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.
Vampir song
Umbra Et Imago Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
die in Augenpaar gebiert
Der Mond groß löst das Silber
Deines Blickes erstrahlen
Hell ist Dein Haar fast weiß
das leicht über Deine Schultern fällt
Deine Hüften fangen die Blicke
wie das Licht die Fliegen
die ihr Opfer schon längst bezwungen weiß
Deine Maske ist die eines Kindes
kleine Vampilady
Dein Biss ist tödlich
die Jagd beginnt
die Nacht wird rot
Dein Hauch ist der Kuss der Göttin
Leicht schwebt Deine Hand
über den Rücken des Verlorenen
Deine Zunge fühlt die Angst der Haut
Deine Brüste tanzen den Tanz des Todes
das Gift Deiner Seele macht süchtig
Der Alptraum wird zum Paradies
Der Biss wird ersehnt wie das ewige Leben
Keine Liebe - kein Leid - keine Sünde
Die Vision der Ewigkeit
Deine Maske ist die der Ewigkeit
kleine Vampirlady
Dein Biss nimmmt die Kraft
Das Licht zerfließt
Deine Zähne zerfleischen die Hölle
Das Blut verlässt den Körper des gequälten Geistes
Die Kraft zerfällt im Rausch der Ewigkeit
Zwischen Leben und Tod schließt sich der Kerker
Gedanken beginnen sich zu zersetzen
Dein wahres Gesicht beginnt sich zu entfalten
Zu spät - Zu spät - Viel zu spät
Kalt wird alles, gefrorene Splitter
schleudern den Geist aus Dir
Jetzt ist die Zeit kleine Vampirlady
für ein neues Opfer
Denn Du brauchst neues Blut
Denn Blut ist Dein Leben
Blut ist Dein Trieb
Der Biss ist Dein Verkehr
Der Biss ist Dein Akt
immmer neues Blut
The German lyrics of Umbra Et Imago's "Vampir Song" speak of a vampire lady who is described as ethereal and alluring. The darkness of the night creates a perfect atmosphere for her, as the moonlight accentuates the silver of her piercing gaze. Her white hair falls gently around her shoulders and her hips draw in the attention of onlookers. She moves like a snake, having already conquered her prey. Her mask is that of a child, but her bite is deadly. The lyrics suggest that once she bites, the hunt begins, and the night turns red. Her breath is like a goddess' kiss, and her hands glide over the backs of those who are lost to her. Her tongue tastes the fear in their skin, and her breasts sway to the rhythm of death. The poison of her soul is irresistible, and the nightmare she offers is transformed into paradise by her victims. Her bite is desired like eternal life, and there is no love, no pain, and no sin; only the vision of eternity.
However, the song's mood changes in the second half of the lyrics. The vampire lady's mask transforms into that of eternity, and her bite takes away the strength of the victim. The light fades away, and as the teeth of the vampire lady sink into flesh, this is the beginning of the end. The victim's soul leaves the body, and the power collapses into the magnitude of forever. Death and life mix in the prison of the mind, and thoughts erode. The vampire lady's true face is slowly revealed, but for the victim, it's too late. Everything becomes cold, and the victim is thrown in random directions like frozen shards of glass. It's now time for the vampire lady to seek another victim, as she continues to thirst for fresh blood. Blood is her life, her drive, and her fate. The bite is her encounter, and new blood is always necessary for her survival.
Line by Line Meaning
Schwarz ist die Nacht
The night is dark
die in Augenpaar gebiert
Which gives birth in pairs of eyes
Der Mond groß löst das Silber
The moon releases the silver
Deines Blickes erstrahlen
Of your gaze shining
Hell ist Dein Haar fast weiß
Your hair is light and almost white
das leicht über Deine Schultern fällt
That falls lightly over your shoulders
Deine Hüften fangen die Blicke
Your hips catch the eye
wie das Licht die Fliegen
Like light attracts flies
Dein Gang ist der einer Schlange
Your walk is that of a snake
die ihr Opfer schon längst bezwungen weiß
That already knows it has conquered its prey
Deine Maske ist die eines Kindes
Your mask is that of a child
kleine Vampilady
Little vampire lady
Dein Biss ist tödlich
Your bite is deadly
die Jagd beginnt
The hunt begins
die Nacht wird rot
The night turns red
Dein Hauch ist der Kuss der Göttin
Your breath is the kiss of the goddess
Leicht schwebt Deine Hand
Your hand floats lightly
über den Rücken des Verlorenen
Over the back of the one who is lost
Deine Zunge fühlt die Angst der Haut
Your tongue feels the fear of the skin
Deine Brüste tanzen den Tanz des Todes
Your breasts dance the dance of death
das Gift Deiner Seele macht süchtig
The poison of your soul is addictive
Der Alptraum wird zum Paradies
The nightmare becomes paradise
Der Biss wird ersehnt wie das ewige Leben
The bite is longed for like eternal life
Keine Liebe - kein Leid - keine Sünde
No love - no sorrow - no sin
Die Vision der Ewigkeit
The vision of eternity
Deine Maske ist die der Ewigkeit
Your mask is that of eternity
Dein Biss nimmmt die Kraft
Your bite takes away strength
Das Licht zerfließt
The light dissolves
Deine Zähne zerfleischen die Hölle
Your teeth tear apart hell
Das Blut verlässt den Körper des gequälten Geistes
The blood leaves the body of the tormented soul
Die Kraft zerfällt im Rausch der Ewigkeit
Strength dissolves in the ecstasy of eternity
Zwischen Leben und Tod schließt sich der Kerker
Between life and death, the prison closes
Gedanken beginnen sich zu zersetzen
Thoughts begin to decay
Dein wahres Gesicht beginnt sich zu entfalten
Your true face begins to unfold
Zu spät - Zu spät - Viel zu spät
Too late - too late - far too late
Kalt wird alles, gefrorene Splitter
Everything becomes cold, frozen splinters
schleudern den Geist aus Dir
Hurling the spirit out of you
Jetzt ist die Zeit kleine Vampirlady
Now is the time, little vampire lady
für ein neues Opfer
For a new victim
Denn Du brauchst neues Blut
Because you need new blood
Denn Blut ist Dein Leben
Because blood is your life
Blut ist Dein Trieb
Blood is your instinct
Der Biss ist Dein Verkehr
The bite is your intercourse
Der Biss ist Dein Akt
The bite is your act
immmer neues Blut
Always new blood
Contributed by Samantha P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maito-Lee Samma
German is such a beautiful language, this song is just a motivation for me to start studying it. n_n
goetheserben8
I've been looking for this song at youtube for a long time, thank you so much ! Is it possible to upload the rest of the album ? Especially " parents song " ... Thanks !
Gabriel Cruz Torres
Yeah!
Que bueno que las subieron!
Saludos desde CDMX!
Frances Cat
Brilliant song. Love it.
relanzator
pure awesomeness
AstarothFallen
yeah me too, and there was a time I found it but it was live tnx a lot!
Piotr Huzli
Nacht
FRANCES GREEN
Schwarz....