Enslavement of Beauty was formed in January 1995 by Ole Alexander Myrholt (vocals & lyrics) and Tony Eugene Tunheim (guitars & composing). The band spent the subsequent years composing and recording material and thereby developed their expression.
In the summer of 1998, Enslavement of Beauty recorded the demo CD "Devilry & Temptation" which gained them a deal with Head Not Found / Voices of Wonder.
This resulted in the 1999 release "Traces o' Red" which received very positive response. In November 2000, the beauticians headed back to the studio to record their second album, "Megalomania", accompanied by drummer Asgeir Mickelson (Borknagar/Spiral Architect) and bass player Hans-Aage Holmen.
Musically the band still sounds very melodic and deeply inspired by classical music but with a sharper metal edge and a truly hell-bent rock 'n' roll attitude. Lyrically Enslavement of Beauty is more direct approach but still highly influenced by the poetic beauty of Shakespeare and De Sade's works.
Abundance Extends to Lush
Enslavement of Beauty Lyrics
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A somewhat cheerful view
A silent grace I could perceive
To grow as I pursued
Then when, around midnight
Instead of wasted from my sight;
Loaded beyond the utmost space
I measure every fucker I meet
With analytic eyes;
I wonder if their grief weighs like mine
Or has an easier size
I wonder if, when these years have piled
If the pain will still be as real
The early hurt, such a lapse
A lifetime of grief bereaved of appeal
Will I just go on aching?
Through centuries above
Exposed by god to a larger pain
By contrast with the promise of love
They say heaven is packed and that's where we go
But I've got one hell of a surprise
Your death is but one and came but once
And only nailed your eyes
And though I may not guess the right kind
Correctly, yet to me
And the piercing comfort it creates;
Passing portions of fiery glee
The denotes of the fashions of the cross
Of those that stand alone
Still fascinated to presume
That some has a view like my own
The lyrics to Enslavement of Beauty's song Abundance Extends to Lush convey a sense of introspection and the singer's inner struggle with grief and pain. The first verse speaks of the desire for a daily bliss and a cheerful view that could help the singer grow as they pursue it. However, in the second verse, the singer reveals that they can't shake off the feeling of being weighed down by their grief, and they wonder if others they meet also carry similar burdens. The third verse speaks to the fear that the pain may continue even after many years have passed, and the singer wonders if it will still be just as real. They also consider the possibility that heaven may not be as promised, and that their physical death may not be the end of their suffering.
The overall message of the song is one of inner turmoil, with the singer struggling to come to terms with their own emotions, pain and their fear of the unknown. The lyrics are poignant, with poetic language and vivid imagery, and the use of the word "fucker" adds an edgy tone to the song. The song is a reflection of the struggles that accompany the human condition, and it captures the feeling of being trapped in a world filled with pain, loss and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had a daily bliss
If only I could experience happiness every day
A somewhat cheerful view
A positive outlook on life, even if not completely joyful
A silent grace I could perceive
The ability to appreciate the beauty of peace and quiet
To grow as I pursued
To improve as I continue my journey through life
Then when, around midnight
At that moment when the clock strikes twelve at night
Instead of wasted from my sight;
Instead of losing my mind or vision,
Loaded beyond the utmost space
Overwhelmed to the point of feeling like there's no more room for anything else
I'd have one average night
I would settle for a normal, uneventful night
I measure every fucker I meet
I judge every person I come across
With analytic eyes;
Using a logical and critical eye
I wonder if their grief weighs like mine
I ponder if they experience the same level of sadness as me
Or has an easier size
Or if their suffering is less than mine
I wonder if, when these years have piled
I question if my pain will still be as intense over the years
If the pain will still be as real
If the suffering will remain just as vivid
The early hurt, such a lapse
The initial pain at the start of a long, difficult journey
A lifetime of grief bereaved of appeal
An entire existence full of sadness, without anything to make it bearable
Will I just go on aching?
Will I continue to suffer indefinitely?
Through centuries above
Through years and decades and centuries
Exposed by god to a larger pain
Enlightened by a greater understanding of suffering
By contrast with the promise of love
The contrast between my pain and the expectation of love and happiness
They say heaven is packed and that's where we go
People say that after we die, we go to heaven
But I've got one hell of a surprise
But I have a surprise in store for them
Your death is but one and came but once
Death only happens once
And only nailed your eyes
And only closes your eyes for good
And though I may not guess the right kind
And even if I don't accurately predict the exact type of suffering
Correctly, yet to me
It still feels true to me
And the piercing comfort it creates;
And the strange sense of relief it provides
Passing portions of fiery glee
A small glimpse of burning joy passing through my soul
The denotes of the fashions of the cross
The symbol of the cross, representing religious beliefs
Of those that stand alone
Of those who are on their own in their suffering
Still fascinated to presume
Still amazed to assume
That some has a view like my own
That some people share my perspective on pain and suffering
Contributed by Emma N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.