Madmans Esprit is a South Korean black metal band and solo project of voca… Read Full Bio ↴Madmans Esprit is a South Korean black metal band and solo project of vocalist Kyuho, formed in 2010 in Seoul. Their unique genre is described as "Depressive Suicidal Blackened Pop".

Madmans Esprit's debut album NACHT, a sinister melange of various Black Metal subgenres with Shoegazing guitar melodies and Korean Folk undertones was released through the Italian cult black metal label ATMF in 2014 and praised by scene critics. Four years later in 2018 the project started to gain more attention outside of the black metal realm with the release of their second full-length album Conscientization of Unconsciousness through Gan-Shin Records, the European home of Visual Kei legends like DIR EN GREY, lynch. and MUCC. While Conscientization of Unconsciousness is still based on DSBM, it incorporates a much broader spectrum of influences like Post-Punk, Indie-Rock and even Grind-Core and Classical music in its tight knit meshwork of depression and ecstacy. In spring 2019, together with their first headlining tour in 6 European countries, the project released their EP, Glorifying Suicide. By introducing a lower tuning, the release shows a more aggressive side than its predecessor, illustrating topics like self-reflection, art and propaganda. In autumn 2019 the band toured Asia with their single Seoul, reflecting the darkness of Korea by combining the most pop friendly and the most brutal sound of the band’s history to date. One year later Madmans Esprit released the single Jahaewa Haebang. A Live Blu-ray of their tour final one man concert Seoul and the single Mangtanshi followed right after, raising more than 11,000 euro from crowd funding. The two singles contrast topics like self-harm and humanity, experimenting more with 90’s Visual Kei sounds, dramatic black metal influences and korean folk rhythm.

Kyuho said he has always been influenced by Japanese visual kei. Some of the project's influences are Dir En Grey, Opeth, Radiohead and X Japan. He is also the guitarist of the band ms. isohp romatem, established by Juho, Madmans Esprit's guitarist.

Now, 2021 January the band releases another single “백골의 정원 (Garden of Skeletons)”. Based on a mid-tempo alternative rock vibe, the song combines the characteristic evil sound of Black Metal and Modern Metal breakdowns. From soul-crashing DSBM arpeggio to brutally fast blast beat, Madmans Esprit is not hesitating to show more of their black metal origin.

Fearless to deconstruct genres in order to express their concept, Madmans Esprit fascinates listeners from all sides of the music spectrum and the globe. After topping the Viberate chart in the category South Korean Metal and being nominated for a Korean Music Award, the band rapidly grew their fanbase and became the most successful metal band in Korea currently.

Live Support Members: Juho (guitar)Somyul (guitar)Geon (bass)Limu (drums)

Spiral Agony
Madmans Esprit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Spiral agony made of sex, despair and fear
My existence is a sin and this pain is forever mine
What do you believe in this era of emptiness?
No redemption for those who bleed
Trapped in life and death

Smile of oblivion
Death of consciousness

Soil dyed in red
Dogma leaves a long scar
You made your own satan and you're fleeing from it
But who's the evil now?
The easiest way to build a paradise would be to kill all the wicked
Peace above thousands of corpses
Above my corpse

눈을 감으면 그 어둠이 너무 편안해서
악몽 속에 영원히 떠도는 그대여
아직 남아 있는 억압과 폭력의 흉터
옅은 미소 밑에 감추고 썩어가는 그대여

Pain whispers to me that I'm alive
Masochism of my existence

Let my hope destroy me
And once again into the spiral

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Spiral Agony" by Madmans Esprit delve deep into the realm of personal pain, despair, and hopelessness. The imagery used in the song, including "spiral agony made of sex, despair and fear," portrays a cycle of suffering and self-destruction that the singer feels trapped in. The line "my existence is a sin and this pain is forever mine" reflects the feeling of inadequacy and self-loathing that often accompanies depression and emotional trauma. The singer then poses an existential question, asking what one can believe in during times of emptiness when redemption seems unattainable.

The chorus of the song highlights the idea of numbness and detachment as a coping mechanism, with "smile of oblivion" and "death of consciousness" painting a picture of a person who has given up on life and is merely existing. The bridge of the song shifts the focus to a broader societal context, where the "soil dyed in red" and "dogma leaves a long scar" references the atrocities and injustices committed in the name of religion and political views. The last verse brings the focus back to the singer, who is wrestling with their demons and desires to escape the pain through destruction.

Overall, the song highlights the deeply personal and emotional experience of mental health struggles while also touching on societal issues.

Line by Line Meaning

Spiral agony made of sex, despair and fear
The singer is caught in a vicious cycle of suffering that is intertwined with themes of sexuality, hopelessness, and anxiety.

My existence is a sin and this pain is forever mine
The singer feels guilty for simply existing and fears that the pain will never go away.

What do you believe in this era of emptiness?
The singer is questioning the beliefs of those around them in a time of nihilism and hopelessness.

No redemption for those who bleed
The artist believes that there is no hope for those who suffer and are in pain.

Trapped in life and death
The artist feels stuck in a state of limbo between life and death, unable to escape their suffering.

Smile of oblivion
The singer is hiding their pain behind a facade of happiness and blissful ignorance.

Death of consciousness
The singer is so numb to their pain that they feel as if they are dead inside.

Soil dyed in red
The ground is stained with blood, symbolizing the violence and suffering that surrounds the artist.

Dogma leaves a long scar
The artist believes that adherence to strict beliefs and ideologies can be harmful and leave lasting damage.

You made your own satan and you're fleeing from it
The artist believes that we create our own demons and are afraid to confront them.

But who's the evil now?
The singer is questioning who the true villain is in a world filled with suffering and pain.

The easiest way to build a paradise would be to kill all the wicked
The artist acknowledges that eliminating those who cause pain and suffering may seem like a simple solution, but it is not a viable option.

Peace above thousands of corpses
The singer is acknowledging the possibility that peace may only come at the cost of many lives lost.

Above my corpse
The singer is resigned to the fact that they may have to die in order for there to be peace.

눈을 감으면 그 어둠이 너무 편안해서
When I close my eyes, the darkness feels far too comforting.

악몽 속에 영원히 떠도는 그대여
You, who forever drift in a nightmare.

아직 남아 있는 억압과 폭력의 흉터
The scars of oppression and violence that still remain.

옅은 미소 밑에 감추고 썩어가는 그대여
You, who hides and decays beneath a faint smile.

Writer(s): Kyuho, Madmans Esprit

Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS