Septicflesh (formerly known as Septic Flesh) is a Greek symphonic death met… Read Full Bio ↴Septicflesh (formerly known as Septic Flesh) is a Greek symphonic death metal band from Attiki, Athens formed in 1990 by Sotiris Vayenas (guitar) and brothers Spiros Antoniou (bass and vocals), and Christos Antoniou (guitars).

They released their debut EP Temple of the Lost Race in December, 1991 through Black Power Records. The band then followed-up on the recording of their first full-length Mystic Places of Dawn in January–February, 1994 at Storm Studio, with co-production by Magus Wampyr Daoloth (who had previously played keyboards for fellow countrymen Rotting Christ). It was released in May, 1994 through Holy Records.

Septicflesh would then release their sophomore full-length Esoptron in May, 1995 through Holy Records. It was produced by the band themselves and George Zacharopoulos, being first recorded and mixed at Storm Studio, and then mastered by Sonic Contact throughout March–April, 1995 in Athens, Greece.

From years 1991 up until 1997, the band’s lineup was stable but for The Ophidian Wheel (1997) and A Fallen Temple (1998) records, singer Natalie Rassoulis was added as a session member.

By October, 2003 the band had split-up and after their breakup, its members moved on to new or already-existing projects. Chris Antoniou continued his involvement with Chaostar, which he had formed on 1998, while live-keyboardist Bob Katsionis went on to play guitars for Nightfall and keyboards for Firewind, respectively. The Devilworx formed a year later and featured some of the former members from Septiflesh's original lineup. Afterwards, on March, 2007 guitarist Sotiris Vayenas revealed plans for his then-new solo project, Aenaos.

However, on February 19th, 2007 Septicflesh had announced a reunion for Greek “Metal Healing Festival,” which featured Orphaned Land and Rage and Aborted, set to take place on July, 20th–22nd. And by April 3rd, 2007 Blabbermouth reported that the band had reunited for a seventh full-length album for the French record label, Season of Mist. According to guitarist and composer Christos Antoniou, the release would feature a full orchestra and choir, totalling 80 musicians and 32 singers.

Septicflesh then finalized recording for Communion in Studio Fredman, in Sweden. It was released in April, 2008 through Season of Mist. Also, by this time, the band had officially changed its name from Septic Flesh to Septicflesh. The name change was confirmed by Christos Antoniou in a Lords of Metal interview. The reason behind the decision was that it looked better, although the meaning was the same.

Moreover, on September 10th, 2009 the band had announced that they had begun work on a new studio album. Tentatively planned for release in the beginning of 2011; and by December 17th, 2010 the band released their first single "The Vampire from Nazareth" off The Great Mass, and also announced that it would be shipped on April, 28th in the UK and on April, 29th in the US.

By February 12th, 2014 the band released details about their forthcoming Titan, set to release on June, 2014. Following December, 15th of that year, the band announced that Krimh had joined Septicflesh as their new full-time bandmate after the departure of their longtime drummer, Fotis Benardo.

On a June, 2016 interview, Septicflesh had declared that since early 2016, they had been working on their tenth studio recording, which was scheduled for release toward Spring, 2017. In early June of that very year, the band members claimed that Codex Omega was officially due to release on September 1st, 2017. As with their previous record, Codex Omega was released through Prosthetic Records.

The Eldest Cosmonaut
Septicflesh Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(music:SOTIRIS)
SHINE......
In the mines of the darkest star.
The one no jewel can never shine.
A rode is left to point to Styx,
Both its end can lead,both can deceive.
No traps can seize,THE ELDEST COSMONAUT
As time stands still,incapable to breathe.

Once in clay I allowed the decades
To become a stone wall around me
But at least I became the wall of decades.
Can you feel the wrinkles on my hand?
They are yours.They are lines I once
Drew upon the sand...
CHORUS:
I HAVE A BOAT UNSEEN A LABYRINTHINE SPHERE
THE GNOSIS OF THE ELDEST COSMONAUT.
AND MAYBE YOU WILL SEE
THAT I AM WHAT YOUR MIND CAN NEVER.....SEAL.
Travelling the luminiferous waters of space,
Through the Stellar Isthmus.
It can lead it can decieve.
No traps can seize me,No toombs can seal me.
CHORUS:
I HAVE A BOAT UNSEEN A LABYRINTHINE SPHERE
THE GNOSIS OF THE ELDEST COSMONAUT.

AND MAYBE YOU WILL SEE
THAT I AM WHAT YOUR MIND CAN NEVER.....SEAL.

Overall Meaning

Septicflesh's song, “The Eldest Cosmonaut,” is a dark and complex meditation on time, space, and the human condition. The song begins by describing the mines of the darkest star, where no jewel can ever shine. This is a metaphor for the vast and endless universe, in which humanity is just a tiny speck. The singer describes a road that points to Styx, the river that separates the living from the dead in Greek mythology. The road can lead to life or death, and both options are equally terrifying. The Eldest Cosmonaut is mentioned, a character who is beyond time and space and incapable of breathing.

