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/?-)

Exile
Ancient Rites Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

O Satan, prends pitié de ma longe misère !

Oh Thou, the most savage of angels
God only judges mild
Those who chant songs to his praise
Oh Prince of exile

To whom in every tale done wrong

(But who) after defeat, always redresses more strong

Like a patron saint of
Heavens rejected souls
Distinctively closer to
Humanity Thou art
Connected to
Mother earth more profound

Oh Thou fallen angel of gloom, joyfully I join thy side
Even if this means eternal fire, I embrace thy kingdom of night

Exile, exile!

Wandering in Thy wastelands
Far away from the heavenly autocrat
Close to Thee I chose to repose
Liberated from God's wrath
Exile!!!

A temple raised for the ones like us
With plentiful room for science
A shelter for creative minds
To dream away in silence...

Oh Thou fallen angel of gloom, joyfully I join thy side
Even if this means eternal fire, I embrace thy kingdom of night

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ancient Rites's song "Exile" are an ode to Satan, the fallen angel often associated with evil and darkness. The singer asks Satan to take pity on their "long misery" and celebrates him as the "most savage of angels", contrasting him with the mild judging of God. The singer sees Satan as a patron of exiled souls, who redresses wrongs and has a more profound connection to Mother Earth and humanity. Despite the threat of eternal fire, the singer joyfully joins Satan's side and embraces his kingdom of night.

The lyrics can be interpreted as a rejection of traditional religious values and a celebration of individuality and freedom. The singer sees Satan as a liberator from God's wrath and embraces the darkness and wastelands of his kingdom. The temple raised for "ones like us" could be seen as a sanctuary for those who don't fit in with the mainstream or who embrace alternative beliefs.

Line by Line Meaning

O Satan, prends pitié de ma longe misère !
Oh Thou, the most savage of angels, please take pity on my long-standing misery!

God only judges mild
God tends to be lenient in his judgments.

Those who chant songs to his praise
God treats kindly those who sing his praises.

Oh Prince of exile
Oh ruler of the outcasts.

To whom in every tale done wrong
To whom wrong is done in every tale.

(But who) after defeat, always redresses more strong
(But who) rises stronger after every defeat.

Like a patron saint of
Like a patron saint

Heavens rejected souls
Of those souls rejected by heaven.

Distinctively closer to
Distinctly closer to

Humanity Thou art
Humanity, Thou art.

Connected to
Bound to