VNV Nation's inspiration was originally the clash of the modern and classical European cultures, where mythology and technology live in an uneasy fusion, but this has since broadened to encompass a world view. The music ranges from electronic dance music to ballads and classically inspired music. Inspirations are taken from a wide range of styles including contemporary underground club culture, industrial, trance and classical music. The lyrics draw on philosophy, religion, literature, art, politics and different forms of symbolism, although VNV Nation does not advocate any ideology. It is a metaphor for expression. The letters VNV stand for "Victory Not Vengeance". The meaning behind this stylised motto is that one should strive to achieve, not sit in bitter regret.
VNV Nation's first releases were in 1990 with two self produced vinyl releases, "Body Pulse" and "Strength of Youth" (which are now long deleted with Ronan Harris himself not having a copy). After working on some VNV Nation tracks and supporting Nitzer Ebb on tour whilst living in Toronto, Canada, Ronan returned to London and released some tracks on sampler CDs. This caught the interest of German label Discordia and in July 1995, "Advance and Follow" was released. At around about the same time, Mark Jackson joined the band.
In January 1998, VNV Nation signed with the German label, Off Beat Records, releasing their second album "Praise the Fallen" in June 1998 and the EP "Solitary EP" in September 1998. With VNV Nation increasing in popularity, they began their first headline tour in Germany in September 1998.
In 1999, the Off Beat label collapsed, leading to VNV Nation (along with other artists such as Covenant, Suicide Commando and Velvet Acid Christ) collaborating with Stefan Herwig (a former A&R manager with Off Beat) to create Dependent Records. In late 1999, the album "Empires" was released, staying at number 1 in the German Alternative Chart (DAC) for seven weeks, and winning the award for DAC Album of the Year.
From "Empires" two singles were released "Darkangel", which tops the DAC for 5 weeks in mid 1999 and "Standing", which stays at no.1 in the DAC for 8 weeks in early 2000 (the maximum a single can remain in the DAC) winning a German Alternative Music Award for most successful single of 2000 and sharing the place for most successful single in the DAC's history with the Chemical Brothers. A limited edition of the "Standing" single was also released entitled "Standing / Burning Empires" which contained alternate versions and remixes by VNV Nation of tracks from "Empires". This remains one of the most sought after VNV rarities, fetching large sums on auction sites, although it has recently been released on iTunes to allow casual listeners to purchase it.
In March 2001, "Advance and Follow v2" was released as a limited edition, which was a remastered and partially re-recorded version of the original 1995 album "Advance and Follow". The band were never particularly happy with the first album due to it being recorded in less than a week, so the release was seen by the band as a way to put that right.
In October 2001, VNV Nation embarked on their "Futureperfect" tour of Europe and North America, promoting the album "Futureperfect" which was released in January 2002. It reached number 25 in the full German Album Charts, with the single "Beloved" reaching number 60 in the full German Singles Chart. Following the release of "Beloved", VNV Nation part ways with Dependant and create their own label "Anachron Records".
In June 2003, the Honour 2003 EP is released, promoting the "Pastperfect" live DVD, which following many delays and problems was finally released in May 2004. Following this the rest of 2004 and beginning of 2005 was spent producing the album "Matter and Form", which was released in April 2005. Preceeding the album release, one of the tracks "Chrome" was sold in March 2005 as a download on the VNV Nation website, as well as iTunes.
In April 2007, the album "Judgement" was released, and an extensive world tour in support of the album followed. In January 2009, VNV Nation published their plans for 2009 on their website, indicating that the long delayed "Reformation" EP would be available, but now as a full "CD Pack". Also due for release in 2009 is the new album entitled "Of Faith, Power and Glory".
In November 2017 Mark Jackson left the band to "pursue other paths in life".
