Back… Read Full Bio ↴See them storm forth like the dancing flames of immortal fire!
Back in 1989, Chris Anderle and Franz Josef Krebs began to gather musicians who were able to express their morbid moods and unholy emotions through litanies of dark, extreme Metal music. Ancient Ceremony became a reality when several members (partly sessionists) joined the band to complete the line-up under the Winter Moon of 1991. Here began the formation of the band's musical identity with powerful guitars, atmospheric keyboards, extreme vocals and Satanic lyrics. In 1993 the first successful step into the international underground was done with the "WHERE SERPENTS REIGN" demo. The first live appearance took place in June 1992 and performances with bands such as In Flames, Absu and Impaled Nazarene were following.
February 1994 saw the own-release of the "CEMETARY VISIONS" cult-MCD, a dark infernal Metal aria which was re-issued one year later through Alister Records and achieved global distribution.
Inspired and influenced by many different genres of Metal music, classical composers, horror movie soundtracks, photographies presenting dark erotica or sinful sexuality and also literature of a Satanic, Gothic or occult nature, Ancient Ceremony already here could easily proof that their individually created “Devilish Trinity“ - consisting of music, lyrics and artwork - is to be seen as a very important aspect in the band's concept from the first day on.
In December 1996 Ancient Ceremony signed to London based cult-label Cacophonous Records and released the worldwide successful albums "UNDER MOONLIGHT WE KISS" (1997) and "FALLEN ANGEL’S SYMPHONY" (1999) under their banner. With these two dark-symphonic albums the band could win many new fans all over the planet, not the least as gigs with a.o. Dimmu Borgir, Moonspell, Umbra et Imago and Therion were played.
Faithful to their motto "There is no real Art without the Influence of the Devil" and after several changes in the line up Germany's longest existing formation in Black/Death Metal again gave a shit on current trends and followed their paths consequently without limits to themselves and their diabolical spirits.
Through "SYNAGOGA DIABOLICA" (Alister Records, 2000) Ancient Ceremony definitely went more "back to their roots", located in the mentioned mixture of extreme Metal with dark horror-elements, so that not only Metallica's cultsong "Creeping Death" but also an own classic ("Choir of immortal Queens") got a new interpretation on this epic. Lyrically the album deals with different facets of Satanism, such as mythological, poetical, historical, modern or philosophical ones. Vocalist Chris has been in contact with several international Satanic organisations and lodges for many years now which causes a favourable effect on his lyrics.
Anno Satanas XXXV the band played – after several international open airs and festivals as well as many club gigs – their first headliner tour which led them through 6 European countries. The most important step forward for Ancient Ceremony was the deal with the Trisol Music Group, one of the world’s leading independent labels, which was signed in summer 2001.
The band nowadays has 4 permanent members: Chris (Satanic Screams), Jones (Bass), Patrick (Guitar), Christoph (Keyboard) and is completed for works in the studio or on stage by different session members.
Released through Trisol/Armageddon Shadow on 25.01.2002 the actual album “THE THIRD TESTAMENT“ achieved many enthusiastic reactions, fantastic reviews and incredible sales figures from all over the world so that Ancient Ceremony are definitely ready to attack the black throne of their genre!
In the meanwhile a new drummer (Manuel) and also another guitarist (Bales) were established so that this now hopefully constant line up started kicking ass all over Europe at festivals, open air events and club shows.
The blasphemy scandal in summer 2003 brought the band into media worldwide. Being confirmed for one of Germany’s biggest Metal festivals, church and city government forced the promoters to take Ancient Ceremony from the billing as the band would spread blasphemy and Satanism (which is essentially true). In their fight against this censorship and obvious religious stupidity they achieved massive support from fans, magazines and other bands but authorities still want to see them banned. A song about the incident was composed, entitled “P.uritan’s B.lasphemy C.all” (PBC is a radical x-tian party that also has taken some influence on the cancellation) and it will be released either on a special MCD or as bonus track on the upcoming album “Holycaust – Angelus Mortis”. Recordings for the next strike will start in August and the band hopes for a release in early 2004.
