Sopor Aeternus and the Ensemble of Shadows
Encyclopedia
Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows (Latin
: "Eternal Sleep"; often referred to as Sopor Aeternus or Sopor) is a darkwave
musical project based in Frankfurt
, founded in 1989 by Anna-Varney Cantodea. Since the project's beginnings, Anna-Varney's music has gained notoriety for being extremely personalized, melancholic and pessimistic, drawing on a number of different musical and visual styles.
, as well as the Latin
word cantodea, a composed neologism meaning "I sing the goddess". Cantodea had been using the pseudonym 'Varney' prior to 1997, with that name coming from the Victorian
Gothic horror story Varney, the Vampire or the Feast of Blood
.
Reportedly, Cantodea suffered beatings at the hands of her parents, and peers in school. At the age of six, she was subject to an out-of-body experience whilst under sedation due during a tonsillectomy.
Cantodea seems to be voluntarily isolated, as she has spoken of fear
, disgust, or sadness when in the presence of most individuals. She has stated that she does not perform live
"in front of humans." Despite this, she currently seems to be acquainted with the pagan and occult
author Raven Digitalis, who is one of the "managers" of the official Sopor Aeternus MySpace profile. She has an affinity for author
Edgar Allan Poe
, recreating his poems through songs on several occasions; and is also an avid supporter of several activist philosophies, including euthanasia
, LGBT rights, veganism
and vegetarianism
. Cantodea is a very spiritual person, with devotion placed on the Roman
deity
Saturn
. Saturn's astrological symbol is combined with that of Jupiter
's to create the Symbol of Jusa, an icon created by Cantodea that reflects her spirituality and has become an insignia for herself and her music. Much of the artwork presented in Varney's albums include astrological imagery.
musical project. The two had met in Frankfurt
, Germany
, in a Goth
club called Negativ. The two had met on one of Cantodea's rare outings into the public world. Cantodea and Holger worked together with what little money they had to purchase musical equipment and recorded three demo tapes: Es reiten die Toten so schnell...
, Rufus and Till Time and Times Are Done. The three demos were recorded between 1989 and 1992, with Es reiten... being the only publicly released cassette. They are collectively referred to as "Blut der Schwarzen Rose" (German
: "Blood of the Black Rose") or "The Undead-Trilogy". Shortly after the cassettes were created, Holger left Sopor Aeternus.
In 1994, Varney was able to sign with Apocalyptic Vision to release her first album, …Ich töte mich…. The album, like the demo tapes before it, showcased darkwave
music with a neo-classical bent
, punctuated by Varney's tortured voice and the recurring imagery of death, despair and vampires. It is unknown if Varney received financial assistance to produce the record.
, was released later that year. Varney would also record four songs for an Apocalyptic Vision compilation, Jekura – Deep the Eternal Forest; two of the songs appeared under the pseudonym White Onyx Elephants.
Sopor's third album, The Inexperienced Spiral Traveller
, was released in 1997 alongside a remix album, Voyager: The Jugglers of Jusa. It was around this time that Varney changed her name to Anna-Varney Cantodea; Anna being a common female name, and cantodea, the Latin word for "I sing the goddess" (whereas female singer would be "cantor deæ").
1999 saw the double concept album, Dead Lovers' Sarabande (Face One); a project dedicated to the memory of Christian Death
frontman, Rozz Williams
. Dead Lovers' Sarabande chronicled a nameless protagonist's seemingly futile quest to re-unite with her deceased lover. The album was released in two parts throughout the year, and was the first to be released on vinyl as well as on CD. The following year saw Sopor's sixth album, Songs from the Inverted Womb
.
. Rivers would go on to produce all new Sopor Aeternus' albums. During the following year, the first six Sopor albums were remastered by Rivers and repackaged with new artwork as a lead up to their eighth album, La Chabre d'Echo. Where Es Reiten... started to re-introduce synthesizers into the group's sound, La Chambre d'Echo became the first album in a decade to prominently feature synthesizers and drum machines, in a nod to Sopor's first recordings. The companion EP, Flowers in Formaldehyde
, as well as the career-spanning rarities box set, Like a Corpse Standing in Desperation
, followed.
