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.
Since We're Falling
Zeraphine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It feels like erasing my thoughts and the faults and all of you
But patterns repeat and multiply all the time
And these nails pierce my will so just your pain can remain
Since we're falling 'all roses turn black
Since we're falling ' we never look back
Good-bye morning ' the damned and accursed
A face looks courageous, but what lies behind its layered glass
When fear is infectious, when torment reveals what's behind a mask
But memories repeat and multiply all the time
And your nails pierce my soul so just this pain can remain
Faint and frail controlled insurrection ' wake my day ' I'll deny all protection
The lyrics to Zeraphine's "Since We're Falling" speak to the pain of separation and the difficulty of letting go of a loved one. The opening lines describe the feeling of dying and separation from the person that the singer loves. The use of erasing thoughts and faults also suggests an attempt to forget and move on, but this is difficult to achieve as patterns repeat and multiply, suggesting that the pain and memories associated with the relationship are difficult to overcome. The use of nails piercing the will and soul indicate a sense of being trapped or wounded, unable to escape the pain.
The chorus of the song speaks to the sense of hopelessness that can come with the end of a relationship. All roses turn black, implying that everything is dark and without hope. The line "we never look back" suggests that both parties are resigned to the fact that the relationship is over and there is no going back. The use of "good-bye mourning" suggests that the sadness and grief associated with the separation are part of the process of moving on, but still difficult to bear.
The second verse speaks to the idea that people can appear one way on the surface but have hidden fears and pain. The use of layered glass suggests that it can be difficult to see through the exterior to the real person underneath. Memories repeat and multiply, indicating that even after the relationship has ended, the pain and memories associated with it persist. The use of the line "your nails pierce my soul" suggests that the pain caused by the separation is deep and difficult to overcome.
Overall, "Since We're Falling" paints a picture of the pain that accompanies the end of a relationship, as well as the difficulty of moving on and letting go of the memories and pain associated with it.
Line by Line Meaning
It feels like I'm dying, and I've never been apart from you
The pain of missing you is so strong that it feels like death, and I can never imagine being away from you.
It feels like erasing my thoughts and the faults and all of you
The overwhelming emotion makes it seem like forgetting all our flaws and the memories of being with you would be easier.
But patterns repeat and multiply all the time
The same experiences and emotions keep recurring and intensifying.
And these nails pierce my will so just your pain can remain
The pain you cause me penetrates the very core of my being, and it seems like holding onto that pain is all that's left.
Since we're falling 'all roses turn black
Our relationship is on the decline, and everything we once viewed as beautiful has become tainted and corrupted.
Since we're falling ' we never look back
As our relationship deteriorates, we refuse to reflect on what went wrong and simply let it continue to spiral out of control.
Good-bye morning ' the damned and accursed
We're saying farewell to a time when things were good, and now everything seems cursed and doomed.
Good-bye mourning ' it's part of the worst
Letting go of the memories and pain is an essential part of moving on from the worst part of our relationship.
A face looks courageous, but what lies behind its layered glass
People may put on a brave face, but we never know what's really going on inside.
When fear is infectious, when torment reveals what's behind a mask
Our fears and pain can spread and cause others to suffer, and it takes strength to conceal that torment behind a facade.
But memories repeat and multiply all the time
The memories of our love keep coming back to haunt us, and they only become more intense as time goes on.
And your nails pierce my soul so just this pain can remain
The pain you've inflicted on me has penetrated every part of my soul, and all that's left is to cling to that pain.
Faint and frail controlled insurrection ' wake my day ' I'll deny all protection
Despite my attempts to hold it back, the emotions and desire to break free are becoming increasingly powerful, and I'm resigning myself to facing them without any protection or defenses.
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.