The next verse describes the singer's own experience with time. He allowed the decades to pass and become a stone wall around him. He has aged, as evidenced by the wrinkles on his hand, which are the same lines that he drew upon the sand. This is a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the impermanence of all things. The chorus then comes in, with the singer stating that he has a boat unseen in a labyrinthine sphere which contains the gnostic knowledge of the Eldest Cosmonaut. He is insinuating that he is the Eldest Cosmonaut and has the knowledge of the cosmos that the human mind cannot fathom.

Overall, the lyrics are a reflection of humanity's search for meaning in the vast expanse of the universe. The Eldest Cosmonaut represents the human desire to transcend the limitations of time and space and achieve a higher understanding of the universe.

Line by Line Meaning

SHINE......
Amidst the darkness of the galaxy's deepest corners, there is a star so dim that not even the brightest jewels can illuminate it.

In the mines of the darkest star.
The song speaks of an unknown location or celestial body that is located in the far reaches of space.

A rode is left to point to Styx,
An old path remains that leads to a portal to the underworld which is also called the River Styx.

Both its end can lead,both can deceive.
The path is ambiguous and could lead to either salvation or destruction, signifying a moral dilemma.

No traps can seize,THE ELDEST COSMONAUT
This line describes a space traveler who has grown old and become one with time and the universe. He is impervious to any trap or danger because of his deep understanding of the workings of the cosmos.

As time stands still,incapable to breathe.
The septuagenarian cosmonaut has stopped aging and is now unable to breathe due to the nature of space travel at such an age.

Once in clay I allowed the decades
The cosmonaut reminisces about his past when he was younger and more malleable like clay when he allowed time to sculpt him into the person he is now.

To become a stone wall around me
The decades have shaped him to become steadfast and strong as a wall made of stone.

But at least I became the wall of decades.
The cosmonaut sees his years of space travel as a cumulative sum that has contributed to a great wall of wisdom and understanding that keeps him safe from harm.

Can you feel the wrinkles on my hand?
The wrinkles on the cosmonaut's hand are a testament to the time and effort he has devoted to becoming one with space.

They are yours.They are lines I once Drew upon the sand...
The lines on his hand now belong to the universe, symbolizing his journey and understanding of the cosmos.

CHORUS:I HAVE A BOAT UNSEEN A LABYRINTHINE SPHERE THE GNOSIS OF THE ELDEST COSMONAUT. AND MAYBE YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM WHAT YOUR MIND CAN NEVER.....SEAL.
The chorus describes the cosmonaut's vessel which travels across the universe, filled with knowledge and understanding that the listener may never fully comprehend or seal away.

Travelling the luminiferous waters of space,
The cosmonaut sails the cosmic waves of space, observed by no one but the stars.

Through the Stellar Isthmus.
The Stellar Isthmus refers to the region of the universe where two galaxies meet, marking a dividing line between two different worlds.

It can lead it can decieve.
The path the cosmonaut takes is ambiguous, as it can either lead him to salvation or deceive him into danger.

No traps can seize me,No toombs can seal me.
The cosmonaut is free from the shackles of life and death, and no one or no physical condition can hinder his journey.

CHORUS:I HAVE A BOAT UNSEEN A LABYRINTHINE SPHERE THE GNOSIS OF THE ELDEST COSMONAUT. AND MAYBE YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM WHAT YOUR MIND CAN NEVER.....SEAL.
The chorus reiterates the cosmonaut's vessel, his limitless understanding of space, and the listener's incapability to fully understand him.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Pat Alex

3y↑10

Love this song! Here's the lyrics for anyone who wants to know:
SHINE...
In the mines of the darkest star.
The one no jewel can ever shine.
A road is left to point to Styx,
Both its end can lead, both can deceive.
No traps can seize, THE ELDEST COSMONAUT
As time stands still, incapable to breathe.
Once in clay I allowed the decades
To become a stone wall around me
But at last I became the wall of decades.
Can you feel the wrinkles on my hand?
They are yours.They are lines I once
Drew upon the sand...
I HAVE A BOAT UNSEEN A LABYRINTHINE SPHERE
THE GNOSIS OF THE ELDEST COSMONAUT.
SO BRING YOUR LIGHT TO ME
AND MAYBE YOU WILL SEE
THAT I AM WHAT YOUR MIND CAN NEVER... SEAL.
Travelling the luminiferous waters of space,
Through the Stellar Isthmus.
It can lead it can decieve.
No traps can seize me, No tombs can seal me.
I HAVE A BOAT UNSEEN A LABYRINTHINE SPHERE
THE GNOSIS OF THE ELDEST COSMONAUT.
SO BRING YOUR LIGHT TO ME
AND MAYBE YOU WILL SEE
THAT I AM WHAT YOUR MIND CAN NEVER... SEAL

All comments from YouTube:

Pat Alex

3y↑10

Wint Herr

2y↑3

This band has found THE WAY to mix death metal and orchestration, in such a manner that it sounds like these two things were meant to be together from the start.