From the band's formation in 1991 until 1997, the line-up was stable, but on The Ophidian Wheel (1997) and A Fallen Temple (1998) a female vocalist, Natalie Rassoulis, was added. The group split up in October 2003, and after the breakup, its members moved on to different or existing projects: Chris Antoniou continued involvement with Chaostar, which he formed in 1998, and Katsionis played guitar for Nightfall and keyboards for Firewind. The DevilWorx formed a year after Septic Flesh's disbanding, and featured some members from Septic Flesh's original line-up. In March 2007, guitarist Sotiris Vayenas revealed his plans for a new solo project called Aenaos.
On February 19, 2007, Septic Flesh announced a reunion for Greece's Metal Healing Festival featuring Orphaned Land, Rage and Aborted, set to take place July 20–22. On April 3, 2007, Blabbermouth.net reported the band reunited for a seventh full-length CD, for French record label Season of Mist. According to guitarist and composer Christos Antoniou, the release would feature a full orchestra and a choir, totalling 80 musicians and 32 singers. Septic Flesh finalized the new album, Communion, in Studio Fredman in Sweden; it was released in April 2008. By this time the band had changed its name from Septic Flesh to Septicflesh. According to guitarist Christos it looks better and states a new phase in the band.
On September 10, 2009, the band announced that they had begun work on a new studio album, tentatively planned for release in the beginning of 2011. On December 17, 2010, the band released the first single from the new batch of material titled "The Vampire From Nazareth" and announced that the new album will ship April 28 in the UK, and April 29 In the USA. On February 12, 2014, the band released details about their new album entitled 'Titan'. The album will be released later in the year 2014.
Narcissus
Septic Flesh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The tale of Narcissus and Echo
A beautiful young nymph
Sentenced to repeat
The last words of the others
Never to talk first
She fell in love with Narcissus
He said "Who is here" and she replied "Here"
He called for her saying "Come"
She just replied "Come"
As none came near, Narcissus
Called her again
"Why do you shun me"
She could only say the same
These words hurt deep
His pride his actions leads
"I would rather die
Than you should have me"
Narcissus went forth
To a fountain in the north
He kneeled down to drink
And then he fell in love
He said "Who is here"
His voice kept sounding "Here"
He called again the one
That couldn't ever come
His face was young and
In the crystal waters glowed
His smile was cold reflecting
Back a thought
"I would rather die
Than you should have me"
The lyrics to Septic Flesh's song Narcissus tell the story of a beautiful young nymph named Echo who was cursed to only be able to repeat the last words of others and never speak first. Echo fell in love with Narcissus, a handsome young man who was known for his extreme self-love and vanity. Narcissus, however, was not interested in Echo and instead wanted to spend his time admiring his own reflection.
One day, while Narcissus was at a fountain in the north, he saw his own reflection in the water and fell deeply in love with himself. He became completely absorbed in his own beauty and could not bear the thought of anyone else having him. This led him to say the words, "I would rather die than you should have me."
The lyrics of this song use the story of Narcissus and Echo to explore the themes of pride, self-love, and unrequited love. Narcissus's vanity and obsession with his own image ultimately lead to his downfall, as he was unable to find true love and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
On the walls of Venus's temple
The setting for the story of Narcissus and Echo, a tale about self-love and obsession, is within the temple dedicated to the Roman goddess of love, Venus. The temple, representing beauty and desire, sets up the themes of the song.
The tale of Narcissus and Echo
The tragic story of Narcissus and Echo is about a proud and vain man who falls in love with his own reflection and realizes too late the destructive nature of his own self-love. Echo, a mountain nymph who yearns to express her love, serves as a contrast to Narcissus's self-centeredness.
A beautiful young nymph
Echo is described as a beautiful and alluring figure, adding to the tragedy of her inability to express her love for Narcissus due to a curse.
Sentenced to repeat
As punishment for gossiping and distracting Zeus, Echo is cursed to only repeat the words of others, never to initiate conversation or express her own thoughts and feelings.
The last words of the others
The only words Echo can say are the last words spoken to her.
Never to talk first
Echo's curse prevents her from initiating any conversations, leaving her longing to express her love but unable to do so.
She fell in love with Narcissus
Echo becomes infatuated with Narcissus, the object of her desire, and follows him wherever he goes.
And followed him longing to speak
Echo yearns to break free from her curse and finally speak to Narcissus about her feelings for him.
He said 'Who is here' and she replied 'Here'
Narcissus hears Echo's footsteps and calls out to ask who is there, and Echo responds with her curse-ridden reply.
He called for her saying 'Come'
Narcissus calls out to Echo to come to him, tempting her to break her curse and finally speak to him.
