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.
United And Lost
Zeraphine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While we are shaking from the fear inside
It's rising gently and thin
But we sense nothing, we don't feel a thing
If I know what you would say next
What I could tell you - you know too
So we stopped talking,
And if we fall consistently
You are always a part of me
And as we crawl into uncertainty
We were always united and lost
The words that tried to bring us back
Are still rebounding, you just look away
Positions are shifting from day to day
We are still walking along that infinite path
But we go forward, not side by side
And we're not listening to the silent screams
anymore
The lyrics in Zeraphine's song "United And Lost" seem to be about two people walking a difficult path together - perhaps a relationship or another type of journey - but facing fear and uncertainty along the way. The opening lines indicate that despite the fear they are feeling, they are still moving forward, but are not always in sync emotionally. Perhaps they are "walking along the infinite path," but are experiencing different levels of anxiety, discomfort, or doubt. The line "we sense nothing, we don't feel a thing" suggests that they are numb or detached from their emotions, which could be a coping mechanism or a sign that they are struggling to connect with each other.
The chorus of the song seems to convey a sense of unity and shared experience, even in the midst of struggle. The lyrics "If we fall consistently / You are always a part of me / And as we crawl into uncertainty / We were always united and lost" suggest that no matter what happens in their journey, they will always be connected in some way. Even if they are lost or uncertain, they are doing it together, which perhaps makes it feel less scary or overwhelming. The use of the word "united" implies a bond or a closeness that transcends the difficulties they are facing.
The final verse suggests that there have been attempts to repair or reconcile whatever has caused the divide between them, but perhaps those efforts have been unsuccessful. The line "Positions are shifting from day to day" could refer to changes in their perspectives or feelings towards each other, or it could refer to external factors outside of their control that are influencing their journey. The final line, "And we're not listening to the silent screams anymore," could indicate that they have reached a point where they are no longer able to communicate with each other effectively, or where they have stopped trying altogether.
Line by Line Meaning
We're walking along the infinite path
We're navigating through life with a sense of direction and purpose, despite not knowing where it leads us.
While we are shaking from the fear inside
Despite our confidence, we're scared and uncertain about what the future holds for us.
It's rising gently and thin
The fear inside us is slowly growing, but it's subtle and hard to notice at first.
But we sense nothing, we don't feel a thing
Even though we feel afraid, we've learned to suppress our emotions and numb ourselves to the fear.
If I know what you would say next
We know each other so well that we can predict each other's thoughts and actions.
What I could tell you - you know too
There's no need for verbal communication because we understand each other on a deeper level.
So we stopped talking,
We've grown distant and no longer communicate openly with each other.
Now we're holding back silent screams
We're silently struggling with our emotions and the pain that comes with growing apart from each other.
And if we fall consistently
If we continue to fail and face hardships in life,
You are always a part of me
We will always be connected, regardless of the struggles we face.
And as we crawl into uncertainty
As we face the unknown and embark on a new journey,
We were always united and lost
We may feel lost and out of place, but we're in this together and there's comfort in our shared experience.
The words that tried to bring us back
Attempts to reconcile and mend our relationship with words,
Are still rebounding, you just look away
But our efforts are futile, as one of us refuses to acknowledge the other's attempt to fix things.
Positions are shifting from day to day
Our feelings and thoughts about each other are constantly changing, making it hard to find common ground.
We are still walking along that infinite path
We're still moving forward in life, despite our struggles and differences.
But we go forward, not side by side
We may not be as close as we once were, but we're still moving in the same direction.
And we're not listening to the silent screams anymore
We've grown accustomed to our emotions and have learned how to block them out over time.
Contributed by Asher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.