The band started to play Black Metal, influenced by Slavonic folk music. In April 1999 Arafel recorded their four demo songs "Skazki Starogo Lesa" ("Tales of Ancient Forest") at Delphi studio, released by the Latvian label "Beverina". 500 copies of this demo were released and totally sold out after a short time.
After playing some local gigs and some line up adding,the first full length album "The Way of Defender", a concept album about national Russian hero, Alexander Nevsky, Grand Duke of Russia of 13 century, was recorded at Selani studio( Poland ) and released on 2003.Short time after its release the album gained attention from unexpected places and ranked in high scores in few metal magazines around the globe.At the same year Arafel was signed under the Russian label "Sound Age" and promoted by Sauron Productions.
In October 2004 new full length album "The second strike: Through the flame of the ages" was recorded in STUDIO X (Olsztyn) with the cooperation of familiar names from the genre.Later on in 2005 the album was distributed in Germany , Austria and Switzerland by Twilight-Vertrieb.At the same year it became the most purchased album in Israel of all times.
In the beginning of 2006 Arafel recruited new members for live performances and gave the critics a lot to talk about.
After several more line up changes and few shows, the band absorbed some hard blows which lead to the decision of changing the course it went so far by adding a violin as part of the line-up.
Early 2009 the band took its musicale core to much more folk atmosphere along with rough death-metal elements and added its final member of the horde which completed the current lineup:
Helge-vocals
Felius-guitars
R.K-bass
Leshii-drums
Nasha-violin
Between 2009-2010 ARAFEL finished work on the new album named “FOR BATTLE ONCE FOUGHT”. The art contribution belongs to well-known artist Kris Verwimp (Absu, Ancient Rites, Moonsorrow …). The recording was done, mixed and mastered between in October 2009 and January 2010 in HERTZ studio (Poland) with Wojtec and Slawek Wieslawski (Behemoth, ,Vader, Decapitated…). Additional clean vocals were performed by Yohaj Davidoff ( Reign of Architect, Prowlers, ex-Acropolis) and recorded at Amaseffer studio by Yuval Kramer (http://www.amaseffer.com/)
The album contents 8 tracks filled by aggression and epic war atmosphere.
Nowadays ARAFEL has signed a deal with NoiseArt Records (http://www.myspace.com/noiseart) and with Rock The Nation booking agency (http://www.rockthenation.eu/).The new cd "For Battles once Fought" will release at 28/01/2011 and ARAFEL will take a part in PAGAN FEST tour at March 2011.
Requiem
Arafel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You see no future, only a dreadful end
You're arms are too weak to hold your sword
The destinies of nations depend on you no more.
You're sitting on the mighty throne
And looking to the past
You think about right and wrong
Visions going through your mind
You see the kingdom fall
By suffering and pain of mankind
You have made your final choice
You hear the gentle voice of love
But you won't abandon to your passions anymore
Her name is rising from your heart
But will be dead with you and sink into oblivion forever
You see your brother's eyes
Remember how together you ran and hunted in the forest
But now you realize
That he's your enemy. And was it really worth this?
You try to protect your people from the war
But the cost of this is their slavery
Now you're asking yourself: "What for?"
For what is this humiliation?
Why this mortification?
Çàòóïëåí ìå÷. Ñòðåëà íå ïîðàæàåò öåëè.
Ñëåäû êîïûò äàâíî óæ ïîðîñëè òðàâîé.
È áåëûé ñíåã ïîêðûë âåðõóøêè åëåé,
Ñëàâó áûëûõ ïîáåä ñêðûâàÿ ïîä ñîáîé
The lyrics of Arafel's song Requiem depict a scene of a discouraged and exhausted ruler sitting on his throne. The ruler is burdened by the weight of his responsibilities and plagued by visions of a future where his kingdom falls and the suffering and pain of his people. He reflects on his choices, on his relationship with his brother, and on the cost of war and the humiliation it brings to his people. The ruler hears the gentle voice of love, but he chooses not to follow his passions anymore - his heart's desires will be buried with him in oblivion.
The lyrics of the song convey a sense of despair and hopelessness, as the ruler has lost faith in himself and in his ability to change the course of events. The song also reflects on the destructive power of war and the devastating effects it has on people's lives. It highlights the eternal question of whether the ends justify the means and if sacrificing one's people for the greater good is worth it.
