Wasting no time, Imagika hit the studio and recorded a 3-song demo that showed the band in their infant stages but reflected the quality songwriting they would become known for. The band hit the live scene and found what had already been known: Metal was out, garbage/alternative was in! Undaunted, the band continued to play as many shows as possible and built up a reputation for providing kick-ass metal in those lean years.
By late 1994, the band had begun work on their infamous debut CD that was finally released in 1995 to the un-expecting metal underground. taking a "Do It Yourself" attitude, the band pumped hundreds of CD to the worldwide press and radio and became known as a modern resurrection of the classic bay area sound. The CD contained a wealth of material that ranged from all-out brutal to beautiful and exhibited a huge leap forward in songwriting from the early demo. The band was able to sell 2000 copies on their own Headless Corpse label by word of mouth alone. By 1996, The band had attracted some interest in Europe and was able to secure licensing for the CD through ABS records who re-released the CD in Europe with the original 3-song demo added as bonus tracks.
By early 1997, the band had found management in Europe through Flying Dolphin Promotions, headed by Chris Boltendahl of Grave Digger fame. The band had already finished their sophomor effort, "Worship", by this time and was prepared to unleash it on the masses. No label with balls in the US/Europe would touch the CD. So the band was once again forced to make it happen on their own Headless Corpse label. This time, though, the band would have much better distribution through Radiation/Indigo and promotion with Flying Dolphin. Released in late 1998, the CD garnered fantastic reviews, which the band followed up by touring Europe with Grave Digger and Iron Savior in January of 1999. The band was well received and proved to the fans that the bay area thrash scene was still relevant.
Buzzing from the tour, the band set to work on new material to follow up the success of the album and tour. Putting together a 3-song demo, the band was able to attract some much-needed label interest with Massacre Records finally securing the band a deal in 2000. "And So It Burns" was released in October 2000 and received much critical acclaim. Sadly, Mike Dargis had by this time decided to leave the band, which put to rest any touring the band was intending on doing to promote the release. The band had the unfortunate task of finding a suitable replacement. After six months, they found their replacement, Elena Luciano. It was worth the wait, as she was able to come in and give Imagika a much-needed boost with a fresh perspective and enthusiam. Time was not wasted, as the band put together a slew of material that raised the bar once again.
After 8 years and 3 overseas releases, The band had a North American release on WWIII Records. The label agreed to license the "And So It Burns" CD and made it special for the North American fans. The band and label decided to "repackage the effort" with all new art and 3 previously-unreleased bonus tracks and released it in July of 2001. With the release the band was able to break new ground in North America and gain more fans that now had a chance to hear the band for the first time. So after many delays both personal and professional the band finally starts the new CD with famed producer Neil Kernon.
Everything was going great when co-founder and vocalist David Michael decides after 10 years, countless shows and 3 CD's that it is time to call it a day. Not happy with the turn of events being that Dave laid down 8 vocals that were esentially useless the band begins to hunt for a new voice. As luck would have it the band came in contact with local vocalist Norman Skinner who is a vet of the metal scene (Machine Called Man, Tramontane) that was up for the job. After one audition and a show of dedication by writing all new lyrics and melodies to 4 songs in a matter of days Mr. Skinner showed why he is now the new voice of Imagika! Also at this time the band decides it was high time to bring in that second guitarist that the new material called for and Pat Toms was laying in wait. Pat is another vet of the local scene with his past band Punisher and happened to be a friend of the band for many years.
Upon the completion of recording the new vocal tracks Imagika was again forced to play the waiting game to finally mix the CD. Neil Kernon's schedule became quite impossible between the time we brought Norman on board hence the turn to juan Urteaga for the mixing job. Juan was a logical choice since he was local and had a good reputation with doing metal right and working in the past with respected bands as Skinlab, Vile, etc.. Finally after starting the CD a year before the final mix, the CD was done! "Devils On Both Sides" was released through Mausoleum Records worldwide in March 2005.
The Sick Sense
Imagika Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forgive me for I can't tell
The lights blind my eyes
And nothing around me seems to be real
Awake to a mystery
A turn of events gone wrong
Why can't I move my arms?
