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.
Out of sight
Zeraphine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thoughts again unwind
But now you feel so incoherent
And stains are hard to find
You can’t stand the lack of fear
And if you consciousness is clear
Don’t you miss a bit of violence
It always stays the same
And on and on a crying dawn
But tears have ceased and words are gone
And your screams have just become a silent whisper
Flood the world they’ve built around you to drown the bygone times
Live the lies they tell about you ‘cause doubts have been declined
Let me take you far above this, to see beyond their games
For the past is out of sight
You live your own decay
Aren’t you tired of mindless hiding?
The conventions you obey
Make you feel you’re almost dying
When the answers don’t belong
To all the questions you were trying
To ask a million times before
And the faults go on
And on and on a crying dawn
But tears have ceased and words are gone
And your screams have just become a silent whisper
Flood the world they’ve built around you to drown the bygone times
Live the lies they tell about you ‘cause doubts have been declined
Let me take you far above this, to see beyond their games
For the past is out of sight
Flood the world they’ve built around you to drown the bygone times
Live the lies they tell about you ‘cause doubts have been declined
Let me take you far above this, to see beyond their games
For the past is out of sight
The lyrics of Zeraphine's song Out of Sight portray a sense of disillusionment and a desire to break free from the constraints of societal norms and expectations. The first verse speaks of feeling lost and disjointed, unable to find a way to express oneself fully. The reference to violence hints at a desire for more excitement or intensity in life. The chorus urges the listener to rise above the false narratives and limitations imposed by those around them. The repetition of "flood the world" emphasizes the need to break free from the past and the expectations of others.
The second verse expands on this theme, emphasizing the sense of fatigue and frustration that arises from constantly conforming to external expectations. The reference to asking "a million times before" suggests the futility of trying to adapt to a society that doesn't fit with one's inner self. The final chorus reiterates the need to reject the lies told about oneself and to embrace a more authentic way of being.
Overall, the lyrics of Out of Sight encourage listeners to reject conformity and embrace their own unique identities, even in the face of external pressures. The focus on breaking free from the past and societal expectations suggests a desire for self-discovery and a rejection of the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Thoughts again unwind
Your mind is racing with thoughts once again
But now you feel so incoherent
But now you can't put those thoughts into words and feel confused
And stains are hard to find
You can't find any faults or mistakes to blame for your feelings
You can’t stand the lack of fear
You can't handle living without any sense of danger or excitement
And if you consciousness is clear
And even if you're thinking straight
Don’t you miss a bit of violence
Don't you still crave some form of aggression or chaos?
What you see is insincere
Everything you witness seems fake or disingenuous
It always stays the same
Nothing seems to change, everything feels stagnant
And on and on a crying dawn
Each day starts with tears and sadness
But tears have ceased and words are gone
But now you can't even cry or express your emotions through words
And your screams have just become a silent whisper
Your once powerful screams for help have diminished to a barely audible whisper
Flood the world they’ve built around you to drown the bygone times
They've constructed a world to keep you trapped in the past, but it's time to let it go and move on
Live the lies they tell about you ‘cause doubts have been declined
You start to believe the lies being spread about you because you don't want to confront any doubts or uncertainties
Let me take you far above this, to see beyond their games
Allow me to take you somewhere where you can clearly see through their manipulative games
For the past is out of sight
Because the past is no longer visible, we can move beyond it and focus on the present
Contributed by Ellie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carmengarcia-rianodomingue2596
This is amazing. Incredible how this song has literally helped me with Depression and Dissotiation. His voice is one of my favourites in music itself.
@HerzdesElends
I can't explain how much i still love this song!!
@lutge
So great! I love Zeraphine - too bad I'm in the USA :( I would DIE to see them play live.
@ValoPoe
Simplemente adictiva ❤❤❤❤
@martinroman4093
Oh, Rayos! no hay comentarios en español, en fin, está rola me gusta mucho es muy buena canción :3 u
@jimdominguez6022
esta demasiado buena n.n
@martinroman4093
Ciertamente es una rola muy muy buena :3
@Katykatakatekatrinakasia
eine faszinierende deutsche Stimme und fantastische Musik= Zeraphine
@astav
Wow! Sounds like Pulp but with Gothic vibe!!! Fantastic!
@katyusha.karlos8095
Great song 🤟🖤🖤🖤