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.
Siamesische Einsamkeit
Zeraphine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ein Vakuum, das nicht mehr pulsiert und nicht mehr schmerzt
Nächtelang bin ich schreiend aufgewacht
Nur die Wahrheit bleibt verbannt,
Verborgen in Deiner Ewigkeit
Dein letztes Wort zu mir verklingt in meinem Kopf
Doch Dein Blick hat mehr gesagt,
Kein Wiederkehren
Um unerträglich frei zu sein
Meine Tränen sind verbrannt,
Verloren in Deiner Ewigkeit
Siamesische Einsamkeit
Zu tief gefallen
Und doch kein Stück bewegt
Und schon viel zu weit entfernt,
Gestorben in Deiner Ewigkeit
Siamesische
Einsamkeit
In the song "Siamesische Einsamkeit" by Zeraphine, the lyrics describe a feeling of emptiness and pain that is drowned out by the rain inside of the singer. They feel like a vacuum that no longer pulses or hurts, yet they can't escape the truth that remains hidden in their lover's eternal presence. The singer has spent countless nights screaming into the void of their loneliness, and though their lover's last words echo in their mind, their gaze conveyed more emotion than any spoken word ever could. The singer feels as though they can never return to their lover to be free from the unbearable loneliness they experience, and all their tears have evaporated, lost forever in their lover's eternity. They are left with Siamese loneliness, connected to their lover even in death.
One can interpret these lyrics as a person who is in deep pain after losing their loved one. The singer is constantly battling their emotions, trying to fill the void left by their lover. Even though they can feel their lover's presence around them, it's a bittersweet comfort. The singer longs for their lover to return to ease their pain and loneliness, but they know it's impossible. The term "Siamese loneliness" highlights that the singer and their lover were so deeply connected that even death couldn't break their bond. This connection brings solace but also intensifies the singer's pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Der Regen in mir ertränkt das leere Herz
My empty heart is drowned by the rain within me
Ein Vakuum, das nicht mehr pulsiert und nicht mehr schmerzt
A void that no longer beats nor pains
Nächtelang bin ich schreiend aufgewacht
I've woken up screaming for nights
Nur die Wahrheit bleibt verbannt, Verborgen in Deiner Ewigkeit
Only the truth remains banished, hidden in your eternity
Dein letztes Wort zu mir verklingt in meinem Kopf
Your last words to me echo in my mind
Doch Dein Blick hat mehr gesagt, Als jedes Wort es wohl vermag
But your gaze spoke louder than any word ever could
Kein Wiederkehren Um unerträglich frei zu sein
No return to be unbearably free
Meine Tränen sind verbrannt, Verloren in Deiner Ewigkeit
My tears are burned, lost in your eternity
Siamesische Einsamkeit
Siamese loneliness
Zu tief gefallen
Fallen too deep
Und doch kein Stück bewegt
And yet not moved one bit
Und schon viel zu weit entfernt, Gestorben in Deiner Ewigkeit
And already too far away, dead in your eternity
Siamesische Einsamkeit
Siamese loneliness
Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.