The Awakening is a name of at least six bands:

1) A Johannesburg (So… Read Full Bio ↴The Awakening is a name of at least six bands:

1) A Johannesburg (South Africa), alternative rock band
2) A 1970s U.S. funk/jazz group
3) A Long Island (NY, USA) post hardcore band
4) A Hungarian dark ambient act, better known as Awakening
5) A Göttingen (Germany) brutal death metal band
6) A Canadian Christian rock band active in the mid-late 80s influenced by Yes and The Beatles

1) A Johannesburg alternative rock band, formed in 1995 by vocalist, guitarist and producer Ashton Nyte. The band is credited in the press as "South Africa's most successful Gothic Rock act and one of the top bands in the far broader Alternative scene." The band has released 7 full-length studio albums, 1 greatest hits album, 2 music videos and 2 EPs, and have received significant radio play and club rotation throughout South Africa, Europe and the USA. They became the first gothic rock band to ever headline major national festivals throughout South Africa, including Oppikoppi, RAMfest, and many others. The band has had major chart success with several #1 hits on South Africa Rock charts (see sources) and charted on Germany's Alternative Charts.

As of 2009 the band is based in the United States with record label base in Germany (Massacre Records), South Africa and the USA (Intervention Arts). The band is touring the USA in 2009 for the fourth time, in support of their latest (8th) full-length studio album.

Sites: Wikipedia, Discogs, YouTube and Twitter

2) A U.S. instrumental funk/jazz group which produced only two studio albums, Hear, Sense and Feel (1972) and Mirage (1973), both on jazz pianist Gene Russell's Black Jazz label.

The label was founded in the early 70's, as an alternative to traditional jazz invoking a more political and spiritual tone, often with funk overtones. It made twenty-two releases in multiple genre, including: funk, free jazz and soul jazz.

Sites: Discogs

3) A six piece Long Island post hardcore band which was formed in February of 2008 releasing a self released E.P., Understanding Goodbyes. The band with its original members left for tour only a few months later in July with, “Thieves And Villains (Victory Records).” After tour, conflicts caused The Awakening to disband with no intentions of moving forward.

In April of 2009, The Awakening was brought back together with original members, Jerry Nedrow, Joe Votta, and Nick Tortora. New vocalist Mike D’amico, new guitarist John Arlet, and new synth player
Jason Bach all added. The new lineup put out the two song EP Mending the Broken and, shortly after its release, they toured. After their second east coast run with Beneath The Sky (victory records) drummer Nick Tatora and Guitarist John Ahrlet have left the band and has sense been replaced by Rich Urraro (guitar), Zack Austin (drums).

They planned to release an eight track EP in mid-November 2009 and to tour it the following month.

6) Canada's The Awakening released three albums in the latter part of the 1980s. The band's core duo of Andrew Horrocks on guitar and keyboardist Ian Tanner was joined by bassist Allan Powell and his brother Mike Powell on drums. A regional release produced by Richard J. Hutt, Two Worlds, came out in 1986. Tanner contributed five writing credits on the album's nine cuts to Horrocks' three (the Powells each had two). Wider distribution came with a contract signing with U.S. based Reunion Records. All but two tracks from Two Worlds would find their way onto 1987's Sanctified. Hutt returned as producer, helping write the new group effort "Distant Light", while Horrocks and Mike Powell contributed the new single "My Only Hope". In 1988, the band recorded final outing Into Thy Hands. Hutt once again produced and each member along with Hutt helped write the single and album opener "Don't Wait for Me". The band's Yes influence was made more explicit via a cover of that band's "Onward". CCM Magazine singled out the track "Knife of Life" as evidence of experimentation on the band's part.

In Etherea
The Awakening Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's time for my introduction
You might not know me anymore
It's just a case of abduction
There's menace in Etherea

We're woven into absolution
We're tired of the falter call
Don't care much for some bland illusion

There's menace in Etherea

In desperation we are martyred
Screaming as the stones are cast

Drowning in rejected wisdom
There's menace in Etherea

Overall Meaning

The Awakening's song In Etherea is a dark and brooding reflection on the state of modern society, which the band members see as being in the grip of an insidious menace that threatens to undermine our very existence. The singer of the song, who remains nameless, is introduced in a somewhat mysterious fashion, suggesting that he or she represents a viewpoint that is not well known or understood by the general public. The use of the term "abduction" in this context is open to interpretation, but it seems to suggest that the singer has been removed from society in some way and is now returning with a new perspective on the state of things.

The chorus of the song is both powerful and chilling. The repeated references to "menace in Etherea" create a sense of danger and foreboding that is palpable, while the use of the term "absolution" suggests that the singer has arrived at some kind of moral or ethical reckoning that is not shared by those around him or her. The line "in desperation we are martyred" is particularly striking, as it conveys a sense of helplessness and despair in the face of an overwhelming threat that cannot be ignored.

Overall, In Etherea is a compelling and thought-provoking song that raises important questions about the state of our society and the forces that drive it. The use of vivid imagery and evocative language draws the listener in and creates a sense of urgency that is hard to ignore.

Line by Line Meaning

It's time for my introduction
I am making my entrance right now

You might not know me anymore
You may have forgotten who I am

It's just a case of abduction
It was simply an incident of being taken away

There's menace in Etherea
There is danger lurking in Etherea

We're woven into absolution
We are deeply entwined in a state of being forgiven

We're tired of the falter call
We are exhausted with the call to hesitate

Don't care much for some bland illusion
We no longer are interested in a dull illusion

There's menace in Etherea
There is danger lurking in Etherea

In desperation we are martyred
We are sacrificed in our time of desperation

Screaming as the stones are cast
We yell out while we are pelted with stones

Drowning in rejected wisdom
We are overwhelmed with rejected knowledge