Ancient Rites is a Belgian black metal (old) / folk metal (recent) band for… Read Full Bio ↴Ancient Rites is a Belgian black metal (old) / folk metal (recent) band formed in 1988. Initially, the line- up consisted of guitar players Johan and Phillip, drummer Stefan, and Gunther Theys on bass and vocals. In 1990 the Dark Ritual demo was released in the underground scene, getting worldwide attention just as black metal was gaining importance in the metal scene. Soon after the release of this demo Phillip died in a car crash and not long after, Stefan committed suicide. However painful this episode was to the band, they decided to continue and Stefan's position was taken by his drum roadie Walter Van Cortenberg.

As Johan then decided to leave the music scene, the band found replacements for both him and Phillip in guitar players Pascal and Bart Vandereycken. This line-up would go on to release the Evil Prevails EP and several others through various record labels. Pascal was eventually fired for lack of dedication due to his obligations to the Belgian Navy, which reduced the band to a trio. In 1994 their first full length album was released entitled The Diabolic Senerades. This line- up would also record the band's second album Blasfemia Eternal before in May 1996, just after its release, Bart left the band.[1] Belgian and non-Belgian musicians stepped in to help out the band on several tours in support of the album, which eventually led the once strongly Flemish rooted band to become an international act with the addition of Dutch guitar player Erik Sprooten (ex- Inquisitor) later that same year and Finnish guitar player Jan "Örkki" Yrlund (ex- Lacrimosa) in mid- 1997. Shortly after the release of their third album Fatherland a keyboard player was found in Domingo Smets (ex- Agathocles). This line- up would record Dim Carcosa,before Smets left the band in 2002 and a replacement was found in Davy Wouters (ex- Oblivion, Danse Macabre). This line- up can be seen on the live album/DVD And The Hordes Stood As One. While on tour in support of the live album in May 2003, the band fired guitar player Jan Yrlund and brought back Bart in his stead. In December 2004, the line- up was further extended with the return of former members Domingo Smets, who took over as bass player since Gunther wanted to focus on singing, and Raf Jansen - who had filled Bart's position for several months in 1996- 1997 - as third guitar player. Most of 2005 was spent writing songs for the new album Rubicon, which was released on May 15th, 2006.

Over the years, Ancient Rites have played with bands like: Deicide, Motörhead, Judas Priest, Cradle of Filth, Metallica, Dissection, Morbid Angel, Stormtroopers of Death, Mercyful Fate, Impaled Nazarene, Manowar, Sepultura, Malevolent Creation, Rotting Christ and Slayer. During their existence the band has been subjected to boycotts, bomb threats and various other misfortunes, but this did little to stop them and only strengthened their resolve to push on.

Current Line-up:
Gunther Theys - Vocals (formerly also Bass) (Danse Macabre (Bel), Iron Clad, Lion's Pride) (1989- )
Erik Sprooten - Guitar (Inquisitor (Hol), Menticide (Bel)) (1995- )
Davy Wouters - Keyboards (Danse Macabre (Bel), Oblivion (Bel)) (2001- )
Walter Van Cortenberg - Drums (1991- )
Domingo Smets - Guitars, Bass, Keyboards (Agathocles, Red Nucleus, Gracefallen) (?-2001/?-)

Europa
Ancient Rites Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(From Gallia to Germania)
I still hear the ancient warcry
(Roma to Brittania)
I still hear the ancient battlecry

The great old European heroes, the proud old European names
Like snow now melted for sunlight, today their lustre gleams

Gone are the great old empires, the proud old names are low
That shed a glory over the ancient world, a thou sand years ago
But wandering the medieval cities beholding our ancient lands
Albion, Saxonia, land of Franks constructed by our ancestor's hands

(From Erin to Caledonia)
I still hear the ancient warcry
(Ellada to Helvetia)
I still hear the ancient battlecry

(From Lusitania to Hispania)
I still hear the ancient warcry
(Mycenae to Macedonia)
I still hear the ancient battlecry

In the country of our fathers on the land and sea
Can you hear a million voices? Thy forefathers summoning thee!
Summoning thee!

