"Shallow Nation", released early in 2000, sold out the first thousand copies after only two weeks in the stores, which resulted in a deal with the Norwegian record label Tatra Records. Around that time Tatra Records released the compilation "Sex, Goth & Electronics", to which IoC contributed an exclusive version of their song "Repeat It".
Before they started work on their second release IoC did programming for the "Apoptygma Berzerk" track "Starsign". Soon afterwards, they travelled to Germany, with live member Jon Holm, to support Apoptygma on their "Welcome to Earth tour 2000" at gigs in Frankfurt, Cottbus and Leipzig before going back to Norway to play together at Rockefeller in Oslo.
Audiences seemed to enjoy Icon of Coil's energetic and melodious sound fused with Andy's hypnotic voice and the band's success grew. "One Nation Under Beat" debuted in the top 20 on the DAC-chart (Deutsch Alternative Chart), stayed on the chart for eight weeks and peaked at number three.
In late spring of 2000 at a gig in Uddevalla, Sweden, Christian Lund joined the band as a live-member and went on stage with Andy and Seb for the first time. Along with being the vocalist for his "En Route" project, Christian had a background from a melodious EBM Fredrikstad-band called "Elected By Fear" where he played together with Fredrik Hansen from "Echo Image" (who also played at that gig) and Marius Johnsen from "Centravibe".
After the release of IoC's first full-length "Serenity Is The Devil" in November 2000, which reached number three on the DAC-chart, the band went to Germany together with "Beborn Beton". With nine gigs, positive feedback from the audience and very good reviews on the debut album, IoC gained a substantial following in the synth/industrial scene.
Shortly afterward, the album crossed the Atlantic and was released in North America by Metropolis Records. On March 29th, 2001, the band itself followed and boarded a plane to Chicago. They were on their own in a foreign country and on a tight budget. The band flew from city to city, slept in hotels and sometimes even in the homes of their promoters. The song "Situations Like These" from the (then) forthcoming "Seren EP" was played live for the first time to an incredibly enthusiastic and energetic American audience, which made the tour a big success. Then after playing at "Slimelight" and "Astoria II" (Electrofest) in London, the guys had a short break before they faced a festival-filled summer in Europe.
The summer kicked off with a successful show in Leipzig, Germany, at "Wave-Gothic Treffen". The following festivals included "CSD", "Zillo Festival", "Xtreaktor Festival", "Eurorock", "Infest" and ended at "M'era Luna" where the trio did a hard-hitting performance in the Hangar.
"Situations Like These" became a big club hit and the band was ready for a second tour (this time in a Nightliner touring bus) of North America with "VNV Nation". The leg began in Chicago on the 16th of November at a packed Vic Theatre, which set the standard for the rest of the 19 shows. Icon of Coil, VNV Nation and the rest of the crew continued up to Canada, down the east coast to Florida, through Texas to the West coast and Hollywood, where they did their 15th show in front of about 900 people at the Palace. The four-week tour ended in Edmonton, Canada with a great show and a huge after-party.
During their tours, the band found the time to write material for their April 2002 sophomore album, "The Soul Is In The Software", which stayed at number one on the DAC for a several weeks. IoC then performed at two more festivals: "The Dark Jubilee Festival" in London; and later as the Sunday-headliner for "Synthpop Goes The World" in Toronto, Canada, which turned out to be a very good but warm weekend and concert.
Icon of Coil came a long way in a short amount of time. For 2004 their third album, "Machines Are Us", continued the trend with pummeling beats, sympathetic vocals, anthem-like melodies, and sweeping synths. Careful not to be outdone or forgotten, Icon of Coil released "Uploaded And Remixed", which featured brand new mixes of songs from their first two records and two exclusive tracks, at the tail end of 2004.
Since then the band has been on indefinite hiatus, only performing a handful of live shows around the world, as Andy has been concentrating on his new band "Combichrist".
On a short reunion tour of Australia in November, 2011 the 3 members rekindled old friendships and the creative chemistry from the past came raging back. The single "PerfectSex" was released in August 2012, together with the announcement that the band is working on a new album.
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Situations Like These
Icon of Coil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
conversations with silence...
a stick right through our mind
embraced by shimmering water,
we could die for a breath of the wind
slowly we suffocate in the vein of eternity
we've never been close to them
the texture of our bodies
an alliance of broken dreams
we'll float away with the tide
in situations like these
feel the storm build up inside
burn the infected wounds
we caress our solitude
alone with serenity
The lyrics in Icon of Coil's song Situations Like These explores the idea that peace and tranquility may be deceiving and harmful. The line "serenity is the devil" suggests that too much peace can lead to complacency and stagnation. The idea of being "embraced by shimmering water" and "die for a breath of the wind" implies that sometimes we can become so entranced by tranquility that we lose sight of reality and the danger it poses, slowly suffocating in the "vein of eternity." The line "conversations with silence" suggests that the main character is isolated and perhaps has lost the ability to communicate effectively with others, causing them to rely on a certain kind of solitude for solace.
The chorus "we'll float away with the tide in situations like these, feel the storm build up inside, burn the infected wounds" suggests that the main character is battling inner demons and seeking some form of escape, whether it be through literal death, or the death of the self, in order to find relief. The line "the texture of our bodies an alliance of broken dreams" suggests that the main character has failed to fulfill their goals and dreams, leading them to rely solely on themselves and their own bodies for comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
serenity is the devil, we caress our solitude
Peace and calmness can sometimes trick us into ignoring reality, and we sometimes purposely choose to be alone.
conversations with silence...
Sometimes there's more to be said in silence than in actual conversation.
a stick right through our mind
Our thoughts and emotions could pierce us like a sharp object.
embraced by shimmering water,
Being surrounded by beauty can cause us to forget about the dangers that may lurk beneath its surface.
we could die for a breath of the wind
The things we take for granted are sometimes the very things we would die for.
slowly we suffocate in the vein of eternity
The weight of our existence and the inevitability of time can feel suffocating.
we've never been close to them
We've never truly understood or had a connection with those around us.
the distance is our shield
We use distance as a form of protection against getting hurt or misunderstood.
the texture of our bodies
The unique physicality of our being.
an alliance of broken dreams
Our common struggles and unfulfilled desires connect us.
we'll float away with the tide
In moments of chaos and confusion, we often let ourselves go with the flow.
in situations like these
During times of uncertainty and unease.
feel the storm build up inside
Feelings of turmoil and unrest brewing within.
burn the infected wounds
To rid ourselves of toxic influences and past traumas.
we caress our solitude
We seek comfort and solace in isolation.
alone with serenity
Finding peace within ourselves, despite our surroundings.
Contributed by Sophia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.