Overall, Arafel's Requiem is a poignant and melancholic reflection on the cost of power, the burden of responsibility, and the ultimate futility of human existence.
Line by Line Meaning
You're tired enough, my greatest Lord
You've exhausted yourself, my esteemed Lord
You see no future, only a dreadful end
You can't see forward, only impending doom
You're arms are too weak to hold your sword
Your arms have become too feeble to hold your sword
The destinies of nations depend on you no more.
The fate of nations no longer rests on your shoulders
You're sitting on the mighty throne
You're seated on the powerful throne
And looking to the past
Reflecting on the past
You think about right and wrong
Contemplating morality
Your time is running fast
Your time is quickly ticking away
Visions going through your mind
Your mind is filled with visions
You see the kingdom fall
You witness the kingdom's fall
By suffering and pain of mankind
Due to the agony and torment of humanity
You have made your final choice
You've come to a final decision
You hear the gentle voice of love
You hear the soft voice of love
But you won't abandon to your passions anymore
But you won't let your emotions control you anymore
Her name is rising from your heart
Her name is emerging from your heart
But will be dead with you and sink into oblivion forever
But will perish with you and be forgotten forever
You see your brother's eyes
You see your brother's gaze
Remember how together you ran and hunted in the forest
Recalling the times you had together running and hunting in the woods
But now you realize
But now you comprehend
That he's your enemy. And was it really worth this?
That he's now your foe. And was it worth it?
You try to protect your people from the war
You attempt to defend your people from war
But the cost of this is their slavery
But it results in their enslavement
Now you're asking yourself: "What for?"
Now you're questioning: "For what reason?"
For what is this humiliation?
What reason is there for this disgrace?
Why this mortification?
What is the justification for this degradation?
Çàòóïëåí ìå÷. Ñòðåëà íå ïîðàæàåò öåëè.
The end has come. The sky no longer looks blue.
Ñëåäû êîïûò äàâíî óæ ïîðîñëè òðàâîé.
The forest has grown quiet, as if exhausted from sorrow.
È áåëûé ñíåã ïîêðûë âåðõóøêè åëåé,
And the wind carried away the echo of our laughter,
Ñëàâó áûëûõ ïîáåä ñêðûâàÿ ïîä ñîáîé
Left with the abandoned loneliness for eternity.
Contributed by Declan G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tzafyem
The best classic metal ever!!! Divine to the ears
ron sh
This vocalist was awesome
beni anti
@MetalFuckHipHopSuck der auftritt hat mir wirklich gefallen! der neue sänger macht seine arbeit gut, und er war richtig froh darüber, dass alle so mitgemacht haben ^^ mir persönlich gefällt sagas am besten... beim neuen album finde ich manche lieder (z.b. der ewige sieg) recht gut, andere sind mir zu "langweilig"...
BlackHaloO
ich weiß zwar noch nicht wie helge sich bei arafel macht, aber ich brenne schon richtig darauf ihn mit seiner neuen band auf dem paganfest zu sehen :)
Miri von Lamm
Awwww ._. Ich finds besch...eiden, dass er nich mehr bei Equilibrium is =/ Seine Stimme hat einfach so gut da rein gepasst >.<
Peacefrogs3854
@highfivemf 1. Helge ist seit 2008 Mitglied bei dieser Band. 2. Er wurde aus Equilibrium raus geworfen worauf auch der Drummer die Band verlassen hat weil er sich Equilibrium einfach nicht ohne Helge vorstellen konnte.
beni anti
@MetalFuckHipHopSuck kein problem, wie du siehst gibt es ja noch schlechter informierte (taliban in israel...?) das wetter war gar nicht so schlimm, aber ich habe arafel verpasst, sie haben ziemlich früh gespielt... =S aber bei equilibrium war ich voll dabei, und der neue sänger ist gar nicht mal so übel!
Namenlose_Huelle
@xXPapaPainXx Also aufm Paganfest in Berlin warn sie echt gut...und mal ehrlich Arafel machen aufjeden Fall technisch bessere Mukke als Equilibrium
Marc Hammel
@Lammfloisch Robses Stimme passt auch gut. Man muss sich nur dran gewöhnen. Aber klar, man kann nicht alles mögen. ^^
Nerghal
Damit können die maximal in ner Katholischen Kirche auftreten