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
The Challenge
Eloy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chaos abounds
All power fail
Seeps through the ground
No rescue in sight
Confusion all day
Fears deep inside
Skies tuned in grey
Won't be going down
We aspire to change it all
And regain the crown
News of the day
Worry the mind
Silent decay
Creeps from behind
Addicted to screens
Adoring machines
Surrounded by
A fatal scene
We stand tall in the maze of time
Face the challenge now
Try to escape our deadly fate
Managing somehow
Our legacy
Fades and melts away
But we'll never
Simply let it be
Passed our rise and fall
Now we heed a call
We're approaching
The challenge of our time
Bad news every day
Shaking the mind
No place to stay
No hideaway
Suggestions insane
Temptations all day
Steered by the same
Who led us astray
We stand tall in the maze of time
Face the challenge now
Try to escape our deadly fate
Managing somehow
Our century
Of insanity
Wasted values
Of society
Rising energy
Banned anxiety
Leading visions
To reality
Pride and vanity
Insincerity
Will we ever
Find a better way?
Passed our rise and fall
Now we heed a call
We're approaching
The challenge of our time
"The Challenge" by Eloy discusses the state of chaos and madness that prevails in the world. The lyrics describe a sense of powerlessness as all hope seems to seep through the ground. There is no rescue in sight, and the confusion and fear are deeply ingrained within society. The skies are metaphorically tuned in grey, representing the gloom and despair that surrounds them.
Despite the bleak circumstances, there is a determination to change the current state of affairs and regain control. The lyrics express a desire to overcome the challenges and aspire for a better future. The news of the day only adds to the worry and silent decay that creeps from behind. Society is addicted to screens and machines, creating a fatal scene that surrounds them.
In the face of these challenges, there is a call to stand tall and face the maze of time head-on. It is a call to escape the deadly fate that awaits and manage to navigate through somehow. The legacy of humanity is fading away, but there is a refusal to simply let it be. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and the need to heed the call of the time, to confront the challenges that lie ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Madness prevails
The state of chaos and disorder dominates
Chaos abounds
Chaos is present everywhere
All power fail
All sources of authority and control have collapsed
Seeps through the ground
It flows through the very foundation of society
No rescue in sight
There is no hope for salvation
Confusion all day
A constant state of uncertainty and bewilderment
Fears deep inside
Intense anxieties within us
Skies tuned in grey
The atmosphere is clouded with gloom
We'll aware of our awful state
We are fully conscious of our terrible condition
Won't be going down
We refuse to fail or be defeated
We aspire to change it all
We have a strong desire to transform everything
And regain the crown
To reclaim our position of authority and power
News of the day
The current news and events
Worry the mind
Cause anxiety and concern
Silent decay
The gradual deterioration that goes unnoticed
Creeps from behind
Sneaks up on us unexpectedly
Addicted to screens
Having a strong dependence on technology devices
Adoring machines
Having a deep admiration for technology
Surrounded by
Being encompassed or encircled by
A fatal scene
A situation or environment that leads to ruin or death
We stand tall in the maze of time
We remain resilient and resolute in the complexity of life's challenges
Face the challenge now
We confront the difficulty or obstacle in front of us
Try to escape our deadly fate
Attempt to evade our inevitable destructive destiny
Managing somehow
Finding a way to handle or cope with it
Our legacy
What we leave behind as our impact on the world
Fades and melts away
Gradually disappears and dissolves
But we'll never
However, we will never
Simply let it be
Allow it to remain as it is without any effort to change
Passed our rise and fall
Having experienced success and failure in the past
Now we heed a call
Now we respond to a summons or invitation
We're approaching
We are getting closer to
The challenge of our time
The significant obstacle or task of our era
Bad news every day
Negative information and events occurring daily
Shaking the mind
Causing mental distress and disturbance
No place to stay
Nowhere to find security or refuge
No hideaway
No private or secret place to escape to
Suggestions insane
Ideas or proposals that are irrational or nonsensical
Temptations all day
Constant allure or enticements throughout the day
Steered by the same
Guided or influenced by the identical forces or individuals
Who led us astray
Those who misdirected or misled us
Our century
Our era or period of time
Of insanity
Characterized by irrationality or madness
Wasted values
Values that have been squandered or not utilized effectively
Of society
Present within the collective members of a community
Rising energy
Growing enthusiasm or vigor
Banned anxiety
Prohibited or suppressed feelings of unease or worry
Leading visions
Guiding aspirations or ideas
To reality
Manifesting or becoming true or real
Pride and vanity
Feeling of self-importance and excessive admiration of oneself
Insincerity
Lack of genuineness or honesty
Will we ever
Is it possible at all
Find a better way?
Discover an improved method or solution?
Passed our rise and fall
Having experienced success and failure in the past
Now we heed a call
Now we respond to a summons or invitation
We're approaching
We are getting closer to
The challenge of our time
The significant obstacle or task of our era
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: FRANK BORNEMANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind