THE MAJESTIC NEW ALBUM FROM THE ENGINEERS OF DOWNFALL
BANDINFO
CEMETERY was founded in 1990 by singer/guitarist/songwriter Dani Zizek and drummer Michael Bolz in Schongau/Bavaria and was initially active throughout Germany until 1994. In 1991 a demo was produced, which was very positively received by the scene and the band quickly achieved certain cult status far beyond the borders of Germany. Concerts with bands like Fleshcrawl, Dark Millennium, Pyogenesis etc. followed.
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At the end of 1994, shortly after the completion of the debut album “Enter the Gate”, produced by Falk Gruber (Atrocity, Sinister…), the band came to an abrupt end. At that time, CEMETERY were under contract with a German label, which filed for bankruptcy and could no longer fulfill its obligations to the bands. In order to avoid the threat of legal disputes, Dani Zizek decided to end the project without further ado.
In 2017, after a break of more than 20 years, CEMETERY was reactivated and was a transatlantic project with members in Los Angeles and Bavaria until 2020. The second album “The Last Day on Earth” was recorded with this line-up. Here, with Grammy-nominated producer Paul Fig in Los Angeles (Alice In Chains, The Mars Volta, Trivium, Slipknot, Ghost, Rush, Deftones etc… Name dropping… lol). Paul Fig is a buddy of the former CEMETERY drummer Dave Ferrara and so the collaboration begun quite easy.
Since 2021, after several line-up changes, a constant line-up has solidified, consisting of band founder Dani Zizek (voc, git), Markus Heilmeier (git), Stefan Hendel (bass) and Tobias Kasper (drums).
Over the years, CEMETERY has developed a very independent and concise style, which could be described as a mix of old school death, black and progressive metal. (In order not to dilute CEMETERY’s style, songwriter Dani Zizek deliberately listens to little to no Death Metal in his private life…)
Although the band likes to be on stage and is always able to implement the high musical level, CEMETERY performances are rare. The simple reason: You don’t let yourself be sold off. For good gig offers at reasonable conditions, however, the band like to exchange rehearsal room and studio for a stage.
CEMETERY’s merch and recordings are regularly distributed worldwide via Bandcamp.
CONCEPT
“Thoughts on Live… and Death” is a 50-minute concept album about the rise of a totalitarian regime and the downfall of the individual. The story is told from the point of view of a protagonist. Let’s just call him “Jim” and as is usual for a concept album, some musical elements are repeated in different variations.
It begins with “Thoughts on Life”. A no-frills, short and fast opener in which Jim briefly shares his thoughts and fears with us.
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“Among the Dead”, a classic old school death metal tune in which Jim perceives a creeping change in society.
“Grief, Anger and Despair.” The judicial system judges according to political guidelines. Despair spreads. Accompanied by crazy drumming and string work at the highest level. In the band’s opinion, the most aggressive song on the album.
“Physical Fear”. Do you know the feeling of feeling fear as “materialized”? Jim finds out when he is arrested with many others in a deadly street revolt. Musically packed in a sluggish stomper at the beginning, with a sprawling instrumental part in the middle.
“Nothingness” introduces the second part of the album as a short, classically tinged intermezzo. From here it becomes “different”. More willing to experiment.
“Lock the Doors to Your Mind”. Jim, now imprisoned, doubts his sanity and what has happened. This song contains all the styles that distinguish CEMETERY and is considered the band’s new calling card, so to speak.
It continues with “Believe”. Here, Jim is kindly but firmly told in an interrogation that it is time for him to give up his individualism and subordinate himself to the official “truth”. Musically ultra fast at the beginning, the piece transitions into a very quiet part to take a breath for what follows.
This is followed by “Truth A”. The official, only valid truth. Jim sits alone in a bare, cold interrogation room. A voice from a croaking loudspeaker mounted to the wall announces the verdict on him. The later court hearing is to take place only as a show trial. The number is mainly an instrumental which becomes more and more oppressive towards the end, leaving the paths of classic Death Metal far behind.
Now we reach the “grande finale” of the album. You have maybe 11 minutes to give yourself oppressive, psyche-gnawing Doom Death? The song never gets fast and explodes in desperate beauty in the second part. Jim has now undergone several brutal torture interrogations and is left to die in a dark, windowless dungeon. He escapes into his thoughts and longs for a little human warmth, but knows that he will die alone. What remains for him is his dignity, which he desperately clings to until his last breath. The song is called “Thoughts on Death”.
LYRICS
Thoughts on Life
Sitting here in this forbidding room.
I struggle, to keep my thoughts together.
Memories fading.
