Their earlier albums have provided a great deal of influence to the gothic metal genre. The band was one of the first ones who made use of contrasting vocals - male bass vocals and death growls and female soprano singing.
On their first three albums (Theatre of Tragedy, Velvet Darkness They Fear, Aégis) Theatre of Tragedy presented lyrics written predominantly in Early Modern English, a precedent to modern English used in and around Shakespearean times.
Starting from the album Musique, however, the band made drastic changes to their style, which became significantly inspired by electro-rock and electro-pop, abandoning Early Modern English lyrics writing, heavier guitar riffing and death growls in the process. This style change was consequently continued on the following album, Assembly.
After a long break and after changing the female vocalist due to musical differences, and furthermore their management and the record label, Theatre of Tragedy released their new album Storm, the first one with their new singer, Nell Sigland (from The Crest).
On this album, the electronic influences are reduced again in favour of simplicity and naturalism. According to Hein Frode Hansen, Storm is to be seen as the missing link between Aégis and Musique.
The new album Forever is the World, reverts back to the gothic metal roots, but keeps the atmospheric metal styling of Storm. The band said the album was very much written by Nell as well as other band members, moreover it was partially written before Storm was. It is seen to be more organic than their last 3 albums and has been both praised and criticised by fans, though most publications seem to praise it from being different to the symphonic metal that is very much popularised in today's music industry.
The band split on October 2nd, 2010, exactly 17 years after forming. The final curtain show was played in Stavanger, Norway and was recorded live for a later DVD release.
Final lineup:
* Raymond István Rohonyi - Vocals & Programming
* Nell Sigland - Vocals - (The Crest)
* Frank Claussen - Guitars
* Vegard K. Thorsen - Guitars
* Lorentz Aspen - Keyboards
* Hein Frode Hansen - Drums - (ex-Phobia)
Former members:
* Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull - Vocals - (Leaves' Eyes, Liv Kristine, Atrocity (guest), Cradle of Filth (guest))
* Tommy Lindal - Guitars
* Tommy Olsson - Guitars
* Pål Bjåstad - Guitars
* Geir Flikkeid - Guitars
* Eirik T. Saltrø - Bass
Albums:
1995 - Theatre of Tragedy
1996 - Velvet Darkness They Fear
1998 - Aégis
2000 - Musique
2001 - Closure: Live
2002 - Assembly
2003 - Two Originals (Compilation)
2006 - Storm
2009 - Forever is the World
Singles and EPs:
1994 - Theatre of Tragedy Demo (Demo)
1996 - Der Tanz Der Schatten (Single)
1997 - A Rose for the Dead (EP)
1998 - Cassandra (Single)
2000 - Image (Single)
2001 - Machine (Single)
2001 - Inperspective (EP)
2002 - Let You Down (Single)
2002 - Envision (Single)
2006 - Storm (Single)
2010 - Addenda (EP)
Official site: www.theatreoftragedy.com
Der Tanz Der Schatten
Theatre of Tragedy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Gleichwohl hast do Deine Augen versteckt
Auch sind die Visionen schwarz,
Lichtschein hinter der Dunkelheit;
Schwarz wie die Nacht;
Ein Licht das mir gezeigt hat,
Der Dämmerzustand des Menschen -
Daß do von Angst erfüllt bist.
Erzähle mir bitte
Warum do diese Angst in Dir trägst!"
"Ich bin so alleine;
Einsamkeit in Ewigkeit -
Gedanken nur für mich,
Mit dem Schatten flüstere ich -
Mit dem Schatten tanze ich -
Einsam wandere ich,
Das Blut begehre ich: Totentanz."
"Den tödlichen Kuß zu empfangen;
"Tanze nicht mehr mit dem Schatten,
Folge der Finsternis in das Nichts! -
Tanze bitte nicht über das Grab;
Süßer Nektar auf Deinen Lippen;
Tanze mit mir den Walzer Luzifers.
Ein Rinnsal blutfeuchtes Leben,
Ich sehne mich Deine Braut zu sein
Ich lecke die Liebe aus Deinem Gesicht,
- Um zu Finsternis zu werden."
Ich lecke den Haß aus Deinem Gesicht."
"Ein so berauschendes Gefühl:
"Für immer und unendlich:
Meine bittere Existenz zu schmecken!"
Ein Seelsorger Deiner bin ich."
