April 1992 the single "Kiss & Tell" was the first release on Rebel Records / SPV and thus the start of a long-term and successful collaboration. 1992 saw a flood of releases, much to the delight of the fans. Further again the band changed their guitarist position. Mark Wheeler from now on has been in charge for about 2 years. In September came the album "An Irony of Fate", in October the re-releases of "Sinister Dawn/Ecstasy" and "Flags of Revolution" and finally in November the single "Demimondes" followed, which all together displayed an abundance of innovation.
On "Stormy Visions", the pre-release single for the album "Odyssee", released in October 1993, goes one step further in a very dancefloor-orientated direction, prooved by a truly techno-id mix of the title track. The album release in January 1994 again was followed with a crash of the line-up. Mark Wheeler has been dropped and replaced by the guitarist Colin Hughes. Some remixes and the incredible David Bowie cover "Heroes" been released shortly after the album on the Single "Flood of Love", more in the typical Love Like Blood realms.
A year later "Exposure" saw the daylight in October 1995 and broke the silence. Mixed at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool (UK) and produced by Pee Wee Coleman. One of the most influential German band now sounds really fresh, yet keeps the roots but showing itself more from the Metal side.
In January 1996 the band rushed into their most serious crisis ever. The band cancelled their 6 weeks Europe tour and felt into deep depressions. Many rumours spread around about a band split, their retirement.
No official statements, no news for about 1 1/2 years until the Demo Single "Taste of Damocles" been released as an offical announcement. The band from now on consists just by the brotherhood and founding members Yorck and Gunnar Eysel. Former guitarist Colin Hughes as well as dummer Joxx Schmid retired. But the main heads of the band continue what they have started about ten years ago.
So it's no wonder that in February 1998 in time of their 10 years anniversary with a big bang the advance Mini-Album "The Love Like Blood E.P." was released. A new chapter is opened, a fresh, highly motivated band returns and again is setting new standards.
Their anniversary E.P. as well as the follow-up album "Snakekiller" have been recorded with numerous highly reputated musicians as there are AC (drums, Lacrimosa), Esa Holopainen (guitars, Amorphis), Ed Warby (drums, Gorefest), Frank Schwer (guitars, Silke Bischoff), Frank Weyzig (Born For Bliss), Susan D'Ivallo (vocals, Moonchild) and finally Peter Tägtgren (producer, Dimmu Borgir, Hypocrisy, Edge Of Sanity)
Lucretia My Reflection
Love Like Blood Lyrics
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Two worlds and in between
Hot metal and methedrine
I hear empire down
I hear empire down
I hear the roar of a big machine
Two worlds and in between
Dum-dum bullets and shoot to kill, I hear
Dive, bombers, and
Empire down
Empire down
I hear the sons of the city and dispossessed
Get down, get undressed
Get pretty but you and me
We got the kingdom, we got the key
We got the empire, now as then
We don't doubt, we don't take direction
Lucretia, my reflection, dance the ghost with me
We look hard
We look through
We look hard to see for real
Such things I hear, they don't make sense
I don't see much evidence
I don't feel. I don't feel. I don't Feel
A long train held up by page on page
A hard reign held up by rage
Once a railroad
Now it's done...
I hear the roar of a big machine
Two worlds and in between
Hot metal and methedrine
I hear empire down...
We got the empire, now as then
We don't doubt, we don't take reflection
Lucretia, my direction, dance the ghost with me...
"Lucretia My Reflection" by Love Like Blood is rife with imagery that may suggest political and social commentary. The references to a "big machine" and "empire down" invoke a sense of imminent destruction or collapse. The feeling of being caught between "two worlds" and the use of violent language such as "shoot to kill" and "dum-dum bullets" may point towards the experience of individuals caught in the crossfires of larger social and political upheavals.
The chorus suggests an alternative to this chaos, one of individual empowerment and agency. The singer proclaims, "We got the kingdom, we got the key, we got the empire, now as then, we don't doubt, we don't take direction." The use of "Lucretia, my reflection" may represent the singer's own inner self, a reflection of their own power and strength, and the call to "dance the ghost with me" may suggest a willingness to confront and acknowledge their own fears and doubts.
Overall, the song may represent a struggle between societal forces of destruction and the individual will to maintain agency and control over one's own destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the roar of a big machine
I am aware of the deafening noise made by a powerful machinery
Two worlds and in between
I am in a position where I can observe and experience two different realities
Hot metal and methedrine
I sense the intensity of the moment, which involves strong emotions and the use of drugs
I hear empire down
I witness the decline of an empire or a powerful entity
Love lost, fire at will
People have lost their love or affection and they are now aggressively fighting each other
Dum-dum bullets and shoot to kill, I hear
There are violent actions taking place, involving ammunition that expands upon impact and aims to kill instantly
Dive, bombers, and
There are dive bombers, an aircraft that plunges towards the ground to drop bombs, and other elements causing destruction
Empire down
The great entity is disintegrating and losing its power
I hear the sons of the city and dispossessed
I listen to the voices of the people who were born and raised in the city but are now deprived of their rights and possessions
Get down, get undressed
The people are told to lower their stance and remove their clothing, which could signify humiliation, vulnerability, or obedience
Get pretty but you and me
Despite the expectations to look pretty, you and I are the ones who possess something valuable
We got the kingdom, we got the key
We have the power and the knowledge to rule and control what happens
We got the empire, now as then
We still possess the empire and its influence, similarly to how we had it before
We don't doubt, we don't take direction
We know what we want and we don't need someone else to tell us what to do
Lucretia, my reflection, dance the ghost with me
The singer is addressing someone named Lucretia, and urges them to dance with the ghost, which could symbolize the singer's conscience, memories or the past
We look hard
We search intently and with determination
We look through
We examine and scrutinize every detail
We look hard to see for real
We try our best to perceive what is actually happening
Such things I hear, they don't make sense
The singer hears certain things that seem illogical to them
I don't see much evidence
I am not presented with enough proof to support a belief or assertion
I don't feel. I don't feel. I don't Feel
I am numb and detached, not experiencing emotions
A long train held up by page on page
A train is halted by an enormous quantity of pages, as if the documents are blocking or controlling the train
A hard reign held up by rage
The people in power are kept in place by a wave of anger or fury from those who have less power
Once a railroad
The organization or system was originally a means of transportation via trains
Now it's done...
Now it has come to an end, and there is no going back
Contributed by Audrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.