To read more about Ronan Harris and his motivations behind the band and 2009's "Of Faith, Power and Glory," please visit http://www.dieselpunks.org/profiles/blogs/interview-ronan-harris-of-vnv
Descent
VNV Nation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To think the devil now walks this realm
A place dispossessed of any sanity
Edification of a scene from hell
Manmade prophecies serve to vindicate
All sides who claim themselves
Worthy servants obedient to the same God
These faithful in lines that number thousands
Bring perdition throughout the land
As though the angel of death himself had been unleashed
To exact a punishment on this world
Across this cursed place rage the fires
Where the innocent are burned on a thousand funeral pyres
In anguish parted from this world
Does the need for the belief in a devil
Serve to palliate, serve to forgive us our sins
In the abandonment of reason and our delivery into hell
Limitless are the ways of mankind in its virulent capacities
Ironic it may seem, for us a chance exists to see
In us also lies the capacity to transcend
"Descent" is a song by VNV Nation that deals with the idea that the devil is walking on our realm, and every religious group sees themselves as the justifier. However, in the midst of all this, thousand lines of faithful who are seen as worthy servants of God is bringing destruction throughout the land. There are fires where the innocent are burned on funeral pyres, which seems like punishment from the angel of death himself. By abandoning reason and delivering ourselves to hell, we find ways to forgive our sins in the abandonment of reason.
The song explores the irony that we, as mankind, possess the virulent capacities to destroy ourselves but also the potential to transcend. The lyrics suggest that the motives behind religious extremism and terrorism are not born out of faith but rather political and social power. The song sounds like a call to action for us to put aside our differences, face our personal demons, and try to come together as one to protect our world.
Line by Line Meaning
All God's children would have cause
All people who believe in God have reason to suspect that evil now occupies the world.
To think the devil now walks this realm
The devil is present in the world and is causing chaos and confusion.
A place dispossessed of any sanity
The world has lost its sanity, and madness reigns supreme.
Edification of a scene from hell
The world has become a living hell, and we bear witness to its horrors every day.
Manmade prophecies serve to vindicate
People twist prophecies to support their own agenda and gain power for themselves.
All sides who claim themselves
Everyone who claims to follow God thinks they are doing the right thing, even when they are not.
Worthy servants obedient to the same God
People who claim to serve God end up killing others in his name, despite God commanding them not to.
A God who commands them not to kill
Despite God's commandment not to kill, people still murder in his name.
These faithful in lines that number thousands
There are countless people who follow and support the acts of these killers.
Bring perdition throughout the land
These killers bring destruction and damnation to the world.
As though the angel of death himself had been unleashed
The killers seem as though they are the bringers of death and destruction, like the angel of death.
To exact a punishment on this world
The killers believe that they are enacting divine punishment on the world.
Across this cursed place rage the fires
There are fires burning everywhere, signifying the chaos and destruction that plagues the world.
Where the innocent are burned on a thousand funeral pyres
Innocent people are dying every day and being commemorated in mass funeral pyres.
In anguish parted from this world
People die in pain and suffering, cut off from the world they knew and loved.
Does the need for the belief in a devil
Is our need to believe in a devil and blame all evil on him a coping mechanism?
Serve to palliate, serve to forgive us our sins
Does believing in the devil serve as a way for us to feel better about our own wrongdoings?
In the abandonment of reason and our delivery into hell
By abandoning reason and submitting to madness, we deliver ourselves into a living hell.
Limitless are the ways of mankind in its virulent capacities
Humans are capable of infinite evil and destruction.
Ironic it may seem, for us a chance exists to see
Ironically, there is still a chance for us to turn things around and save the world.
In us also lies the capacity to transcend
We also have the power to rise above our own destructive tendencies and make a positive change.
Contributed by Leah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
GreenFont
I once asked Ronan Harris what this song was about specifically. He replied that it was based on WW1 poems written by soldiers. It's essentially about the horrors of war, WW1 mainly.
R Rogers
Perfectly appropriate for our current chaos, as well
NeedMorePuppies
Goddamn
I've been wondering about this for years, thanks for mentioning this
consumedbyfire13
I love this guy's voice in the song! Sounds so epic. Sounds great with good sound card and echo on.
Cherrypoppins18
I'm actually surprised they haven't used this for a movie trailer, it would be perfect for movies coming out soon, like "Angels and Demons" and "Terminater Salvation". It would be great for apocalyptic movies.
Virtus1912
love this song
sector150
I like the instrumental part of this, would make for a really good video game in-play music.
taleya
That last line. EVERY. DAMNED. TIME.
Lisa Guerrero
Just walked into an eternal wasteland !!! So very bad ass... I see the generations waiting !!!
Zshock soda
Every moment, I am reminded of the introduction, just before the signature title comes on screen, in the 6th episode of Hellsing Ultimate by this track.