While their early efforts are generally categorized as aggrotech, later releases incorporated a disparate set of musical and aesthetic influences, notably black metal and industrial metal. They belonged to the so-called "second wave" of American harsh ebm, along with bands such as Dawn of Ashes, Die Sektor, and Tactical Sekt.
The group went on their first hiatus at the end of 2010 due to Bellum's opiate addiction, but returned to the stage in October 2011 for a performance in New York and released their last album Order of the Shadow: Act I in 2013.
After Rotny Ford and Jon Siren quit the band in March 2014, Nero Bellum stated on his personal Facebook page that he wanted to perform one last series of concerts before putting an end to the band. Live band members Dorian Starchild (guitar), Brent Ashley (bass), and Kriz Dk (drums) joined Psyclon Nine for their final performances.
A remix for Limnus entitled The Devils Are Inside the Walls (Psyclon Nine Remix) was released in August 2014, followed by a second hiatus that lasted 8 months.
On April 13, 2015, Psyclon Nine created a new official Facebook page and announced a live performance at the L.A. Dark United Underground in Los Angeles, CA on May 2, 2015. The reformed lineup for the show featured Nero Bellum (vocals), Dorian Starchild (guitars), Ashes (guitars), and Raanen Bozzio (drums).
They went on to do a few more shows, resulting in Psyclon Nine returning as a live band. Raanen Bozzio was subsequently replaced by Anthem on electronic drums.
The band name is a malapropism of Zyklon B, the trade name of hydrogen cyanide used in the gas chambers during the holocaust. The "Nine" is used because of the number's significance in Aleister Crowley's numerological writings.
Psyclon Nine - Official Facebook
Psyclon Nine - Official Bandcamp
Psyclon Nine - Metropolis Records
Current Members:
Nero Bellum – vocals (1999–present)
Dorian Starchild – guitars (2014-present)
Ashes - guitars (2015-present)
Anthem - electronic drums (2015-present)
Past Members:
Raanen Bozzio - drums (2015-present)
Brent Ashley – bass (2014)
Kriz Dk - drums (2014)
Glitch NIX – keyboards, synth (2013–2014)
Merritt – bass (2012–2014)
Rotny Ford – guitars (2006–2007), synth (2008–2014)
Jon Siren – drums, percussion (2009–2014)
Vlixx – keyboards, synth (2009)
Abbey Nex – drums, percussion (2005–2006), bass (2007–2009)
VII – keyboards, synth (2006–2008)
Daniel Fox – drums, percussion (2007–2008)
Josef Heresy – synth (1999–2008), guitar (2006–2008)
Eric Gottesman – synth (2000–2006), bass (2004–2007)
Daniel Columbine – bass (2006)
Discography
2002 - Divine Infekt Demos (demo)
2003 - Divine Infekt
2005 - INRI
2006 - Crwn Thy Frnicatr
2009 - We the Fallen
2013 - Order of the Shadow: Act I
2014 - Use Once and Destroy (single)
2014 - [Disorder : The Shadow Sessions] (remix)
As You Sleep
Psyclon Nine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blue
Lifeless
Deathless
Illuminated
By the machines
That hold you on this side
So calm
Unaffecting
I cease to live
I fear my infection
Watching over your soul as you sleep
Injecting nightmares as you sleep
Injecting nightmares as you sleep
Infecting nightmares as you sleep
All I want is your purity
All I want in this world is your mind
The timeless place tamed by your psyche
Living in the world of dreams
Always sleeping
Unlike the feigned peace
Brought by morphine
That lay discarded at my feet
I float in blackness
Wrench myself away
Down deserted hallways filled with eerie light
The muted screams of the dying
Pierced my soul like a dull and rusted needle
As I stumble in my morphine haze
Barely conscious of the predawn light
That filters through steel meshed windows
Keeping out your life
Reigning in your death
I stumble past the coated watchers
Break into a run
Yearning for the air outside
I never stop thinking of you
The lyrics to "As You Sleep" by Psyclon Nine depict a scene of someone who is possibly on their deathbed. The opening lines describe the person as cold, blue, lifeless and deathless, indicating that they may be already dead or close to death. The use of the word "machines" suggests that the person may be on life support, which is keeping them alive on this side of existence. The lyrics then move on to the emotions of the person who is watching over the dying person. The emotion is a mix of anger and fear, but it's portrayed as calm and unaffecting, which may suggest that the person has already accepted the inevitable.
