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/?-)
Rise And Fall
Ancient Rites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I was the knife ending Thy ambition
Yet I held Thy standard proudly
As Thy legions burned the world
Oh gorgeous Minoan empire
Blessed were Thy art and culture
Earthquakes undermined Thy glory
[Chorus:]
I am the desires most profane
The pestilence cursing thousands
I am the burned village
Decimating diseases without a name
Anno Satana!
Anno Satana!
Rise, rise, rise and fall!
Rise, rise, rise and fall!
Dear Robbespierre, hail to Thy revolution
Which turned into an endless execution
(So sweet Thy blood must have tasted
In the hour of Thy own execution)
Rise, rise, rise and fall!
Rise, rise, rise and fall!
Anno Satana!
Anno Satana!
Clever, mad Rasputin
No intrigue too grand
A pleasure it was watching you rise
But the delight so overwhelming
As I witnessed your fall
Throughout history my misanthropy
Always has been grander than thine
The lyrics of Ancient Rites's song "Rise and Fall" are deeply metaphorical and speak to the idea of destruction and downfall. The song is a contemplation of the nature of power, ambition, and how they swiftly turn to ruin. In the first verse, the singer is a traitor to Caesar, who once proudly held his banner while his armies burned the world. This passage speaks to the desire for power and ambition and the price that it extracts from individuals who are willing to risk everything for it.
The next verse is a lament for the Minoan empire, whose greatness was ultimately undone by natural disasters and the singer's own actions. The chorus speaks to the singer's role as a force of destruction, a "pestilence cursing thousands" and "decimating diseases without a name." The repetition of "rise and fall" in the chorus underscores the cyclical nature of human history, where great empires and leaders inevitably come to ruin.
The final verses are addressed to Robbespierre and Rasputin, both of whom rose to power and then were brought down. The singer seems to take a perverse pleasure in the downfall of these figures, suggesting that their ambition was ultimately doomed to collapse. The final line, "Throughout history my misanthropy always has been grander than thine," is a chilling one, suggesting that the singer embodies a destructive force that transcends the will of any individual or historical period.
Line by Line Meaning
Noble Caesar, forgive me
I betrayed and killed Caesar despite his nobility and forgive me Lord for my sin.
But I was the knife ending Thy ambition
I was the instrument of Caesar's assassination that ended his desire for power.
Yet I held Thy standard proudly
Despite killing Caesar, I held his banner with pride and honor.
As Thy legions burned the world
During Caesar's reign, his legions ravaged the world through war and destruction.
Oh gorgeous Minoan empire
Minoan empire was once beautiful and magnificent.
Blessed were Thy art and culture
Minoan empire was blessed with art and culture.
Earthquakes undermined Thy glory
Earthquakes destroyed Minoan empire's splendor.
Then I led hostile forces into Thy land
I attacked Minoan empire with hostile forces, causing its downfall.
I am the desires most profane
I represent the most immoral and sinful desires of humanity.
The pestilence cursing thousands
I am like a contagious disease, spreading hate and cruelty which curses thousands of lives.
I am the burned village
I am the cause of destruction that leaves behind a burned village.
Decimating diseases without a name
I am like a nameless disease that decimates everything in its path.
Dear Robbespierre, hail to Thy revolution
I praise Robbespierre and his revolution for their efforts to bring about change.
Which turned into an endless execution
However, the revolution turned into an unending cycle of executions.
(So sweet Thy blood must have tasted
(The person speaking imagines that Robbespierre tasted sweet in his moment of death.)
In the hour of Thy own execution)
(The person speaking is imagining the moment of Robbespierre's execution.)
Clever, mad Rasputin
Rasputin was a clever, mad man.
No intrigue too grand
There was no scheme or plot that was too grand for Rasputin.
A pleasure it was watching you rise
The singer enjoyed watching Rasputin rise to power.
But the delight so overwhelming
But the artist was overwhelmed with joy when Rasputin eventually fell from power.
As I witnessed your fall
The artist enjoyed watching Rasputin's downfall.
Throughout history my misanthropy
The artist has always harbored a deep-seated hatred for humanity.
Always has been grander than thine
The singer's misanthropy is greater than any other person in history.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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