To be continued eternally…
Angel's Bloody Tears
Ancient Ceremony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Queen of the Undead, still evoke my Mind
"Soon my Enchantress shall be Seraphim
To my Throne,
Built of Immortality"
As Spy in Darkness I see the weak Creature
Break the Shadows falling on Her Grave
My Bloodthirst is of the Wolves,
The Purity of the Wintermoon
Strengthens me whilst Vengeance is mine
My hunting Fangs - his Mirror of mortal Decay
His Blood drips down like the Grains in Reaper's Sandglass...
The once naked Flowers dress!
Ecstatic Love or bitter Tragedy?
Out of a whirling Storm my Bride ascends
"Thou were mine, Thou art mine
And Thou shall be mine throughout all Eternities! "
Now I touch Thy marble Breasts, shall enchant Thy secret Garden
And drown in the Lakes of Thy Beauty
"So reunite with me and feel the Passion
Thou get crowned with through my Vampyre Kiss... "
The lyrics of "Angel's Bloody Tears" by Ancient Ceremony tell the story of a vampire who is in love with a mortal woman. The song starts with the vampire reminiscing about the powerful hold that his vampiric mistress, the "Queen of the Undead", still has over him. He speaks of how she will soon become a seraphim to his throne, which is built of immortality. Then, the verse diverges into the vampire's perspective as a predator, as he describes watching a weak creature break the shadows falling on her grave. His bloodthirst is compared to that of wolves, who proudly gather for an impressive parade.
The second half of the song shifts its focus back to the vampire's beloved bride-to-be. He speaks of how the purity of the winter moon strengthens him while he seeks vengeance. He thirsts for the mortal for his blood, likening his hunting fangs to a mirror of mortal decay. When he ultimately catches and bites his prey, the flowers suddenly dress themselves which could be seen as a metaphor for life rather than death. In the final verse, the vampire addresses his bride, telling her that he intends to enchant her secret garden and make her his own throughout all eternities. He implores her to reunite with him and feel the passion that he will crown her with through his Vampyre kiss.
Line by Line Meaning
Thy mighty Words, Vampyric Mater,
Addressing the powerful vampire mother, your words carry great weight.
Queen of the Undead, still evoke my Mind
You are the queen of the undead, and your presence lingers in my mind.
"Soon my Enchantress shall be Seraphim
"My lover will soon be a holy angel
To my Throne,
By my side on my throne,
Built of Immortality"
Built to last forever
As Spy in Darkness I see the weak Creature
As a hidden observer in the darkness, I see a vulnerable human
Break the Shadows falling on Her Grave
Standing by her grave, she is breaking the shadows with her presence.
My Bloodthirst is of the Wolves,
I crave blood like a pack of wolves
Who gather - what Pride - to an impressive Parade
Who gather proudly like a parade
The Purity of the Wintermoon
The pure light of the winter moon
Strengthens me whilst Vengeance is mine
It strengthens me as I seek revenge.
My hunting Fangs - his Mirror of mortal Decay
My teeth are a reflection of the decay and mortality of my prey.
His Blood drips down like the Grains in Reaper's Sandglass...
His blood drips as inexorably as grains in the reaper's hourglass
The once naked Flowers dress!
Flowers that were once bare become clothed.
Ecstatic Love or bitter Tragedy?
Is this ecstatic love or bitter tragedy?
Out of a whirling Storm my Bride ascends
My bride emerges from a whirlwind.
"Thou were mine, Thou art mine
"You were, still are, and always will be mine
And Thou shall be mine throughout all Eternities! "
You will be mine for all of eternity.
Now I touch Thy marble Breasts, shall enchant Thy secret Garden
I touch your cold, hard breasts and enter your secret garden.
And drown in the Lakes of Thy Beauty
I drown in the beauty of your pale form.
"So reunite with me and feel the Passion
"Come back to me and feel the passion
Thou get crowned with through my Vampyre Kiss... "
That you will experience through my vampire kiss.
Contributed by Hudson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.