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)
Nothing Left
Psyclon Nine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our reflections just a memory of our lives past
See the world standing still through blood-stained glass
You know that the pain won't subside when you're so weak
Embrace the cold breath of truth
And we won't be in this world
To hear the cries of the feeble or the meek
Inside the nothingness
Floods with insecurity
We're burning from within for something we can't reach
And in the end there's nothing left
This stagnant world is at an end
The mirror questions our worth every day
And we can't live up to its expectations
Fills us with the hope of dreams that we can't live up to
Inside the nothingness
Floods with insecurity
And I'm burning from within for something I can't reach
And in the end there's nothing left for me
The lyrics of Psyclon Nine's "Nothing Left" are quite poignant and carry a sense of hopelessness and despair. Starting with the lines, "As we fall, our descent will be through our darkest dreams, Our reflections just a memory of our lives past," the song talks about the inevitability of our own downfall and the futility of holding onto memories. The world is portrayed as a still, lifeless place seen through "blood-stained glass," symbolizing the constant pain and suffering that surrounds us. The pain we feel won't go away, even if we are weak, and the only thing left is to embrace the cold breath of truth. The song says that we won't be around to hear the cries of the feeble or the meek.
The chorus of the song, "Inside the nothingness, floods with insecurity, we're burning from within for something we can't reach, and in the end, there's nothing left," highlights our helplessness and our yearning for something we cannot possess. The nothingness inside us is filled with insecurity, and we are burning from within, longing for something that will always remain out of reach. The song talks about how our existence in this stagnant, judgmental world is coming to an end. The mirror, which represents societal expectations, questions our worth, and we can't live up to its expectations. The dreams it fills us with are unattainable, leading us to a sense of hopelessness and despair. In the end, there is nothing left for anyone.
Line by Line Meaning
As we fall, our descent will be through our darkest dreams
As we spiral down into our own hell, it will seem endless and terrifying
Our reflections just a memory of our lives past
We will only be able to look back on our lives, but unable to change the course they have taken
See the world standing still through blood-stained glass
We will witness a world that is stagnant and lifeless, but we are unable to escape the violence and chaos that surrounds us
You know that the pain won't subside when you're so weak
When we are at our lowest point, we will be unable to find any relief from the pain and suffering we are experiencing
Embrace the cold breath of truth
We must confront the harsh reality of our situation, no matter how difficult it may be to face
And we won't be in this world
Eventually, we will leave this world behind
To hear the cries of the feeble or the meek
We will not be around to witness the struggles of those who are weaker than us
Inside the nothingness
We will find ourselves lost in a void, with no sense of direction or purpose
Floods with insecurity
We will be consumed by feelings of doubt and uncertainty
We're burning from within for something we can't reach
We will constantly yearn for something that is out of our reach, causing us great pain and suffering
And in the end there's nothing left
Eventually, everything will come to an end and there will be nothing left but emptiness and regret
This stagnant world is at an end
The world as we know it is collapsing, and there is no hope for salvation
The mirror questions our worth every day
We are constantly reminded of our failings and inadequacies, and are unable to escape the harsh judgment of our own self-reflection
And we can't live up to its expectations
We are unable to meet the unrealistic standards that society sets for us, causing us to feel hopeless and defeated
Fills us with the hope of dreams that we can't live up to
We cling to the idea of a better life, but deep down we know that it is unattainable and impossible to achieve
And in the end there's nothing left for me
No matter how hard we try, we will ultimately be left with nothing but our own emptiness and despair
Contributed by James R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.