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.
Summer Solstice
:Of the Wand & the Moon: Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Summer solstice so divine
A pledge to keep to sun above
A pledge to you my love
Summer solstice glorious and golden
Summer solstice fertile and gilden
A homage to life in all it′s bloom
Summer solstice your hand in mine
Summer solstice here in Sonnenheim
A pledge to keep to sun above
A pledge to you my love
The song "Summer Solstice" by Of the Wand & the Moon is a romantic ode to the midsummer season, specifically during the summer solstice. The lyrics describe the beauty and glory of summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year and marks the beginning of summer. The first two lines of the song "Summer solstice your hand in mine/Summer solstice so divine" forms a lovely picture of a couple holding hands during the magical summer evening, surrounded by warmth and love. The next two lines "A pledge to keep to sun above/A pledge to you my love" signifies the couple's commitment to each other, and how they vow to be together even during the bright and dull times.
The chorus further dives into the details of the summer solstice's magnificence, with the description "Summer solstice glorious and golden/Summer solstice fertile and gilden/A homage to life in all its bloom/Circle of the sun rekindle the fire" The lyrics create a beautiful image of the sun's circle being rekindled, depicting the continuation of life during the summer's golden and fertile period. The song ends with "Summer solstice here in Sonnenheim/A pledge to keep to sun above/A pledge to you my love" reminding the listeners that the summer solstice is a time of celebration and promises to keep to each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer solstice your hand in mine
On the day of summer solstice, we unite in love and hold hands together, symbolizing our commitment to each other.
Summer solstice so divine
The summer solstice is a sacred and divine time, representing the pinnacle of light and life.
A pledge to keep to sun above
We vow to honor and follow the sun's guidance, allowing it to lead us towards a brighter future.
A pledge to you my love
We promise to support and cherish each other, pledging our love and devotion forever.
Summer solstice glorious and golden
The summer solstice is a time of glory and radiance, filled with the golden light of the sun shining down on us.
Summer solstice fertile and gilden
The summer solstice is a time of fertility, growth, and abundance, represented by the golden glow of the sun's rays.
A homage to life in all it′s bloom
We pay tribute to the beauty and vitality of life, which reaches its peak during the summer solstice when everything is in full bloom.
Circle of the sun rekindle the fire
The sun's energy and warmth reignites the fire within us, inspiring us to live life to the fullest and embrace all its wonders.
Summer solstice here in Sonnenheim
We celebrate the summer solstice in Sonnenheim, a place where the sun's rays are especially strong and powerful.
Contributed by Samantha D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.