Zeraphine is a gothic alternative band from Berlin, Germany, formed in 2000… Read Full Bio ↴Zeraphine is a gothic alternative band from Berlin, Germany, formed in 2000 by Sven Friedrich (vocals, programming, lead song writing) and Norman Selbig (guitars) from the then-defunct Dreadful Shadows.

After the acclaimed goth rock band Dreadful Shadows decided to split and go their separate ways, Sven and Norman collaborated with ex-Dreadful Shadows producer Thommy Hein on a project called Helix. However, since the Helix name was under copyright by another band, they were forced to rename themselves Zeraphine - taken from the Hebrew bible's concepts of the 'seraph' (or seraphim), which is a class of angel in traditional Judaism. This concept was purposely taken as an ironic gesture, given Sven's lyrics are often critical of organized religion. Once Zeraphine, the band signed onto the Drakkar Entertainment record label.

Originally, additional band members Manuel Senger (guitars), Michael Nepp (bass), and Marcellus Puhlemann (drums) joined the project as studio musicians. This changed after their debut album was released, and each member began contributing music and ideas to all following releases.

Zeraphine's debut album, 'Kalte Sonne' (2002), gained notoriety for it's lyrics; unlike Dreadful Shadows, whose songs were written entirely in English, Sven elected to pen an album completely in German, citing that "I simply tried to transfer my style of writing to my mother tongue and I liked it quite a lot. I always thought it would be impossible." Their following album, 'Traumaworld' (2003), saw Sven return to English, with only two songs written in German. Tonally, the album's lyrics were harsher, as the band drew inspiration from their feelings on the Iraq war. However, when it came to promoting the album, the more upbeat 'Be My Rain' (2003) was chosen as the single. A music video was made for 'Be My Rain' (consisting of live footage), and a limited promo CD was released, featuring album, radio, and club mixes of the title track, and a cover of the Depeche Mode song 'In Your Room'.

In 2004, Zeraphine joined HIM on an acclaimed tour of Europe, which exposed the band to an even wider audience. In anticipation for the tour, Zeraphine hit the studio again to record the single 'New Year's Day' (2004), featuring a cover version of the U2 song, and two other original tracks. Promptly after the tour finished, Zeraphine again entered the studio and churned out another single, 'Die Macht In Dir' (2004), which promised a full album at the beginning of the following year; The single, as well as the title track, consisted of alternative versions of 'Kaltes Herz', 'Die Macht In Dir', (and on the limited edition release) 'Until I Finally Drown'. 'Blind Camera' (2005) was released with a positive response by both fans and critics, and sent Zeraphine on the road once more, headlining their own trip across Europe. A particular point of well-reception was the balance in German and English lyrics - nearly half the songs on 'Blind Camera' are written in German. The record itself was written as a semi-concept album, dealing with themes such as perception and reality.

In 2006, Zeraphine announced that they were severing their ties with their label, Drakkar Entertainment, so that they could have more creative control over their next record. 'Still' (2006), released on the Phonyx Records label (a record label managed by the band themselves, and producer Thommy Hein), was handled with noticeably less 'polish' than their previous albums. This was per the band's decision to move to a less studio-oriented, more live sounding style of recording. Two editions of the album were released, a regular and an enhanced version; the enhanced featuring an additional song, and the music video (and outtakes) to the title track and single, 'Still'. The record's title is meant to represent both it's German and English meanings, commenting on the duality of the album's lyrical content.

The band was decidedly less active in 2007, when Sven and Norman rejoined Dreadful Shadows for live shows exclusively. Also during this time, Sven began working on a side project, an electronic solo project titled Solar Fake. A compilation album was also released during this time, titled 'Years in Black' (2007), by Phoynx Records and Drakkar Entertainment; It contained songs from all four albums, and while no unreleased material was put on it (an update on their official website cited such an act as a 'fan rip-off'), the currently out-of-print radio mix of 'Be My Rain' was added in place of the album version. Zeraphine continued to tour and do festivals throughout 2007 and 2008, with a few new songs slipping into setlists during the later half of 2008.

As of March 2009, it is rumored that the band is working on a fifth album.

For A Moment
Zeraphine Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dimensions are shifting
Burning holes in my direction
The habit of lightness disintegrates
Reconciliation fails,
I'm passing by within a whisper
Everything appears a false delight
But in vain, I turn away

For a moment we paused without a reason
Could there be another way?
In free fall, but rising to the ceiling
Now there's nothing left to feel

Obsession is hypnotising
It's so hard to look away
It's still unclear, if you are genuine
The door is locked and bolted
Somehow, you keep on reminding

As tensions ease, I'm finding no
relief

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Zeraphine's song For A Moment explore themes surrounding the uncertainty that arises in a situation where things are not what they seem. The first verse speaks of the disintegration of the habit of lightness and how everything appears to be a false delight. The singer is passing by within a whisper, indicating a lack of commitment or conviction. The second verse further elaborates on this uncertainty, with obsession being described as hypnotizing and it being hard to look away. The door is locked and bolted and tensions ease, but there is no relief.

The chorus of For A Moment acts as a lament for the situation, where the singer acknowledges that everything between them has stopped without any reason. They ask if there could be another way and describe themselves as in free fall, but simultaneously rising to the ceiling. The lines suggest that the singer is in a state of emotional upheaval, but there is also potential for growth and transformation.

Overall, the song presents a feeling of longing for something lost or not yet found, and the hope that one day there will be resolution. It speaks to the human experience of uncertainty, fear, and the desire for understanding and security.

Line by Line Meaning

Dimensions are shifting
The world around me is changing

Burning holes in my direction
The changes are affecting me personally

The habit of lightness disintegrates
My usual sense of ease and comfort is disappearing

Reconciliation fails,
Attempts to resolve conflicts or differences have been unsuccessful

I'm passing by within a whisper
My presence is not being noticed or acknowledged

Everything appears a false delight
Things that used to bring me joy now feel meaningless or fake

But in vain, I turn away
Despite my efforts to ignore my problems, they persist

For a moment we paused without a reason
We stopped, unsure of why

Could there be another way?
Wondering if there is a different path to take

In free fall, but rising to the ceiling
Feeling lost but also hopeful

Now there's nothing left to feel
Emptiness, a lack of emotion