Early Years (1997–2011)
Guitarist Aldo Lonobile formed Secret Sphere in July 1997. Early on, the band was influenced by hard rock, heavy metal, and classical music. After some lineup changes in December 1997, the band recorded their first demo, Between Story and Legend, in September 1998. The style of the demo was firmly in the symphonic power metal genre that was expanding in Italy at that time.
The demo caught the attention of the Italian progressive/power metal label Elevate Records, who signed the band to a two-album deal. In June 1999, Secret Sphere recorded the first full-length album, Mistress of the Shadowlight. The album continued in the stylistic direction shown on Between Story and Legend, and included re-recordings of a few songs from that demo.
In October 2001, the band returned to New Sin studios (where the first album had been recorded) to record their second full-length album, A Time Never Come, also released on Elevate Records.
Secret Sphere recorded two promo CDs in 2002 while in search of a new recording deal. They caught the attention of major German heavy metal label Nuclear Blast, who would go on to release the band's third album, Scent of Human Desire, in May 2003. Scent of Human Desire presented a change in direction for the band, focusing less on fantasy themes and more on romantic, sexual themes. After the release of Scent of Human Desire, drummer Luca Cartasegna left the band, citing difference in musical tastes.
The band's fourth album, Heart & Anger, was released in May 2005 on Nuclear Blast. Daniel Flores (Mind's Eye) was brought on as a session drummer for the recordings. After the album was released, a full replacement drummer was found in Federico Pennazzato. That same year, the band planned to back up the Danish progressive metal band Royal Hunt, however, the tour was cancelled two days before it was set to begin. A 2006 Scandinavian tour backing King Diamond was more successful for the band.
In 2008, Secret Sphere released their fifth album, Sweet Blood Theory, on Avalon in Japan and the German label Dockyard 1 Records in Europe. The album was based on the short story "The Vampyre", written by John William Polidori, as well as the atmospheres of Tim Burton's cinematographic work. Longtime members Antonio Agate (keyboards) and Paolo "Paco" Gianotti (guitars) departed the band after the release of the album; both had been with the band since the recording of their demo a decade before.
Dockyard 1 Records folded in 2009, but the band was picked up by the Italian heavy metal label Scarlet Records in time for their sixth full-length album, Archetype, released in September 2010. This was the first recording with new keyboardist Gabriele Ciaccia and new guitarist Marco Pastorino.
Vocalist change, later years (2012–)
In 2012, the band began recording for their seventh album. However, part way through recording, vocalist and founding member Roberto Ramon Messina left the band due to differences in musical direction. Michele Luppi, former vocalist of the Italian progressive power metal band Vision Divine, was recruited as Roberto's replacement, and the album, entitled Portrait of a Dying Heart, was released in November of that year on Scarlet Records. Drummer Fredderico Pennazzato left shortly after; Marco Lazzarini was chosen as his replacement.
Secret Sphere returned to the studio in 2015 to re-record their second album, A Time Never Come, in commemoration of the fifteenth anniversary of its release. A Time Never Come – 2015 edition was released by Scarlet Records in April 2015.
The band signed a multi-album deal with Frontiers Records in April 2016. Later that year, Frontiers released the band's first official live recording, One Night in Tokyo, as a 2CD + DVD set. Following the release of One Night in Tokyo, guitarist Marco Pastorino left the band. The band's eighth album, The Nature of Time, was released in June 2017, with only Lonobile on guitars.
The band released their most recent album, Lifeblood, on 12 March 2021. This album features the return of vocalist Roberto Messina for the first time since 2012.
