Terminal Exhalation
Spectral Voice Lyrics
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Expand into a sea of mirrors
Hazes of anamnesis
The isthmus of zos and kiavoid
(the key of void)
Endless black
Immeasurable expanse
Draped in frozen grey
Piercing silence beneath
Spiritual pain released
Sorrow engulfs mystery
Degeneration of light begins
Infinite death, as beyond pushes back
In this song, Spectral Voice explores the concepts of death, consciousness, and the afterlife. The first line, "streaming mists of grey expand into a sea of mirrors," speaks to the idea that death is a transition from one state of being into another. The next line, "hazes of anamnesis," suggests that as one dies, they begin to reflect upon the memories of their life. The term "anamnesis" refers to the recollection of past experiences, and in this context, it could represent a sort of life review that takes place during the process of dying.
The next line, "the isthmus of zos and kiavoid," is a reference to a concept in occult philosophy which posits that the universe is made up of two opposing forces - the active and the passive. Zos and Kia are the names given to these forces, with Zos representing the active principle and Kia representing the passive. The "isthmus" between them is the point of balance, and it could be interpreted as the state of consciousness one enters when they die.
The next few lines paint a picture of the afterlife as an endless expanse of darkness, with a "gloomy horizon draped in frozen grey." The following line, "piercing silence beneath," suggests that in this state, there is a complete absence of sensory input. This is followed by the idea that the process of dying entails a release of "spiritual pain," perhaps representing the freedom from physical suffering that comes with death. Finally, the song concludes with the idea that death is an "infinite" experience that "pushes back" against the forces of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Streaming mists of grey
The flowing mist that appears gray in color
Expand into a sea of mirrors
Expanding the gray mist into a vast sea of mirrors
Hazes of anamnesis
Unclear, vague memories
The isthmus of zos and kiavoid (the key of void)
The narrow land that connects the realms of zos and kiavoid, the realm of emptiness.
Endless black
Limitless darkness
Immeasurable expanse
A vast, boundless space that cannot be measured
Gloomy horizon
A dark and ominous outlook
Draped in frozen grey
Covered in a cold and icy grey
Piercing silence beneath
A deafening quietness below
Spiritual pain released
The release of emotional suffering at a deeper level
Sorrow engulfs mystery
The feeling of grief and pain takes over the unknown
Degeneration of light begins
The gradual loss of brightness starts
Infinite death, as beyond pushes back
Eternal demise, as the unknown resists and fights back
Contributed by Hannah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.