Many centuries ago, beyond the hazy space
In Brittany, Eire and Caledonia there dwelt a mighty race
Celts they were called, like their holy oaks, they had a giant grace

(Fierce was the Byzantine empire
Spread over the Balkans, Asia, Minor and Greece
Combining eastern and western tradition
A gateway to the East)

Slavonian kingdoms, empires and tribes
Defending their ancient lands and rights
From invading hordes from the East
Thousands slaughtered (fair) men and beast

(From Byzantium to Phoenicia)
I still hear the ancient warcry

(Etruria to Cymru)
I still hear the ancient battlecry!!

Overall Meaning

The song "Europa" by Ancient Rites is a tribute to the greatness of the old European empires and their heroes. The lyrics describe the ancient war cries and battle cries still heard from Gallia to Germania, from Roma to Brittania, from Erin to Caledonia and from Lusitania to Hispania. The proud names of the old European heroes are now low but still gleaming with their former lustre, even though the empires are gone. The chorus of the song repeats the lines "I still hear the ancient war cry" and "I still hear the ancient battle cry" with different countries mentioned.

The song also talks about the medieval cities and ancient lands like Albion, Saxonia, and the land of Franks that were constructed by the ancestors' hands. It speaks of how in the country of our fathers on the land and sea, a million voices can be heard summoning their descendants. The song concludes by acknowledging the fierce Byzantine empire that spread over Asia, Minor, Greece and the Balkans and combined both eastern and western tradition, and the Slavonian kingdoms, empires, and tribes that defended their ancient lands and rights from invading hordes from the East.

Line by Line Meaning

(From Gallia to Germania) I still hear the ancient warcry
I can still hear the battle cry of the ancient warriors from Gaul to Germany.

(Roma to Brittania) I still hear the ancient battlecry
I can still hear the ancient battle cry of the warriors from Rome to Britain.

The great old European heroes, the proud old European names Like snow now melted for sunlight, today their lustre gleams
The great heroes of Europe and their proud names have faded away over time, but their legacy still shines like the sun.

Gone are the great old empires, the proud old names are low That shed a glory over the ancient world, a thou sand years ago But wandering the medieval cities beholding our ancient lands Albion, Saxonia, land of Franks constructed by our ancestor's hands
The once-great empires and names of Europe have fallen and are now low, but as we wander the medieval cities of our ancient lands, like Albion, Saxonia, and Frankia, we can still see the great works built by our ancestors.

(From Erin to Caledonia) I still hear the ancient warcry (Ellada to Helvetia) I still hear the ancient battlecry (From Lusitania to Hispania) I still hear the ancient warcry (Mycenae to Macedonia) I still hear the ancient battlecry
The ancient war cries of the warriors from Erin to Caledonia, Ellada to Helvetia, Lusitania to Hispania, and Mycenae to Macedonia still echo through the ages.

In the country of our fathers on the land and sea Can you hear a million voices? Thy forefathers summoning thee! Summoning thee!
In the lands of our ancestors, on the land and sea, we can hear a million voices summoning us, calling us to follow in their footsteps.

Many centuries ago, beyond the hazy space In Brittany, Eire and Caledonia there dwelt a mighty race Celts they were called, like their holy oaks, they had a giant grace
Many centuries ago, in distant lands beyond the foggy horizon, there lived a great people known as the Celts. Like their holy oaks, they had a grace and power that was unmatched.

(Fierce was the Byzantine empire Spread over the Balkans, Asia, Minor and Greece Combining eastern and western tradition A gateway to the East)
The Byzantine Empire was a fierce and powerful force that spread across the Balkans, Asia, Minor, and Greece, combining both eastern and western traditions to become a gateway to the East.

Slavonian kingdoms, empires and tribes Defending their ancient lands and rights From invading hordes from the East Thousands slaughtered (fair) men and beast
The Slavonian kingdoms, empires, and tribes defended their ancient lands and rights from invading hordes from the East, but the battles resulted in the slaughter of countless innocent men and animals.

(From Byzantium to Phoenicia) I still hear the ancient warcry (Etruria to Cymru) I still hear the ancient battlecry!!
The ancient war cries of the warriors from Byzantium to Phoenicia and Etruria to Cymru still ring out across the ages.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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