Death from Above
Secret Sphere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A heaven is stained in vain
Stay forever hold me tight
Stay forever hold me down
Of a boy of a girl
Lost in the haze of a dream that fell apart
We bring peace, we save, we control
Bring guns and bombs
In your sky we fly high
Legal wildness
Corrupted games
Soldiers of unholy war
Of the nations killers
They wear uniforms and helmets
Toys of children
They're so proud of writing "death from above"
(Chorus)
Death from above, love from the ground
Pain machine providers of a crazy hell
Death from above, blood around
Desperate cries screaming out in pain
Invading frustrating
Hunting and raping
Fighting for playing
While leaders just gain
Flag painted blood
In the name of humanity
In the circle of time
They wear uniforms and helmets
Toys of children
They're so proud of writing "death from above"
(repeat chorus)
They wear uniforms and helmets
Toys of children
They're so proud of writing "death from above"
(repeat chorus)
The song Death From Above by Secret Sphere is a powerful critique of war and violence. The lyrics express frustration and sadness at the state of the world, where nations send soldiers to kill and destroy in the name of power and domination. The chorus, "Death from above, love from the ground, pain machine providers of a crazy hell" captures the sense of chaos and madness that war brings, as innocent people are caught in the crossfire.
The song also touches on the idea of innocence lost. The lines "Of a boy of a girl, lost in the haze of a dream that fell apart" suggest that there is something tragic about the loss of childhood innocence, as young people are forced to come to terms with violence and death. The repetition of the lines "They wear uniforms and helmets, toys of children, they're so proud of writing 'death from above'" drives home the idea that those who wage war are often just playing a game, oblivious to the real-world consequences of their actions.
Overall, Death From Above is a powerful and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to question the role of war and violence in our world.
Line by Line Meaning
How can we grow up there's something wrong in this pain
There is a problem with the way we are taught to deal with pain and grow up in society
A heaven is stained in vain
The ideal of a perfect world is destroyed and useless
Stay forever hold me tight
Desire to be comforted and protected
Stay forever hold me down
Fear of the unknown and need for stability
Of a boy of a girl
All humans are vulnerable to destruction
Lost in the haze of a dream that fell apart
Hopelessness and despair after a failed dream
We bring peace, we save, we control
False promises made by those in power
So they say
They do not follow through with their promises
Bring guns and bombs
Violent approach to problem-solving
In your sky we fly high
We come into your territory to exert power
Legal wildness
Laws permit acts that are morally wrong
Corrupted games
Destruction for personal gain
Soldiers of unholy war
Participants in a conflict that is immoral or unjust
Of the nations killers
It is the nations themselves that engage in killing
They wear uniforms and helmets
Those who participate in war are given a sense of belonging through symbols and attire
Toys of children
The tools of war are used and celebrated in a childish manner
They're so proud of writing "death from above"
There is a joy and sense of achievement in destroying from a distance
Death from above, love from the ground
While one group destroys from above, there are those on the ground who suffer and are loved by others
Pain machine providers of a crazy hell
War machines and the people who create them are responsible for creating a chaotic and terrible experience
Death from above, blood around
War brings death and bloodshed to those below
Desperate cries screaming out in pain
Victims of war suffer and cry out for help
Invading frustrating
Invasion of another's territory leads to conflict and frustration
Hunting and raping
In times of war, there is often violence and abuse inflicted on innocent people
Fighting for playing
War is often seen as a game or competition by those who engage in it
While leaders just gain
Those in power benefit while the general population suffers
Flag painted blood
Nationalism and patriotism are often used to justify war
In the name of humanity
War is often framed as a way to protect or serve humanity
In the circle of time
Wars have been fought throughout history and will continue to happen
Contributed by Anna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luis César
It's hard for me to accept a new vocalist... this one was perfect for the band...
arthemispower
other of the best songs of this album!!
Tonieldor Metal666
que gran banda de la magnifica ITALIA
liz flores
la mejor de todas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CamilloTV
from ITALY!!!!! Amazing Power Metal! thank you SS!!
Music lover
Ottima band italiana, famosa poi (dopo questo album) per l'entrata nelle proprie file del famoso Michele Luppi. Qui però la band ha dimostrato di saper cavarsela benissimo da sola!
yamiimax
@Jorge Ruben incluso debo admitir que messina es genial, realmente me gusta el nuevo álbum, especialmente líricamente poético es increíble
Jorge Ruben
es que con Luppi no han mejorado lo hecho con Messina
yamiimax
Luppi is a beast if he were in a band long without him vision divine is boring
yamiimax
@Jorge Ruben yeah it was 6 years ago ive change my mind the new singer in vision divine is awesome 🥰 so is Messina 👍