Around this time, Cantodea became more engaging with her fans; first, by crossdressing heavily (starting with a photoshoot for 2003's Es Reiten...,) appearing more and more feminine each time. Her ninth album, Les Fleurs du Mal
, fully embraced the feminine persona. At the beginning of 2010, the band's official ReverbNation page was updated with the status: "... is currently in seclusion ... - writing beautiful new music(k).". Later on in the year, Anna-Varney began posting blogs on the band's official Vampire Freaks page, mentioning the upcoming trilogy A Triptychon of Ghosts. On September, 26 it was announced that A Strange Thing to Say
was released in 2010 as the opening chapter to A Triptychon of Ghosts. Sopor Aeternus' 10th studio album, Have You Seen This Ghost?
was released in April, 2011 and in the same year, its latest album Children of the Corn
will be released on November, 25.
and baroque music
, with main use of brass instruments, woodwinds, string
s, pipe organ
s, bell
s, and guitar
s. While earlier works used drum machine
s, later albums feature live percussion. Cantodea's work has shown a progression towards livelier arrangements and more wall of sound
production, compared to earlier works; more recent albums have also employed a slightly more mainstream sound, incorporating electronic
and slight gothic rock
sentiments. Though considered by genre a darkwave
band, Cantodea has stated that she ignores this notion and simply creates "...-music for dead children [and otherwise wounded souls], that is all." On several occasions, Cantodea has re-recorded and recycled elements from previous songs; other times, motifs are used; the most notable example is "Birth - Fiendish Figuration", which has been re-recorded at least four times.
Cantodea has clearly stated that she creates her music about herself, solely for herself. Major themes include death, unrequited love, karmatic pain, loneliness, sadness, spirituality and failure; more recently, Cantodea has featured occultism, sexuality and romance into her lyrics. A strong recurring theme is transexuality, especially the removal of male genitalia. Several albums feature Cantodea nude with a vagina
(which was edited in in post-production.) Many allusions to spirituality and Roman deities appear in her lyrics; aside from Jupiter and Saturn, Morpheus
, Hades, Uranus
and Charon
have been addressed by name. Other supernatural figures mentioned include the Sister of Self-Destruction, the Goat, the Old Man and the Lord of the Darkest Side.
Demo
The three demo tapes are often referred to as "Blut der schwarzen Rose" or "The Undead-Trilogy". Only the first has been released.
EP
, while In der Palästra was included on its own DVD single. All of Sopor Aeternus' videos have been directed by Anna-Varney Cantodea herself.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: "Eternal Sleep"; often referred to as Sopor Aeternus or Sopor) is a darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
musical project based in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, founded in 1989 by Anna-Varney Cantodea. Since the project's beginnings, Anna-Varney's music has gained notoriety for being extremely personalized, melancholic and pessimistic, drawing on a number of different musical and visual styles.
Anna-Varney Cantodea
Her name comes from the common name AnnaAnna (given name)
Anna is a Latin form of the Greek name Greek Ἄννα and the Hebrew name Hannah . Anna is in wide use in countries across the world as are its variants Anne, originally a French version of the name, though in use in English speaking countries for hundreds of years, and Ann, which was originally the...
, as well as the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word cantodea, a composed neologism meaning "I sing the goddess". Cantodea had been using the pseudonym 'Varney' prior to 1997, with that name coming from the Victorian
Victorian literature
Victorian literature is the literature produced during the reign of Queen Victoria . It forms a link and transition between the writers of the romantic period and the very different literature of the 20th century....