The next section of the song describes the person's desire for the purity and mind of the dying person. This may suggest that there is a bond between the two people, or that the dying person has something that the other person desperately wants. The lyrics then move into a dreamlike state, painting a picture of someone who is always sleeping, possibly the dying person.
The final section of the song describes the singer's experience of being in a hospital as they watch the dying person. The use of the word "morphine" suggests that the singer may also be sick or injured, and the two people are sharing a similar experience. The dark imagery of the deserted hallways and the muted screams of the dying create a haunting atmosphere. The lyrics end with the singer's yearning for fresh air, which suggests a desire to escape the confines of the hospital, but the final line, "I never stop thinking of you," indicates that they are inextricably linked to the dying person.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold
The atmosphere is frigid and unwelcoming.
Blue
The environment is void of happiness and hope.
Lifeless
The surroundings are dreary and lacking energy.
Deathless
Death is a normal thing and no longer has meaning.
Illuminated
By the machines
That hold you on this side
The only light in the situation comes from the machines that are keeping them alive.
Anger or fear
The person is feeling either rage or terror.
So calm
Despite the anger or fear, there is a sense of composure.
Unaffecting
The situation doesn't seem to have any impact on the person's emotions.
I cease to live
The person feels dead inside.
I fear my infection
The individual is concerned that their thoughts could harm someone else.
Watching over your soul as you sleep
The singer is keeping a close eye on the person's rest.
Injecting nightmares as you sleep
The artist is actively causing the person to have bad dreams.
Infecting nightmares as you sleep
The singer is spreading their own negativity and fear to the person through their dreams.
All I want is your purity
The person is deeply interested in the purity of the individual's soul.
All I want in this world is your mind
The person is captivated by the individual's thought processes.
The timeless place tamed by your psyche
The person feels that the individual's mind has the power to control anything, even time itself.
Living in the world of dreams
Always sleeping
The individual seems to spend most of their time in a dream world.
Unlike the feigned peace
Brought by morphine
That lay discarded at my feet
The tranquility that comes from drugs isn't real and is treated with disrespect.
I float in blackness
The singer is lost in the darkness of their own thoughts.
Wrench myself away
The artist attempts to break free from their negative mindset.
Down deserted hallways filled with eerie light
The surroundings are gloomy and unsettling.
The muted screams of the dying
Pierced my soul like a dull and rusted needle
The cries of the wounded are difficult to handle and bring great pain to the artist.
As I stumble in my morphine haze
Barely conscious of the predawn light
That filters through steel meshed windows
Keeping out your life
Reigning in your death
The singer is under the influence of drugs and feels disconnected from reality, including the life and death that takes place outside of the hospital.
I stumble past the coated watchers
Break into a run
Yearning for the air outside
The artist wants to escape from the oppressive environment and feel a sense of freedom.
I never stop thinking of you
The individual is always on the singer's mind.
Contributed by Declan E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wortygoblin
Psyclon nine is the ONLY band I haven't grown out of. Liked them since I was 11, still listening uncringingly at 22. Pretty sure psyclon nine is the kind of band you love for life.
@KMnnA
I agree. I been a fan of them since I was 16, I'm 30 now. I love them forever 🙌🏻
@derekvalenti9365
one of psyclon nine's best songs....i have all their albums, even their latest one 2013, and i definitely believe their 1st album ,Divine Infekt, is the best
@Kittinthehatlady
Derek V I agree. Divine infekt is absolutely their best album.
@jimlotus7889
+Chicken Lover I agree this is their best album, this is the first one I listened to and this song was my favorite back then and still is now ;)
@Hijynx87
+Chicken Lover Same here, I used to listen to it at least once every day for 3yrs strait. I think I need to get back in the habit, minus the opiates.
@derekvalenti9365
hahah...yes minus the opiates... im struggling with the same dam thing man
@jacklies9053
Hijynx87 Marijuana is good for this though.
@jeremiahgolladay2490
This is psyclon nine's greatest
Song in my opinion. I can listen to it 5 times a day and never get tired of it!
@Frosty52903
It took me entirely too long to discover Psyclon 9, and I can say that they are my new favorite band. I hope Nero is staying clean...best of luck to him!