Replaced by implanted thoughts.
There are no positive memories left.
I can’t even remember my childhood.
It’s getting from bad to worse every minute…every hour…every day.
If there was an early life, it is gone.
Even though I’m not afraid of dying.
They say: “Death means relief”.
I don’t want to die.
I hang onto the rest of my dignity,
to the rest of my inner self.
Among the Dead
Personalities lost in the crowd.
No one’s searching for depth.
Wasted intelligence.
Lack of human sense.
Coordination of the mind.
Every step synchronized.
Struggling not to stand out.
Constantly searching for corners to hide.
Observing of people’s behavior.
To consume is their only salvation.
Among the Dead.
Waiting for the command.
Apathetic people all over the land.
Standing one by one in lines.
Acting only on signs. 2+2=5. Mass surveillance is part of your life.
Denunciators in charge.
Abused faith and no one to trust.
Grief, Anger and Despair
Lady Justice blind on all eyes.
Indifferent on lies and truth.
Authorities oppress the mind.
Mandatory reality.
Creeping through the gutter.
Escaping from brain slaughter.
Drowned into grief, Anger and despair.
Reaching out for help, people gather in filthy places.
Driven by hopelessness, allies in dark ages.
Starving for insight.
Drowned into grief, anger and despair.
Thousands marching on the streets.
Torn to shreds by bullets.
Slaughtered by mindless butchers.
Thrown into rat holes.
Thrown into rat holes.
Physical Fear
My brain goes upside down.
I arise from the dirt.
My clothe is drenched in blood.
A dead hand clasps my leg.
A cold touch to my bones.
My heart turns to stone.
Crystals of ice crawling up my spine.
Watching the sky, the sun’s turning red.
The clouds o’ so black.
Infernal noise, thunder from guns.
The air burns my lungs.
Physical Fear.
Heavy boots marching,
I can hear the screams.
From the dead on the streets.
No mercy from them,
death’s all over the land.
The free… condemned in the end.
Physical Fear.
They’ re all just like me.
Put into chains.
We know where we go.
Death will come slow. Bloodred sky,
the sun’s disappeared,
Rain falls down black.
No mercy from them,
death’s all over the land.
The free… condemned in the end.
Nothingness
Instrumental
Lock the Doors to Your Mind
Keep going the daily routine.
One step ahead of insanity.
Control heartbeat and breathing
Hide the shivering hands.
It’s still your face in the mirror.
A glimpse of life inside your eyes.
That voice that comes from behind.
You know there’s still no one there.
Lock the doors to your mind.
Locked and sealed.
You can’t stop the fall.
Into nothingness.
Darkness welcomes you with open arms.
Nothingness feels cozy and warm.
Believe
Please pardon the inconveniences.
We had to bring you here,
you will understand.
There are a few things we’d like to discuss.
Let’s talk about the truth,
you must take a stand.
Believe what we say.
Believe in Truth “A”.
We don’t want to hurt you,
so cut us some slack.
You know we’ve got ways,
to make you cooperate.
Say goodbye to what you stood for.
Leave it all behind.
No individuals in this new world.
Believe what we say.
Believe in Truth “A”.
Truth "A"
It is our sad duty to inform you,
that we can no longer let you go.
Since you dare to refuse to cooperate with us,
there is no other solution than to take you to the court.
You will be charged with the crime against the community and the crime against the new order.
A judge will pass sentence.
Your life as you knew it will end at this very moment.
Say goodbye to your personality.
From now on, there is only Truth “A”!
Thoughts on Death
The smell of death drips from the walls.
My bare feet,
slipping on blood.
Excrement and vomit where they lay me to rest.
There are no windows,
I’m surrounded by rats.
I can’t move, I’m in pain.
A raging mind with ruling thoughts remains.
The thoughts on death.
They’re try to break us,
will they succeed?
Our tortured bodies,
thrown into jails.
From the dungeons,
where’s no life.
Can we only escape through death.
Will we disappear with no remains?
Only empty shells.
Dominating thoughts.
The thoughts on death.
Was it right what we did?
Did we miss the moment to surrender?
Dominating thoughts.
The thoughts on death.
I flee into my thoughts.
Hide everything.
Keep me alive for a few moments.
I have a foolish desire,
for human warmth,
knowing that dying will be alone.
I close my eyes I want to remember.
Memories fading.
I don’t know any more who I was.
If there was an early life, it is gone.
Joy, love…only relics.
I have to keep dignity until my ultimate breath…
I have to keep dignity until my ultimate breath…
I have to keep dignity until my ultimate breath…I have to…dignity…