Gothic horror story Varney, the Vampire or the Feast of Blood
Varney the Vampire
Varney the Vampire; or, the Feast of Blood was a Victorian era serialized gothic horror story by James Malcolm Rymer . It first appeared in 1845–47 as a series of cheap pamphlets of the kind then known as "penny dreadfuls". The story was published in book form in 1847...
.
Reportedly, Cantodea suffered beatings at the hands of her parents, and peers in school. At the age of six, she was subject to an out-of-body experience whilst under sedation due during a tonsillectomy.
Cantodea seems to be voluntarily isolated, as she has spoken of fear
Fear
Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...
, disgust, or sadness when in the presence of most individuals. She has stated that she does not perform live
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
"in front of humans." Despite this, she currently seems to be acquainted with the pagan and occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
author Raven Digitalis, who is one of the "managers" of the official Sopor Aeternus MySpace profile. She has an affinity for author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
, recreating his poems through songs on several occasions; and is also an avid supporter of several activist philosophies, including euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
, LGBT rights, veganism
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
and vegetarianism
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
. Cantodea is a very spiritual person, with devotion placed on the Roman
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
Saturn
Saturn (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Saturn was a major god presiding over agriculture and the harvest time. His reign was depicted as a Golden Age of abundance and peace by many Roman authors. In medieval times he was known as the Roman god of agriculture, justice and strength. He held a sickle in...
. Saturn's astrological symbol is combined with that of Jupiter
Jupiter (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter or Jove is the king of the gods, and the god of the sky and thunder. He is the equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon....
's to create the Symbol of Jusa, an icon created by Cantodea that reflects her spirituality and has become an insignia for herself and her music. Much of the artwork presented in Varney's albums include astrological imagery.
1989 – 1995
Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows was founded by Anna-Varney Cantodea (then known as Varney) and Holger in 1989, and started out as a neue deutsche todeskunstNeue Deutsche Todeskunst
Neue Deutsche Todeskunst is a musical genre that was developed in Germany in the early 1990s.-History:...
musical project. The two had met in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in a Goth
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
club called Negativ. The two had met on one of Cantodea's rare outings into the public world. Cantodea and Holger worked together with what little money they had to purchase musical equipment and recorded three demo tapes: Es reiten die Toten so schnell...
Es reiten die Toten so schnell...
Es reiten die Toten so schnell... is the first demo tape by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows'. Es reiten... was issued in a hand-numbered limited edition of 50 copies in 1989. A further two demo tapes, Rufus and Till Time and Times Are Done, have not yet been released in any...
, Rufus and Till Time and Times Are Done. The three demos were recorded between 1989 and 1992, with Es reiten... being the only publicly released cassette. They are collectively referred to as "Blut der Schwarzen Rose" (German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: "Blood of the Black Rose") or "The Undead-Trilogy". Shortly after the cassettes were created, Holger left Sopor Aeternus.
In 1994, Varney was able to sign with Apocalyptic Vision to release her first album, …Ich töte mich…. The album, like the demo tapes before it, showcased darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
music with a neo-classical bent
Neoclassical (Dark Wave)
Neoclassical Dark Wave refers to a music genre within the Dark Wave movement. It is characterized by the use of ethereal atmosphere and angelic female voices but also adds strong influences from classical music. Neoclassical Dark Wave is distinct from the academic art music form known as...
, punctuated by Varney's tortured voice and the recurring imagery of death, despair and vampires. It is unknown if Varney received financial assistance to produce the record.
1995 – 2003
Sopor Aeternus' second album, Todeswunsch, was an abrupt change in direction. While the album retained qualities of darkwave music, the album was stripped of its heavy use of synthesizers and drum machines. A companion EP, Ehjeh Ascher EhjehEhjeh Ascher Ehjeh
Ehjeh Ascher Ehjeh is the first EP by Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 1995 as a companion to the album "Todeswunsch - Sous le soleil de Saturne". Only 3,000 copies were pressed...