"Laß mich Deinen Kuß begrüßen;
Den selbstzerstörerischen Kuß..."
"Gebe Dich mir hin!
Ich war von Trauer erfüllt,
Ich war so untröstlich,
"... Bis ich sterbe, umarme mich,
Doch do hast die Liebe entfacht..."
Und ich werde wieder auferstehen...
Ich liebe Dich..."
The lyrics of Theatre of Tragedy's song Der Tanz der Schatten convey a dark, melancholic tone that speaks of loneliness, fear, and despair. The opening lines mention the darkness in the singer's eyes and how the addressee has hidden their own eyes. The vision of the singer is black, with only a glimmer of light behind the darkness, and this light reveals the fear that fills the addressee. The singer asks that the addressee explain why they carry such fear within them, indicating a desire to connect with them and understand them at a deeper level.
The following lines reveal the singer's loneliness and their communion with shadows. They dance and whisper with their shadows, wandering alone and desiring the taste of blood. The singer urges the addressee to join them in their dance, but warns against following the darkness too far. They speak of a deadly kiss and a desire to become one with the darkness, licking love and hate from the addressee's face. They describe this as a rapturous feeling that allows them to taste their bitter existence forever.
The final lines express the singer's need for the addressee's affection, a desire to feel their embrace until death. However, the addressee has kindled love within the singer's heart, promising resurrection and a declaration of love. The song's imagery presents a gothic sensibility that speaks to the dark romanticism of the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Meine Augen sind so dunkel,
My eyes are so dark,
Gleichwohl hast do Deine Augen versteckt
Yet you have hidden your eyes
Auch sind die Visionen schwarz,
Also, the visions are black
Lichtschein hinter der Dunkelheit;
Glimmer of light behind the darkness;
Schwarz wie die Nacht;
Black as the night;
Ein Licht das mir gezeigt hat,
A light that has shown me,
Der Dämmerzustand des Menschen -
The twilight state of humanity -
Daß do von Angst erfüllt bist.
That you are filled with fear.
Ist meine Zeit des Daseins."
Is my time of existence."
Erzähle mir bitte
Please tell me
Warum do diese Angst in Dir trägst!"
Why you carry this fear within you!"
Ich bin so alleine;
I am so alone;
Einsamkeit in Ewigkeit -
Loneliness for eternity -
Gedanken nur für mich,
Thoughts only for myself,
Mit dem Schatten flüstere ich -
I whisper with the shadow -
Mit dem Schatten tanze ich -
I dance with the shadow -
Einsam wandere ich,
I wander alone,
Das Blut begehre ich: Totentanz."
I desire blood: dance of death."
Den tödlichen Kuß zu empfangen;
To receive the deadly kiss;
Tanze nicht mehr mit dem Schatten,
Don't dance with the shadow anymore,
Folge der Finsternis in das Nichts! -
Follow the darkness into nothingness! -
Tanze bitte nicht über das Grab;
Please don't dance over the grave;
Süßer Nektar auf Deinen Lippen;
Sweet nectar on your lips;
Tanze mit mir den Walzer Luzifers.
Dance with me the waltz of Lucifer.
Ein Rinnsal blutfeuchtes Leben,
A trickle of blood-moist life,
Ich sehne mich Deine Braut zu sein
I long to be your bride
Ich lecke die Liebe aus Deinem Gesicht,
I lick the love from your face,
- Um zu Finsternis zu werden."
- To become darkness."
Ich lecke den Haß aus Deinem Gesicht."
I lick the hate from your face."
Ein so berauschendes Gefühl:
Such an intoxicating feeling:
Für immer und unendlich:
Forever and infinitely:
Meine bittere Existenz zu schmecken!"
To taste my bitter existence!"
Laß mich Deinen Kuß begrüßen;
Let me welcome your kiss;
Den selbstzerstörerischen Kuß..."
The self-destructive kiss..."
Gebe Dich mir hin!
Surrender yourself to me!
Ich war von Trauer erfüllt,
I was filled with sorrow,
Ich war so untröstlich,
I was so inconsolable,
... Bis ich sterbe, umarme mich,
... Until I die, embrace me,
Doch do hast die Liebe entfacht...
But you have ignited the love...
Und ich werde wieder auferstehen...
And I will rise again...
Ich liebe Dich..."
I love you..."
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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