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.
Trauma World
Zeraphine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like suffocating all my clearest thoughts
It seems like yesterday when we lay here side by side
But it's countless nights ago that it passed away
In a trauma world
Discovering all the depths in which we stand
In a trauma world
In a trauma world
The truth is so surreal and incomplete
In a trauma world
Sifting through the memories in our heads
When I held a fragile hand that sorry day
Not feeling cold inside, uncompromising
As if romancing all night long in our imaginations,
Then one second changed our lives eternally
Understand me if I take you into my arms
Please forgive me if I am searching for your heart
Do you hear me when I'm crying every night?
I must start
again
The lyrics to Zeraphine's "Trauma World" explore the aftermath of a traumatic experience, specifically the loss of a loved one. The song speaks to the conflicting emotions that can arise from grief: the overwhelming desire to hold onto memories and hold onto the person who has passed, while at the same time feeling like those memories are suffocating and incomplete. The singer reminisces about times spent with the lost loved one, acknowledging that it feels like only yesterday they were together, but recognizing that it's been a long time since their passing. The phrase "countless nights" serves as a reminder that time can both blur and stretch our perceptions of grief.
The song's title, "Trauma World," is a reference to the state of mind that can come with trauma. The world can feel surreal and incomplete, and the truth can feel elusive. The singer notes that "the truth is so surreal and incomplete," reflecting the difficulty of fully comprehending and processing the trauma they've experienced. The lyrics also touch on the theme of perseverance, as the singer acknowledges the daily effort required to move forward and continue living in the wake of tragedy.
Overall, "Trauma World" is a powerful meditation on grief and loss. The lyrics convey a range of emotions, from longing to confusion to determination, providing a nuanced exploration of the complex emotions that can come with trauma.
Line by Line Meaning
The unavoidable desire to take you home
I cannot resist the desire to take you home with me
Like suffocating all my clearest thoughts
Thinking of you makes me forget everything else
It seems like yesterday when we lay here side by side
It feels like we were just together yesterday
But it's countless nights ago that it passed away
But it's been so long since you left me
In a trauma world
We are living in a world of pain and suffering
Discovering all the depths in which we stand
We are realizing the extent of our pain and suffering
Fighting our achievements every day
Our trauma makes it difficult to achieve anything
The truth is so surreal and incomplete
The reality of our trauma is overwhelming and hard to comprehend
Sifting through the memories in our heads
We are constantly trying to make sense of our past experiences
When I held a fragile hand that sorry day
I remember holding your hand on the day of our tragedy
Not feeling cold inside, uncompromising
I wasn't afraid or hesitant, but confident in my love for you
As if romancing all night long in our imaginations,
It felt like we were lost in a romantic fantasy
Then one second changed our lives eternally
But everything changed forever in just one moment
Understand me if I take you into my arms
Please understand if I hold you close
Please forgive me if I am searching for your heart
I hope you can forgive me for wanting to be close to you
Do you hear me when I'm crying every night?
I hope you can hear my pain and sadness
I must start again
I need to find a way to move on and start anew
Contributed by London L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-nb8tz4nc5v
Достойное продолжение традиций dreadful shadows!
@LucyH_music
Didnt think Id see them on here :D They were one of the first bands i listened to, nice upload
@mariaberenice8048
My love
@mariaberenice8048
❤
@mariaberenice8048
I love you 😘