She just replied 'Come'
Echo repeats Narcissus's invitation to come to him, unable to speak any other words.
As none came near, Narcissus
Echo is unable to approach Narcissus due to her curse, and he becomes frustrated by her lack of response.
Called her again
Narcissus calls out to Echo again, hoping she might finally break her curse and speak with him.
"Why do you shun me"
Narcissus questions why Echo is avoiding him and not responding to his calls.
She could only say the same
Echo is still cursed and can only repeat the last words spoken to her, leaving her unable to explain her situation to Narcissus.
These words hurt deep
Narcissus becomes upset and hurt by Echo's lack of response and inability to communicate with him.
His pride his actions leads
Narcissus's vanity and pride blinds him to the pain he is causing Echo and the consequences of his own actions.
"I would rather die
Than you should have me"
Echo's final words before retreating to a cave in despair demonstrate her love for Narcissus and her pain at being unable to express it, while also foreshadowing the self-destructive nature of Narcissus's own obsession.
Narcissus went forth
Narcissus leaves to go elsewhere, looking for a new source of water to drink from.
To a fountain in the north
Narcissus finds a fountain in the northern region and begins to drink from it.
He kneeled down to drink
Narcissus kneels down to drink from the clear water of the fountain.
And then he fell in love
As Narcissus gazes into the still water of the fountain, he becomes entranced by his own reflection and falls in love with it.
His voice kept sounding 'Here'
Narcissus speaks to his reflection, asking who is there, and hears his own echo, which he mistakes for a response from an actual person.
He called again the one
That couldn't ever come
Narcissus calls out to his reflection, unaware of the truth behind the image he sees and unable to comprehend the futility of his own desires.
His face was young and
Narcissus is obsessed with the beauty of his own reflection, unable to see beyond the surface-level attractiveness.
In the crystal waters glowed
The clear, reflective waters of the fountain enhance the illusion Narcissus sees, making it appear even more real and captivating.
His smile was cold reflecting
Back a thought
Narcissus is unaware of the emptiness and shallowness of his own obsession, unable to see past his own reflection and the shallow desires it embodies.
"I would rather die
Than you should have me"
Echo's final words are repeated at the end of the song, highlighting the theme of unrequited love and the destructive nature of obsession and narcissism.
Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@death_XP
On the walls of Venus's temple
The tale of Narcissus and Echo
A beautiful young nymph
Sentenced to repeat
The last words of the others
Never to talk first
She fell in love with Narcissus
And followed him longing to speak
He said: Who is here?, and she replied: Here
He called for her saying: Come
She just replied: Come
As none came near, Narcissus
Called her again
Why do you shun me
She could only say the same
These words hurt deep
His pride his actions leads
I would rather die
Than you should have me
Narcissus went forth
To a fountain in the north
He kneeled down to drink
And then he fell in love
He said: Who is here?
His voice kept sounding: Here
He called again the one
That couldn't ever come
His face was young and
In the crystal waters glowed
His smile was cold reflecting
Back a thought
I would rather die
Than you should have me
@TheHermit72
So beautiful, and underrated, to me a real classic here, very good album
@vaggelispappas2209
I find this so grossly underrated. I am in love with it! Just like nymph with narcissus.
@ichqici1999
This comment is priceless
@death_XP
On the walls of Venus's temple
The tale of Narcissus and Echo
A beautiful young nymph
Sentenced to repeat
The last words of the others
Never to talk first
She fell in love with Narcissus
And followed him longing to speak
He said: Who is here?, and she replied: Here
He called for her saying: Come
She just replied: Come
As none came near, Narcissus
Called her again
Why do you shun me
She could only say the same
These words hurt deep
His pride his actions leads
I would rather die
Than you should have me
Narcissus went forth
To a fountain in the north
He kneeled down to drink
And then he fell in love
He said: Who is here?
His voice kept sounding: Here
He called again the one
That couldn't ever come
His face was young and
In the crystal waters glowed
His smile was cold reflecting
Back a thought
I would rather die
Than you should have me
@AntjeWeh
kind of funny... because it reminds me somehow of the 'Middle Age', but the story glory is based on an earlier epoch, isn't it?..
@alexzoris7216
@@AntjeWeh it's Greek mythology
@mattpujol1111
Favorite song on one of my all time favorite albums. Very rare that a 4 minute song can feel like a 12 plus minute epic.
@whitewolf2868
Wow!! Septicflesh sound other worldly like their divinly inspired. Simply breathtaking song...perfection
@danielwuillemin1783
Merci la Grece de nous envoyer un tel groupe !!!
@alexzoris7216
Try to search for more groups from Greece please! We have a really good metal scene.