The band was formed in 1997 by Jason Mendonca (guitar) and David Gray (drums). The two had been friends in the past, and played in Salem Orchid until 1992, when that band split up. They soon added a second guitarist, Paul Scanlan, and a bassist, Peter Theobalds. They self-released their first album, Rape of the Bastard Nazarene, in 1999; after this release met with some success, they were signed to Peaceville Records, an underground record company; their debut release for the new company was 2001's The Goat of Mendes. 2003 saw the release of Choronzon, on Earache Records. Shortly after, guitarist Paul Scanlan parted company with Akercocke. He has suggested privately that this was not his choice, but no official statement to that effect has been made by either party. His replacement is Matt Wilcock, formerly of Australian metal band The Berzerker.
Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone was released in Britain and Europe in October 2005, and in the United States in February 2006 on Earache Records, to great critical acclaim. To promote the album, Akercocke went on tour wih Mortician and Blood Red Throne through Europe. Prior to this, they had played four shows in Britain to promote the new album, supported by fellow British death metallers Ted Maul.
Akercocke released their fifth album, entitled Antichrist, in 2007. This was their last album on the Earache label, as their contractual obligation was for three albums. Musically, Antichrist was considerably more primitive and brutal than its predecessor.
On 18th of January, 2007, Theobalds left the band, citing personal differences. His replacement was Peter Benjamin of the band Corpsing.
On the 20th of April 2012 the band had disbanded.
As of 2016, they are back. Their sixth album, Renaissance in extremis, was released in September 2017.
Albums:
1999 - Rape of the Bastard Nazarene
2001 - The Goat of Mendes
2003 - Choronzon
2005 - Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone
2007 - Antichrist
2017 - Renaissance in extremis
The Promise
Akercocke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For you are fairer in beauty
Than other daughters of man
Recognise and embrace
This glorious proclamation
Of eternal damnation
Place all your faith in sex and death
Have no pity for those
Mired in the prophet delusion
Content to be servile for a lifetime
Tis better to be king for a day
Your passing will leave
Scant trace in history
Wiped from memory
Like forgotten dream
Like sand slipping through fingers...
The lyrics of Akercocke's song The Promise seems to be a dramatic proclamation of the devil tempting someone to forsake the divine and embrace sex and death with promises of fleeting pleasure and power. The lines "Draw near - partake of this altar" and "Recognize and embrace this glorious proclamation of eternal damnation" seems to suggest summoning or beckoning the listener to participate in a terrifying ritual. The following lines "Place all your faith in sex and death, rather than the wisdom of the divine" seems like a direct invitation to ignore the teachings of religion and embrace the alluring power of sex and death. The line "Content to be servile for a lifetime, tis better to be king for a day" appears to be a statement of Satan's persuasion to one to abandon the routine monotony of religion and take hold of the power to rule over oneself, even if that power is only temporary. The song ends with a reminder of the temporal nature of things, "Your passing will leave scant trace in history, wiped from memory like a forgotten dream, like sand slipping through fingers."
The song seems to be inspired by the idea of Satan's temptation and role in Christian theology. The lyrics are an interesting interpretation of the concept of "temptation" and the idea of the "seven deadly sins." The song is not an endorsement of the pursuit of pleasure, power, and sin, but rather a warning of the dangers of giving in to temptation.
The Promise was released in 2005 as part of the Antichrist album.
Line by Line Meaning
Draw near - partake of this altar
Come closer and participate in this religious altar
For you are fairer in beauty
You are more beautiful than other women
Than other daughters of man
You are more beautiful than any other woman on Earth
Recognise and embrace
Realize and accept
This glorious proclamation
The great statement of belief
Of eternal damnation
Of never-ending punishment in the afterlife
Place all your faith in sex and death
Believe only in the power of sexual pleasure and death
Rather than the wisdom of the divine
Instead of the guidance and knowledge of God
Have no pity for those
Do not feel sorry for people
Mired in the prophet delusion
Who are trapped in the illusion of religious prophets
Content to be servile for a lifetime
Happy to be subservient for their entire life
Tis better to be king for a day
It's better to have power for a short time than be a servant forever
Your passing will leave
When you die, you will disappear
Scant trace in history
You will have a small or insignificant impact on history
Wiped from memory
You will be forgotten
Like forgotten dream
Like a dream that is remembered no more
Like sand slipping through fingers...
Like sand that falls through your grasp, you will be lost forever
Contributed by Elliot F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.