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.
Rain falls
Zeraphine Lyrics
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Through the clouds around your aching body
The usual noises are slowly fading in and so
you tried so hard to disembody
But everything’s still in its place, just like before
And even if you try to blank out the scenes
And no one can perceive the scars
But your soul is marked, it can never heal
But when ...
Rain falls into your eyes
It dilutes all your tears down
Rain falls like it’s lye
Washing your blood away
When rain falls into your eyes
It can blur all distinction
Rain falls in reply
Your reflection shows a hint of anger
But you still feel the numbness deep inside
With the blade right in your hand you’re pausing
Awaiting the rising excitement to come out
With the first cut your warm blood is dripping
Down to the floor, but you feel so alive now
And the craving for this substitution of pain always prevails
And when ...
Rain falls into your eyes
It dilutes all your tears down
Rain falls like it’s lye
Washing your blood away
When rain falls into your eyes
It can blur all distinction
Rain falls in reply
Rain falls into your eyes
It dilutes all your tears down
Rain falls like it’s lye
Washing your blood away
When rain falls into your eyes
It can blur all distinction
Rain falls in reply
The song "Rain Falls" by Zeraphine deals with themes of emotional pain, self-harm, and the struggle to cope with difficult memories and experiences. The lyrics describe a person who is trying to escape their pain and memories by disconnecting from their body, but finds that even in this state of disassociation, the scars of their past still haunt them. The imagery of rain washing away tears and blood suggests a desire for release and cleansing, but also a sense of hopelessness in the face of events that cannot be undone.
The chorus in particular seems to hint at a cycle of self-harm and pain, with the rain falling in response to the singer's actions. The act of cutting oneself is often seen as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions or trauma, and the song suggests that this coping mechanism may be perpetuating the very pain it seeks to alleviate.
One interpretation of the lyrics is that they may be about the aftermath of sexual or emotional abuse, with the singer struggling to cope with the resulting trauma. The reference to scars that cannot heal and the desire for release and cleansing through rain both suggest a deep emotional wound.
Overall, "Rain Falls" is a haunting and introspective song that captures the pain and struggle of those who have experienced trauma or emotional pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Through the clouds around your aching body
The pain is surrounding you and you feel helpless.
The usual noises are slowly fading in and so
The sounds around you are getting quieter as you become more isolated.
you tried so hard to disembody
You want to detach from yourself and your emotions.
But everything’s still in its place, just like before
Despite your efforts, nothing has changed.
And even if you try to blank out the scenes
You try to forget the memories that haunt you.
They will recur again and again
The memories keep coming back, no matter how hard you try to suppress them.
And no one can perceive the scars
The harm and hurt you feel is invisible to others.
But your soul is marked, it can never heal
You carry emotional pain that cannot be easily mended.
Your reflection shows a hint of anger
You feel anger toward yourself and your situation.
But you still feel the numbness deep inside
Despite your anger, you feel emotionally disconnected.
With the blade right in your hand you’re pausing
You are contemplating hurting yourself as a means of coping.
Awaiting the rising excitement to come out
You are anticipating the rush of emotions that comes with self-harm.
With the first cut your warm blood is dripping
You begin to hurt yourself and feel the physical pain.
Down to the floor, but you feel so alive now
You get a sense of release and relief from the pain.
And the craving for this substitution of pain always prevails
Despite knowing it's harmful, you continue to crave self-harm as a means of coping.
Rain falls into your eyes
The rain is a metaphor for tears falling down your face.
It dilutes all your tears down
The rain mixes with your tears, making it hard to distinguish between the two.
Rain falls like it’s lye
The rain feels harsh and painful, like a chemical burn.
Washing your blood away
The rain symbolizes the cleansing of your sins and the washing away of your blood.
When rain falls into your eyes
When you cry, it's hard to see through the tears.
It can blur all distinction
The tears make everything feel hazy and unclear.
Rain falls in reply
The rain is the universe's response to your sadness and pain.
Contributed by Adeline V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.