Suddenly a veil is lifted
This world seems strange and twisted
Has reality escaped me?
Or was all I knew just fantasy?
Return to a familiar scene
Like taking part in a madman's dream
They tell me it'll be alright
But everything seems all wrong
All wrong...
They speak in lies none of this is true
A force fed life they're trying to hand you
Keep asking if I remember
But but there's nothing, there's nothing
They're using words like dementia
Paranoid and schizophrenia
Keep asking if I remember
But but there's nothing, there's nothing at all
Strapped to a bed
Eyes wide open
My body burns from the medication
Look in their eyes they're all against you
Scream as I try but I can not break loose
Still asking if I remember
But there's nothing, there's nothing at all
Strapped to a bed
Eyes wide open
My body burns from the medication
Then reality sets in
I begin screaming
God, this isn't happening... Not again
Suddenly a veil is lifted
The pieces finally make sense
I now realize, I am truly sick
The lyrics of Imagika's song "The Sick Sense" describe a surreal experience of the singer, who is struggling to distinguish whether their surroundings are real or just a hallucination. The opening lines suggest a state of confusion and disorientation that the singer is experiencing - the blinding lights, inability to move, and the feeling of everything being unreal. The lyrics underline that the singer is dissociating from their reality, and everything around them seems to be out of place.
As the song progresses, the singer feels as if they are part of a complicated madman's dream. They are informed that everything is going to be okay, but that does not seem to be the case. The singer feels as if they are being force-fed lies, with their captors attempting to convince them that they are suffering from dementia, paranoia, or schizophrenia.
In the end, the singer realizes that they are genuinely sick, as the veil lifts, and the pieces of the puzzle come together. The repetition of the phrase "there's nothing, there's nothing at all" emphasizes the desperation and hopelessness of the character's situation. The song captures the agony of the singer, battling with their sanity and the realities of their illness.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this a bad dream?
Questioning whether reality is real or not.
Forgive me for I can't tell
Apologizing for not being able to determine what is real.
The lights blind my eyes
Sensory overload causing confusion.
And nothing around me seems to be real
Nothing feels familiar or truthful.
Awake to a mystery
Wake up to an unknown, and possibly dangerous, situation.
A turn of events gone wrong
An unanticipated negative outcome.
Why can't I move my arms?
A sense of helplessness and lack of control.
The voices telling me to remain calm
Auditory hallucinations instructing the artist to not panic.
Suddenly a veil is lifted
A sudden realization or clarity.
This world seems strange and twisted
Pervading confusion and uncertainty.
Has reality escaped me?
Uncertainty regarding the singer's grip on reality.
Or was all I knew just fantasy?
Doubt over whether anything previously known was true.
Return to a familiar scene
Revisiting something familiar.
Like taking part in a madman's dream
A surreal and chaotic environment.
They tell me it'll be alright
An attempt to comfort the singer.
But everything seems all wrong
Despite reassurance, nothing feels right.
They speak in lies none of this is true
People around the artist are lying and nothing can be trusted.
A force fed life they're trying to hand you
Ancillary forces attempting to influence the singer's life.
Keep asking if I remember
Repeating a question to trigger the singer's memory.
But but there's nothing, there's nothing
The artist cannot remember anything.
They're using words like dementia
Medical terminology insinuating mental deterioration.
Paranoid and schizophrenia
Mental disorders being suggested as the cause of the situation.
Strapped to a bed
The singer is restrained and unable to move.
Eyes wide open
The artist is alert and conscious.
My body burns from the medication
The singer is experiencing physical discomfort from medication.
Look in their eyes they're all against you
Others are actively working against the singer.
Scream as I try but I can not break loose
The singer is attempting to escape but cannot.
Then reality sets in
The artist regains the ability to comprehend what is happening.
I begin screaming
The artist experiences intense emotional distress.
God, this isn't happening... Not again
The singer has experienced something similar before and is distraught that it is happening again.
The pieces finally make sense
Understanding and comprehension are achieved.
I now realize, I am truly sick
Acceptance of a medical condition or diagnosis.
Contributed by Amelia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.