Mechanical Poet was founded in Moscow in 2002 as a studio-only project by ex-members of Russian avant-garde band Glazemaker Lex Plotnikoff,
Tom Tokmakoff and Sebastian Trifonoff.
For a few years the band known as Glazemaker was working on creating a "sound" of their own, till they evolved a sound which was a mixture between melodic metal with progressive metal riffs and symphonic metal orchestrations using electronic instruments.
In 2003 Sebastian Trifonoff left the band and was soon replaced by Эпидемия's frontman Max Samosvat. With the new singer the band released its first EP, Handmade Essence. After the EP the band received several offers from various music companies, and finally signed a record deal with Italian label Aural Music
In 2004 the debut album Woodland Prattlers, was released, the band's most successful CD to date. It featured a mixture of symphonic and progressive metal with heavy use of keyboard and songs based on fantasy books by authors like Astrid Lindgren and Oscar Wilde. The album was based around the concept of a "Mechanical Poet" who gathers stories from the fantasy forest. Though the album had sold well, the union of Plotnikoff, Tokmakoff and Samosvat split in 2005 due to artistic disagreements.
In 2006 the Mechanical Poet returned with a new line-up: singer Jerry Lenin (ex-Tarakany, Lady's Man), guitar player Lex Plotnikoff, drummer Vladimir Ermakoff (also Black Obelisk) and bass player
Serge Khlebnikoff. In this line-up the band made their first ever live show (Plan B Club, Moscow, 04/08/2007) and released their third album Creepy Tales For Freaky Children (with session work of Epidemia bass player Ivan Izotov). The album had simpler arrangements with a more post-prog sound. The album had bonus tracks in Russian, which was the first time the band had Russian songs. After the release of the album, Serge Khlebnikov left Mechanical Poet.
In 2007 the band released another concept album, Who Did It To Michelle Waters? A double album telling a story about a suicide of a girl and the circumstances that led her to that. The double album consisted of two parts, Music From And Inspired By The Original Sad Story and Original Score. The bass session player on the album was Daniil Zacharenkov (a member of Black Obelisk).
The 2008 saw band with new vocalist, Vladimir Nasonoff, and a new concept album Eidoline: the Arrakeen Code, based on Frank Herbert's Dune Universe. This album was named the best sci-fi/fantasy music project of 2008 by Mir Fantastiki magazine.
After 2009, Mechanical Poet went on a hiatus. However, the band's former members released several albums since then. In 2010, Plotnikoff released Hattifatteners, a project based on Moomin Troll books by Tove Jahnsson (later reissued as Mistland Prattlers,). And in 2011, Plotnikoff and Lenin collaborated on Luna Damien, another post-prog project in the vein of late Mechanical Poet; with lyrics based on an original fantasy story. Among other Lex's projects are Alexis Chrome, Last Fighter, Blacklight Devil, and Barrel Wight
A reunion and a new album was planned in 2018, however, due to Lex Plotnikoff's health issues it was cancelled. Plotnikoff died in 2022, making reunion impossible.
http://www.mechpoet.com
GOD
Mechanical Poet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you face the nature blind of your pride...
You don't have a chance...
When a hurricane meets you on its way...
You don't have a chance...
God...If you are not the god.
God... If you are not the...
When your ego makes you forget your place...
When you think that power is in your hands...
When you're not the god...
When you summon monsters you cannot tame...
When you put your hand in the wild flame...
Fear...
Crossing the path of the giants.
The lyrics of Mechanical Poet's song "God" seem to be a cautionary tale about the consequences of overestimating oneself, and the hubris that can lead to a downfall. The opening lines suggest that when one breaks the rules and goes against the tide, or when one allows their pride to blind them to the realities of nature, they are asking for trouble. These warnings are repeated throughout the song, even as it becomes clear that the consequences of such mistakes are dire.
The references to "God" in the song are interesting, as they suggest that the lyrics may be dealing with the concept of divine punishment or retribution for those who defy the natural order. The repeated question, "God... If you are not the god," seems to be a challenge to the listener to consider their own place in the universe, and to question whether they are overstepping their bounds. The warnings about hurricanes, monsters, and wild flames all suggest that the forces of nature are not to be trifled with, and that those who try to control or dominate them will ultimately fail.
Overall, the lyrics of "God" are thought-provoking and cautionary, urging listeners to be humble in the face of the natural world and the forces that govern it. The song seems to suggest that those who overreach will be punished, and that the only way to truly succeed is to respect the balance of nature and one's place within it.
Line by Line Meaning
When you break the rules and go against the tide...
Facing resistance and defying norms that have been established by society or authority.
When you face the nature blind of your pride...
Being unaware of the consequences of your actions and letting your ego lead the way.
You don't have a chance...
The likelihood of succeeding is very low or non-existent.
When a hurricane meets you on its way...
Encountering an obstacle or challenge that is overwhelming and powerful like a natural disaster.
When you cross the line and run away...
Breaking the boundaries and fleeing from a difficult situation rather than confronting it.
You don't have a chance...
The odds are against you and the possibility of being victorious is slim.
God...If you are not the god.
Taking an oath in the name of a higher power or authority to emphasize the seriousness of the situation.
God... If you are not the...
Continuing the pledge to a higher power.
When your ego makes you forget your place...
Allowing one's sense of self-importance to cloud their judgement and forget their role or position in society.
When you think that power is in your hands...
Believing that control and influence belong to oneself rather than a higher authority or collective effort.
When you're not the god...
Acknowledging one's limited ability and authority compared to a higher power or collective force.
When you summon monsters you cannot tame...
Taking on a challenge or responsibility that is beyond your ability or control.
When you put your hand in the wild flame...
Deliberately subjecting oneself to a dangerous situation or consequence.
Fear...
The emotion that arises when one is faced with a dangerous or unknown situation.
Crossing the path of the giants.
Encountering a powerful and influential entity or force that poses a significant challenge or threat.
Contributed by Logan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.