The original lineup of the band featured Luc Lemay (guitar/vocals), Sylvain Marcoux (guitar), Eric Giguere (bass) and Stephane Provencher (drums) in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. They recorded a demo in 1990 entitled ...and Then Comes Lividity, and then in 1991 released Considered Dead on Roadrunner, their first full-length album. The release featured a guest guitar solo by James Murphy and guest vocals by Chris Barnes. Two years later in 1993, they released their second full-length, entitled The Erosion of Sanity. Similar in style to their debut, this album had showed Gorguts had indeed developed in musicianship. However, this album was overlooked and became an unheard classic for many years.
The band fell silent for five years. Many assumed Gorguts was no more, until 1998 when Luc Lemay unveiled a new lineup and unleashed a classic in avant-garde death metal, Obscura, which many will agree is the most technical, chaotic and downright lucid metal album ever recorded. Filled with irregular beats, discordant riffing, and complex song arrangements, Obscura turned out to be either indigestible by many, or seen for its true beauty by few. Three years later, Gorguts returned once again with From Wisdom to Hate. Some consider this release to be a digression from Obscura, but it was still much in the same avant-garde/technical vein. Dan Mongrain of Martyr was recruited for the second guitarist on this album, contributing to the writing process and lead guitar work as well.
After being out of print for many years, Roadrunner Records re-released their first two albums on a single disc, and Galy Record re-released their 1990 demo along with many other demo tracks throughout the years. In October 2002, drummer Steve MacDonald hanged himself after suffering from years of depression. The band split up in 2005 and reformed in 2008.
As of December 2008, a demo track of Gorguts featuring guitar and programmed drums which was previously unheard by the public surfaced online, and Lemay himself confirmed an upcoming reunion featuring Colin Marston, Kevin Hufnagel and John Longstreth. While the new Gorguts has been performing live and writing new material, Lemay stated that the band would not be entering the studio until the "late fall" of 2010.
The band is currently signed to Season of Mist. The band's fifth album, Colored Sands, was released on August 30, 2013, although it was released digitally a month earlier after a leak of the material online. A concept album about the history of Tibet, Colored Sands was rapturously received in many publications and appeared in many year-end best-of lists. The band cited Porcupine Tree and Opeth as influences on the album's lengthier compositions, as well as Dmitri Shostakovich and Krzysztof Penderecki on its neoclassical string interlude "The Battle of Chamdo".
In 2014, John Longstreth, whose schedule with Origin was incompatible with Gorguts, departed the band. His replacement, Patrice Hamelin, had already been performing live with Gorguts since 2011. In 2015, Obscura, which had been out of print on CD for decades, was re-released by both Century Media and Season of Mist. It also received a new vinyl pressing from Season of Mist (it had previously been released on vinyl by War on Music). Century Media also reissued From Wisdom to Hate (also previously released on vinyl by War on Music) on vinyl. A two-CD set of both albums was issued by Mazzar Records in 2016.
The band's first EP, Pleiades' Dust, was officially released on May 13, 2016. A concept album about the House of Wisdom in Baghdad during Europe's Dark Ages, it consists of a single track divided into seven movements. The band cited Deathspell Omega as a musical influence this time around. Reception thus far has been almost unanimously positive.
Illuminatus
Gorguts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet liquid illuminates
Illuminatus
Soul's Arsis
Consistence of souls,
Nothingness in emptiness
Enobscuratus
Flesh's Thesis
A lucid crisis
Cogitabundus
Stillness of mind
Inner-circle rises,
Sentiments are fine
Nihiluminatus
Life mystified through blissful light
Rise
Heresy and Heretic contemplation
Life purified earthly mind
Dies
Abashed and aghast rebellion
Sensitive Aura, peaceful Requiem
Illuminatus
Soul's Arsis
Translucid dogma, peaceful condolences
Enobscuratus
Flesh's Thesis
Life mystified through blissful light
Rise
Heresy and Heretic contemplation
Life purified earthly mind
Dies
Abashed and aghast rebellion
A Chrome existence, insipid pertinence
Cogitabundus
Stillness of mind
Confirm ecstasy, Blissfully
Nihiluminus
The lyrics to Gorguts' "Illuminatus" delve into themes of illumination, the soul, and the mind. The first stanza speaks of the consistence of dreams and the illuminating liquid that illuminates them, leading to the illumination of the soul or what is referred to as the "Soul's Arsis." The second line continues on this theme, talking about the consistence of souls, but also acknowledging that there is nothingness in emptiness. The line "Enobscuratus" is a reference to the Latin word for "obscured," and the following line "Flesh's Thesis" suggests an exploration of the body and its existence.
The second stanza of the song continues with the theme of the mind, discussing a "lake of flameless thoughts" and a "lucid crisis." The line "Cogitabundus" is a reference to the Latin word for "thoughtful." The last two lines of the stanza refer to the inner circle or the inner workings of the mind, implying that the sentiments are fine. The final stanza speaks of life and the concept of heresy and rebellion. The lines "A Chrome existence, insipid pertinence" suggest a sense of monotony and blandness. However, the last line "Nihiluminatus" refers to a sense of nothingness or emptiness but as a source of ecstasy and bliss.
Line by Line Meaning
Consistence of dreams
The continuity of one's dreams and aspirations.
Sweet liquid illuminates
Something sweet and enlightening that fills or covers something else.
Illuminatus
The state of being illuminated or enlightened.
Soul's Arsis
The rising or uplifting of the soul.
Consistence of souls,
The perseverance and continuity of one's soul.
Nothingness in emptiness
A sense of emptiness that lacks substance or purpose.
Enobscuratus
The state of being obscured or concealed from view.
Flesh's Thesis
The physical form or body's point of view.
Lake of flameless thoughts,
A place of deep thought and reflection that is free from negative emotions.
A lucid crisis
A moment of awareness or insight that brings about a difficult decision or problem.
Cogitabundus
The state of being deeply engrossed in thought or contemplation.
Stillness of mind
The state of having a calm and peaceful mind without disturbance.
Inner-circle rises,
A group of people or ideas which are becoming increasingly influential or powerful.
Sentiments are fine
Positive emotions and thoughts are prevailing.
Nihiluminatus
The complete absence of illumination or enlightenment.
Life mystified through blissful light
The complexity and incomprehensibility of life, which is made more pleasant through enlightenment.
Rise
To ascend or become greater in strength, power, or intensity.
Heresy and Heretic contemplation
The exploration and contemplation of ideas that are unconventional or at odds with traditional beliefs or doctrines.
Life purified earthly mind
Enlightenment cleanses the mind from impure or worldly thoughts and desires.
Dies
To cease to exist or lose significance.
Abashed and aghast rebellion
A revolt or resistance that is shocked and embarrassed by its own actions.
Sensitive Aura, peaceful Requiem
A delicate and introspective energy that emanates from someone or something, accompanied by a peaceful farewell to what has passed.
Translucid dogma, peaceful condolences
An unclear or ambiguous doctrine that is pacified through expressions of sympathy or comfort.
A Chrome existence, insipid pertinence
An existence that lacks depth or meaning, comprising only of superficial appearances.
Confirm ecstasy, Blissfully
To validate a state of extreme happiness or pleasure, accompanied by feelings of contentment and satisfaction.
Nihiluminus
A state of nothingness and lack of illumination.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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