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.
Mea Culpa
Umbra Et Imago Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Der jüngste Tag im Feuerkleid.
Der Himmel leuchtet scharlachrot.
Es riecht nach Sterben, riecht nach Tod.
Es wird Nacht auf Erden sein.
Verbranntes Fleisch im Feuerschein.
Der Hölle gelber Rauch entsteigt.
Mea Culpa
Wir baden in der Schuld und schwimmen in der Sühne.
Wir spielen das letzte Stück auf dieser Bühne.
Mea Culpa
Badet in Eurer Schuld und schwimmt in eurer Sühne,
Spielt das letzte Stück auf dieser Bühne!
Ein Chor aus tausend Stimmen singt,
Ein Hammer auf dem Amboss klingt,
Keine Gnade weit und breit,
Jetzt ist finale Sterbenszeit.
Der Optimist wählt Suizid,
Weil es keine Hoffnung gibt.
Der Jüngste Tag hält heut' Gericht.
Keine Sünden mehr auf lange Sicht.
Mea Culpa
Wir baden in der Schuld und schwimmen in der Sühne.
Wir spielen das letzte Stück auf dieser Bühne.
Mea Culpa
Badet in Eurer Schuld und schwimmt in eurer Sühne,
Spielt das letzte Stück auf dieser Bühne
The lyrics to Umbra Et Imago's song "Mea Culpa" depict a scene of chaos and destruction, using religious imagery to amplify the sense of doom. The first stanza paints a picture of an apocalyptic world, where the sky is red and death is in the air. The second stanza continues this theme, describing a world where everything is burning and the stench of death is overwhelming. The chorus repeats the phrase "Mea Culpa" (which translates to "my fault" in Latin), suggesting that the characters in the song are accepting responsibility for their actions and are ready to face the consequences. The final stanza introduces the concept of judgment day, where the only option for the optimist is to choose suicide because there is no hope left.
Overall, "Mea Culpa" is a song that explores the idea of accountability and judgment. The religious imagery used in the lyrics amplifies the sense of impending doom, creating a haunting atmosphere. The repetition of the chorus suggests that the characters in the song are coming to terms with their actions and are ready to face whatever comes their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Tausend Jahre Erbärmlichkeit,
A millennium of misery,
Der jüngste Tag im Feuerkleid.
The final day in fiery attire.
Der Himmel leuchtet scharlachrot.
The sky shines crimson red.
Es riecht nach Sterben, riecht nach Tod.
It smells of death, it smells of decay.
Es wird Nacht auf Erden sein.
It'll be night on earth.
Verbranntes Fleisch im Feuerschein.
Burnt flesh in the glow of flames.
Der Hölle gelber Rauch entsteigt.
Yellow smoke rises from hell.
In Rom verreckt die Heiligkeit.
Holiness dies in Rome.
Mea Culpa
My fault
Wir baden in der Schuld und schwimmen in der Sühne.
We bathe in guilt and swim in atonement.
Wir spielen das letzte Stück auf dieser Bühne.
We play the last act on this stage.
Badet in Eurer Schuld und schwimmt in eurer Sühne,
Bathe in your guilt and swim in your atonement,
Spielt das letzte Stück auf dieser Bühne!
Play the last act on this stage!
Ein Chor aus tausend Stimmen singt,
A choir of a thousand voices sings,
Ein Hammer auf dem Amboss klingt,
A hammer on the anvil rings,
Keine Gnade weit und breit,
No mercy in sight,
Jetzt ist finale Sterbenszeit.
Now it's time for final dying.
Der Optimist wählt Suizid,
The optimist chooses suicide,
Weil es keine Hoffnung gibt.
Because there is no hope.
Der Jüngste Tag hält heut' Gericht.
Judgment day holds court today.
Keine Sünden mehr auf lange Sicht.
No more sins as far as the eye can see.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luis Glez
Muchas gracias!!! no los conocia y suenan exelentes (Y)
Luis Glez
Me suena a Katatonia!!!!!
Luis Glez
dequien es la cancion con la que empieza el video, si alguin me puede decir, lo agradeceria mucho!!! gracias
El Jefe Cinco Cinco
pues no es Katatonia.... es Gammadion y la canción se llama Pocałunek
Ixtab Schatten
whose the first song of the video? before of the one by umbra et imago
El Jefe Cinco Cinco
The band is Gammadion and the song is Pocałunek
goro mk
Is the Intro Song Katatonia?