History
In 1991, Umbra et Imago were created as a side-project of The Electric Avantgarde. In the following year, the two bands were still existing alongside. There were plans for The Electric Avantgarde to change its style to death metal, but those were soon dropped.[1] The band dissolved and was later reformed as Dracul so that Umbra et Imago became Mozart's main project.
In 1992 Umbra et Imago played their first stage shows, where visual effects played an important role. While the band's style was still dominated by electronic influences, there were frequent appearances of guest musicians such as Peter Heppner of Wolfsheim. The band began to develop an eccentric image and they were known for their fancy concerts . Umbra et Imago polarized critics and were even publicly criticized.[citation needed] In the same year, their album Träume, Sex und Tod was published, one year later Infantile Spiele was released.
As their album tracks often exceeded lengths of 10 minutes, they were unsuited for play in discothèques and were not included to DJs' programs. Because of that, Umbra et Imago created a remix of their song "Erotica" which they called ZöllerMussEsSpielen Mix (Zöller Must Play It Mix), referring to Michael Zöller, a resident DJ of Bochum's Zwischenfall discothèque. Despite its length, "Gothic Erotic" from the 1993 album Infantile Spiele remained the band's best known song.
In 1995, Michael Gillian and Torsten B. left the band, followed by Nail soon after. They were replaced by Lutz Demmler und Alex Perin. With the change in the line-up came a change in style. The music shifted towards guitar sounds and was expanded by hard rock elements on the album Gedanken eines Vampirs. This change was completed in 1996 with the album Mystica Sexualis, which was now gothic metal.[2] During live shows, the band would have fetish models on stage, founding their current stage concept. The 1997 maxi single Kein Gott und keine Liebe saw an increase in Neue Deutsche Härte elements and Umbra et Imago were compared to bands such as Rammstein.[3]
In 2003, guitarist Freddy Stürze left the band but joined them in 2011 again.
According to their official website, Opus Magnus, published in 2010, was Umbra and Imago's final studio album while a new DVD with live material and old songs will be released in 2011.
Work and appearance
Stage show at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen in 2014
From the beginning, Umbra et Imago have been a concept band picking up Sigmund Freud's idea that sexuality was the center of our being. They processed sadomasochistic fantasies through their cynical lyrics. According to the band, this theme was chosen because it represents the most intellectual form of sexuality.
The lyrics by Umbra et Imago are dominated by a warped, subliminal humour, criticism of human society's flaws[5] and cynical self-irony. The clichés dealt with thereby and their exaggerated depictions polarize the meaning of the band. Sexuality is major component of the concept but is no longer dominating.[4]
Their stage shows are still infamous, incorporating BDSM acts and complex pyrotechnics into their live shows.[6]
Lutz Demler has eventually become the producer of Umbra et Imago and other bands.
Hash Dreams
Umbra Et Imago Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
breath, the smoke that brings freedom to you
like strandet whales
that feel you the truth
when they die in the dessert of nothingness
the colour of your heart
gives you the power to smile
your spirit drifts into emptyness
musik is splitted into sounds
which then harmonizes
and frees your senses entirely
the godess of lust embraces you
with the dazzling scent of womanhood
she leads you to the wells
of your love
and takes a bath with you
in the secret desires of your mind
the world in which you live
close its gates
to let you enter
into the paradise of yourself
The lyrics to Umbra Et Imago's song Hash Dreams seem to be about finding freedom and enlightenment through the use of drugs, specifically marijuana. The opening line to "open your soul" seems to suggest that the use of drugs can open up the mind and allow for deeper exploration and understanding of oneself. The line "breath, the smoke that brings freedom to you" specifically refers to smoking marijuana and how it can have a freeing effect on the mind.
The next stanza compares the feeling of using drugs to that of a stranded whale experiencing the truth as it dies. This could be interpreted as the idea that in death, one can experience a greater truth and understanding of oneself, just as using drugs can bring about enlightenment and a greater understanding of oneself.
The third stanza describes how music can have a powerful effect on the senses and can free the soul entirely. The final stanza is about achieving a state of personal paradise through the use of drugs, and the notion that the world around you might not understand or accept this, but that ultimately it is about finding peace and understanding within oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
open your soul
Unleash your true self and allow your emotions to flow freely.
breath, the smoke that brings freedom to you
Inhale deeply and let go of all your worries and fears.
like strandet whales
Similar to the feeling of being lost and alone.
that feel you the truth
A sense of realization and clarity of thought.
when they die in the dessert of nothingness
The feeling of being stranded and hopeless with no way out.
the colour of your heart
Your inner self gives you the ability to find happiness and contentment.
gives you the power to smile
The strength to find joy in life despite difficulties.
like green fields in the sun
The feeling of warmth and happiness that comes from within.
your spirit drifts into emptyness
The feeling of being lost and disconnected from the world around you.
musik is splitted into sounds
Music can be broken down into individual notes, but together they create a harmonious sound that can be emotionally freeing.
which then harmonizes
In the end, the individual sounds come together to create something greater than their individual parts.
and frees your senses entirely
Music has the ability to release you from the constraints of everyday life and allow you to feel things on a deeper level.
the godess of lust embraces you
A symbol of surrendering yourself to desire and passion.
with the dazzling scent of womanhood
The allure of femininity and female sensuality.
she leads you to the wells
Guiding you towards your innermost emotions and desires.
of your love
The depths of your own capacity to love and be loved.
and takes a bath with you
A metaphor for surrendering yourself completely to your desires and fantasies.
in the secret desires of your mind
Giving into your own thoughts and desires, free from judgment or shame.
the world in which you live
The limitations and pressures of everyday life.
close its gates
Blocking you off from the deeper parts of yourself and the world around you.
to let you enter
Once you are able to let go of your fears and worries, you are able to access deeper parts of yourself.
into the paradise of yourself
A sense of self-discovery and acceptance, where you are able to find peace and contentment within yourself.
Contributed by Dominic E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.