, was released later that year. Varney would also record four songs for an Apocalyptic Vision compilation, Jekura – Deep the Eternal Forest; two of the songs appeared under the pseudonym White Onyx Elephants.
Sopor's third album, The Inexperienced Spiral Traveller
The Inexperienced Spiral Traveller
The inexperienced Spiral Traveller is the third album by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 1997...
, was released in 1997 alongside a remix album, Voyager: The Jugglers of Jusa. It was around this time that Varney changed her name to Anna-Varney Cantodea; Anna being a common female name, and cantodea, the Latin word for "I sing the goddess" (whereas female singer would be "cantor deæ").
1999 saw the double concept album, Dead Lovers' Sarabande (Face One); a project dedicated to the memory of Christian Death
Christian Death
Christian Death is an American deathrock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band was founded and fronted by Rozz Williams. Christian Death is most notable for their first album Only Theatre of Pain....
frontman, Rozz Williams
Rozz Williams
Rozz Williams was an American vocalist and musician of several varieties, most famous for fronting the band Christian Death, then later Shadow Project with musician Eva O, though his main project throughout his career was the industrial, Premature Ejaculation...
. Dead Lovers' Sarabande chronicled a nameless protagonist's seemingly futile quest to re-unite with her deceased lover. The album was released in two parts throughout the year, and was the first to be released on vinyl as well as on CD. The following year saw Sopor's sixth album, Songs from the Inverted Womb
Songs from the inverted Womb
"Songs from the inverted Womb" is the darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows' sixth album, released in 2000. The album is dedicated to the "memory and resurrection" of Little Seven, a boy who died "at the age of six"; "inverted Womb" was recorded in an attempt to resurrect the...
.
2003 – Present
In 2003, producer John A. Rivers was brought aboard to produce the seventh album, Es Reiten die Toten so SchnellEs reiten die Toten so schnell
"Es reiten die Toten so schnell" is the seventh album by darkwave act Sopor Aeternus and the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 2003...
. Rivers would go on to produce all new Sopor Aeternus' albums. During the following year, the first six Sopor albums were remastered by Rivers and repackaged with new artwork as a lead up to their eighth album, La Chabre d'Echo. Where Es Reiten... started to re-introduce synthesizers into the group's sound, La Chambre d'Echo became the first album in a decade to prominently feature synthesizers and drum machines, in a nod to Sopor's first recordings. The companion EP, Flowers in Formaldehyde
Flowers in Formaldehyde
"Flowers in Formaldehyde" is the second EP by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 2004 as a companion to the album "La Chambre D'Echo" - Where the dead Birds sing...
, as well as the career-spanning rarities box set, Like a Corpse Standing in Desperation
Like a Corpse standing in Desperation
Like a Corpse standing in Desperation is the title of a career-spanning rarities box set by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows that was released in 2005...
, followed.
Around this time, Cantodea became more engaging with her fans; first, by crossdressing heavily (starting with a photoshoot for 2003's Es Reiten...,) appearing more and more feminine each time. Her ninth album, Les Fleurs du Mal
Les Fleurs du Mal (album)
Les Fleurs du Mal - Die Blumen des Bösen is the ninth album by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 2007...
, fully embraced the feminine persona. At the beginning of 2010, the band's official ReverbNation page was updated with the status: "... is currently in seclusion ... - writing beautiful new music(k).". Later on in the year, Anna-Varney began posting blogs on the band's official Vampire Freaks page, mentioning the upcoming trilogy A Triptychon of Ghosts. On September, 26 it was announced that A Strange Thing to Say
A Strange Thing To Say
"A Strange Thing to Say" is part 1 of the trilogy of "A Triptychon of GHOSTS ". This is the first Sopor recording since 2003's Es Reiten... to not be produced by John A. Rivers...
was released in 2010 as the opening chapter to A Triptychon of Ghosts. Sopor Aeternus' 10th studio album, Have You Seen This Ghost?
Have You Seen This Ghost?
