of life
On the precarious balance of existence
And your spirit still cries
Your inner self continues to weep
Torn between fire and ice
Divided between opposing emotions
In a labyrinth of nightmares
Trapped in a complex and terrifying situation
You run an endless race
You are in an exhausting and indefinite struggle
Down a tunnel with no end
Through a seemingly infinite passage
While you're running in the darkness
As you move blindly forward
Your heart is pounding faster
You feel palpitations and anxiety
You discover a light
You find hope and illumination
Shining so bright
Radiant and intense
Shining bright up ahead
Illuminating the path forward
Contributed by Isabelle N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.