After irreconcilable differences with his previous musical project, Saturnus, Larsen began writing music of a different vein, similar in style to his neofolk influences but very different than the doom metal he had previously created.
In 1999, the debut :Of the Wand & the Moon: album was released, entitled Nighttime Nightrhymes. Characterized by folk songs with themes ranging from expressions of love, loss, joy and ancestral Germanic paganism, the album was interspersed with experimental dark ambient pieces and tribal drumming. The album marked a new entry for Denmark in a new wave of Germanic post-industrial folk projects alongside contemporaries such as Forseti and Sonne Hagal.
2001 saw the release of a second :Of the Wand & the Moon: release entitled :Emptiness:Emptiness:Emptiness:, with refined production and a continued but expanded sound from previous work, the album further cemented the reputation of the project. A live version of :Of the Wand & the Moon: also debuted in 2001, beginning a long series of shows over the next few years.
After the release of a split album with Sol Invictus and a few vinyl singles, a collection of b-sides was released entitled Lucifer in 2003. Themed after its namesake yet featuring a photograph of a surprised cat on its cover, the record included various outtakes and unreleased tracks from the :Emptiness:Emptiness:Emptiness: period. A box set was also released featuring vinyl versions of previous recordings, as well as exclusive material.
A single entitled "Hail Hail Hail" was released in 2005 as a preview of upcoming material, showcasing a more experimental side of the project and making use of Arabic instrumentation for the title track. This was followed by a full length album entitled Sonnenheim which met to positive critical and fan reviews alike, marking the project as one of the major groups within its genre. The album further showcased themes of Germanic paganism, as exemplified by the title track "Nighttime in Sonnenheim" and introduced a more extroverted and thematically martial side of the project, with considerably less focus on the romantic love songs that had previously been hallmarks of the band's material.
Camouflage
:Of the Wand & the Moon: Lyrics
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Camouflage coated draped in black and grey
Oh these chants will come full circle
Under this my bloodlit moon
A procession of stars across a northern sky
The snow is as cold as it comes
With stealth we charge we brave
Embrace our faith and purge empty days
Where reason stops and heart begins
There′s a gem just below the fire
Fixed in black and symbols of desire
And a craving to sort you out
To cast you out into very darkness (I promise)
A nighttime whisper clandestine
The nature of secrecy and disillusioned in between
Beautiful and still is the night
Camouflage coathed harbouring will
Always on course over the mists of night
Always on course over the mists of time
Always on course over the mists of night
Always on course over the mists of life
The opening lines of "Camouflage" by Of the Wand & the Moon describes a beautiful and still night. The setting is depicted as camouflage coated, draped in black and grey, setting the tone for a mystical and unknown environment. The lyrics suggest that something powerful is happening: "Oh these chants will come full circle under this my bloodlit moon. A procession of stars across a northern sky." There is a sense of ritual and reverence for the natural world.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more intense, focusing on themes of danger, faith, and dark desires. The refrain "Always on course over the mists of night" emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself despite the unknown and unpredictable nature of life. The reference to wolves and blazing winds suggests a primal force present in the environment around the singer. This force is both terrifying and exhilarating, and the lyrics suggest that it is necessary to embrace it in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment or personal growth.
Overall, "Camouflage" is a poetic exploration of the power of nature and the mysterious forces that shape our lives. The lyrics are rich in symbolism and create a vivid, impressionistic picture of a world both beautiful and dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
Beautiful and still is the night
The night is peaceful and aesthetically pleasing
Camouflage coated draped in black and grey
The singer is hidden and blends into their surroundings
Oh these chants will come full circle
The singer believes in the cyclical nature of life
Under this my bloodlit moon
The artist is affected by the moon's influence on them
A procession of stars across a northern sky
The artist observes the movement of celestial bodies
The snow is as cold as it comes
The snow is extremely cold
With stealth we charge we brave
The singer and their company move forward courageously but carefully
Embrace our faith and purge empty days
The artist's faith gives them purpose and helps them move forward in life
In the company of wolves and blazing winds
The artist is surrounded by harsh and dangerous elements
Where reason stops and heart begins
The artist has reached a point where logic cannot guide them and they must rely on their emotions
There's a gem just below the fire
The singer has discovered something valuable beneath the surface
Fixed in black and symbols of desire
This valuable thing is associated with darkness and the artist's desire for it
And a craving to sort you out
The singer has a strong desire to understand something or someone
To cast you out into very darkness (I promise)
The singer will use this understanding to remove someone or something from their life
A nighttime whisper clandestine
The singer communicates secretively at night
The nature of secrecy and disillusioned in between
The artist exists in a state of confusion and disconnection from reality due to their secrets
Camouflage coathed harbouring will
The artist is intentionally hiding their true intentions
Always on course over the mists of night
The singer is steadfast in their path, even in the face of uncertain and obscure circumstances
Always on course over the mists of time
The singer's journey transcends time and remains constant
Always on course over the mists of life
The artist remains consistent and determined through the ups and downs of life
Writer(s): Nneka-lucia Egbuna, Sven Waje, Marcus Nigsch
Contributed by Samuel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.