Have You Seen This Ghost? is the 10th official studio album from Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows and the second part of "A Triptychon of GHOSTS "....
was released in April, 2011 and in the same year, its latest album Children of the Corn
Children of the Corn
"Children of the Corn" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in the March 1977 issue of Penthouse, and later collected in King's 1978 collection Night Shift.- Plot summary :...
will be released on November, 25.
Musical Characteristics
The sound of Sopor Aeternus is rooted in renaissanceRenaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
and baroque music
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
, with main use of brass instruments, woodwinds, string
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
s, pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
s, bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
s, and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s. While earlier works used drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
s, later albums feature live percussion. Cantodea's work has shown a progression towards livelier arrangements and more wall of sound
Wall of Sound
The Wall of Sound is a music production technique for pop and rock music recordings developed by record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California, during the early 1960s...
production, compared to earlier works; more recent albums have also employed a slightly more mainstream sound, incorporating electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
and slight gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
sentiments. Though considered by genre a darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
band, Cantodea has stated that she ignores this notion and simply creates "...-music for dead children [and otherwise wounded souls], that is all." On several occasions, Cantodea has re-recorded and recycled elements from previous songs; other times, motifs are used; the most notable example is "Birth - Fiendish Figuration", which has been re-recorded at least four times.
Cantodea has clearly stated that she creates her music about herself, solely for herself. Major themes include death, unrequited love, karmatic pain, loneliness, sadness, spirituality and failure; more recently, Cantodea has featured occultism, sexuality and romance into her lyrics. A strong recurring theme is transexuality, especially the removal of male genitalia. Several albums feature Cantodea nude with a vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
(which was edited in in post-production.) Many allusions to spirituality and Roman deities appear in her lyrics; aside from Jupiter and Saturn, Morpheus
Morpheus (mythology)
Morpheus in Greek mythology is the god of dreams, leader of the Oneiroi. Morpheus has the ability to take any human form and appear in dreams...
, Hades, Uranus
Uranus (mythology)
Uranus , was the primal Greek god personifying the sky. His equivalent in Roman mythology was Caelus. In Ancient Greek literature, according to Hesiod in his Theogony, Uranus or Father Sky was the son and husband of Gaia, Mother Earth...
and Charon
Charon (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon is the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron that divided the world of the living from the world of the dead. A coin to pay Charon for passage, usually an obolus or danake, was sometimes placed in or on...
have been addressed by name. Other supernatural figures mentioned include the Sister of Self-Destruction, the Goat, the Old Man and the Lord of the Darkest Side.
DemoDemoDemo may refer to:*DEMOs, a business process design methodology by Jan Dietz*Demo , a comic book series by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan*Demo , a non-interactive multimedia presentation...
Tapes
The three demo tapes are often referred to as "Blut der schwarzen Rose" or "The Undead-Trilogy". Only the first has been released.- Es reiten die Toten so schnell… (1989)
- Rufus (1992)
- Till Time and Times Are Done (1992)
Studio Albums
- "…Ich Töte Mich Jedesmal aufs Neue, doch Ich Bin Unsterblich, und Ich Erstehe Wieder auf; in Einer Vision des Untergangs…" (1994)
- Todeswunsch - Sous le Soleil de Saturne (1995)
- The Inexperienced Spiral Traveller (Aus dem Schoß der Hölle Ward Geboren die Totensonne)The Inexperienced Spiral TravellerThe inexperienced Spiral Traveller is the third album by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 1997...
(1997) - Dead Lovers' Sarabande (Face One) (1999)
- Dead Lovers' Sarabande (Face Two) (1999)
- Songs from the Inverted WombSongs from the inverted Womb"Songs from the inverted Womb" is the darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows' sixth album, released in 2000. The album is dedicated to the "memory and resurrection" of Little Seven, a boy who died "at the age of six"; "inverted Womb" was recorded in an attempt to resurrect the...
(2000) - Es Reiten die Toten so Schnell (or: the Vampyre Sucking at His Own Vein)Es reiten die Toten so schnell"Es reiten die Toten so schnell" is the seventh album by darkwave act Sopor Aeternus and the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 2003...
(2003) - La Chambre d'Echo - Where the Dead Birds Sing (2004)
- Les Fleurs du Mal - Die Blumen des BösenLes Fleurs du Mal (album)Les Fleurs du Mal - Die Blumen des Bösen is the ninth album by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 2007...
(2007) - A Triptychon of Ghosts (Part Two) - Have You Seen This Ghost?Have You Seen This Ghost?Have You Seen This Ghost? is the 10th official studio album from Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows and the second part of "A Triptychon of GHOSTS "....
(2011)
EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s and Remix Albums ("Sister Albums")
- Ehjeh Ascher EhjehEhjeh Ascher EhjehEhjeh Ascher Ehjeh is the first EP by Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 1995 as a companion to the album "Todeswunsch - Sous le soleil de Saturne". Only 3,000 copies were pressed...
(1995) - Voyager - The Jugglers of JusaVoyager - The Jugglers of JusaVoyager: The Jugglers of Jusa is the first remix album by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 1997. It was released as a companion to The inexperienced Spiral Traveller , also released that year, and primarily features alternate versions of songs from that...
(1997) - Flowers in FormaldehydeFlowers in Formaldehyde"Flowers in Formaldehyde" is the second EP by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 2004 as a companion to the album "La Chambre D'Echo" - Where the dead Birds sing...
(2004) - Sanatorium Altrosa (Musical Therapy for Spiritual Dysfunction)Sanatorium AltrosaSanatorium Altrosa is the second remix album by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 2008. It was released as a companion to Les Fleurs du Mal - Die Blumen des Bösen, released the previous year, and primarily features alternate versions of songs from that album...
(2008) - A Triptychon of Ghosts (Part One) - A Strange Thing to SayA Strange Thing To Say"A Strange Thing to Say" is part 1 of the trilogy of "A Triptychon of GHOSTS ". This is the first Sopor recording since 2003's Es Reiten... to not be produced by John A. Rivers...
(2010) - A Triptychon of Ghosts (Part Three) - Children of the CornChildren of the Corn (album)Children of the Corn is the 11th official studio album from Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows and the third and final part of "A Triptychon of GHOSTS "....
(2011)
Singles
- The Goat/The Bells Have Stopped RingingThe Goat / The Bells Have Stopped Ringing"The Goat" / "The Bells have stopped ringing" is the first single by the darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows. The two songs are outtakes from 2000, during the sessions for "Songs from the inverted Womb"...
(2005) - In der Palästra (2007)
- Imhotep (2011)
Other Releases
- Jekura - Deep the Eternal Forest (1995) – a compilation featuring four songs by Sopor Aeternus
- Nenia C'alladhan (2002) – a self-titled side project with Constance Fröhling
- Like a Corpse Standing in DesperationLike a Corpse standing in DesperationLike a Corpse standing in Desperation is the title of a career-spanning rarities box set by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows that was released in 2005...
(2005) – a boxed set of rarities and hard-to-find albums - The Goat and Other Re-Animated Bodies (2009) - DVD of previously released videos
Videography
Sopor Aeternus has released promotional videos to accompany their music. Most videos are noticeably abstract, with several layers of footage composited to create a distinctly blurred effect. Deep the Eternal Forest received two versions: one with Varney in white robes, and the second with Varney in black robes. The first six listed here were included as part of the box set Like a Corpse Standing in DesperationLike a Corpse standing in Desperation
Like a Corpse standing in Desperation is the title of a career-spanning rarities box set by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows that was released in 2005...
, while In der Palästra was included on its own DVD single. All of Sopor Aeternus' videos have been directed by Anna-Varney Cantodea herself.