The debut full-length "Mustamaa" was released in summer 1999 by Melancholy Productions (later known as ISO666). The album was originally released only on limited vinyl (300 copies), but was later re-released also on CD by ISO666. Only few months later the second full-lenght was recorded, titled "Helvetin Yhdeksän Piiriä". The first two albums featured mostly re-recorded demo material, thus the quick space between the recordings and releases. "Helvetin Yhdeksän Piiriä" came out on Brazilian Evil Horde Records in December 1999. The year 2000 saw the releases of couple of split CD's, "Helwettiläinen" 7" and a collection of rare & demo tracks "Deathkult MMDCLXVI". Azaghal tracks from the two split CD's (with Mustan Kuun Lapset and Beheaded Lamb) were also released on 12" vinyl called "Ihmisviha" by Blut & Eisen. In early 2001 JL Nokturnal (whom had appeared on most of the earlier releases as a session member) joined Azaghal as a lead guitarist / bassist and we recorded our third full-lenght album "Of Beasts and Vultures" in March 2001. After some delays "Of Beasts and Vultures" was finally released over a year later in spring 2002. After this album founding member and drummer V-Khaoz was kicked out of the band because of increasing conflicts both on an personal and musical level.
In 2002-2003 we recorded more material for split releases and signed a deal with already familiar Aftermath Music for the release of a MCD and new full-lenght. The result was the limited "Kyy" MCD and our most raw and nihilistic album to date, "Perkeleen Luoma". These two releases were also released as 2LP by Finnish Hammer of Hate. We didn't feel the need to find a new drummer at this time, so these releases were recorded with a drum machine (aka Unhuman Warmachine) to give the recordings colder and more inhuman atmosphere. After nearly 10 years of existence and a very negative approach towards gigs the whole time, we finally decided to start playing live in 2004, so TM Blastbeast (aka Teemu Mutka, ex-Deep Red, Nerlich etc.) was brought in to handle the drums. Our first live appearance was at the Under The Black Sun Festival in Germany in summer 2004, the response was great to say the least and thus we have continued playing random gigs since then. Later in 2004 we signed with our current label Avantgarde Music, and as an contrast to our previous album, "Perkeleen Luoma", we recorded our most diverse and complex album "Codex Antitheus" and in support of it played a few more gigs in 2005 (in Switzerland and Italy). In 2006 we recorded our second album for Avantgarde Music, "Luciferin Valo." This album saw more of an back to basics approach both in simplified song writing and rawer production. After the recordings we replaced TM Blastbeast behind the drum kit with Chernobog (also in Kingdom of Agony).
Nemesis
Azaghal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The eternal, chaos born
The origin, Satan, god of all
The destroyer, the rise and the fall
The original
The eternal
The undying
Without father
Without descent
Without beginning
Without end
I am the vanguished kings of Sodom and Gomorrah
I am Longinus, wielding the spear
I am the elder ones hiding beyond the stars
I am god of the godless, I bear the stigmata scars
But don’t call me the adversary
For I cannot be defeated
Immortal I stand
As above, so below
The lyrics to Azaghal's song Nemesis describe the birth of chaos from the vast emptiness, and the emergence of the god of all, Satan. Satan is portrayed as the destroyer, responsible for both the rise and fall of all things. The lyrics then go on to describe Satan as the original, eternal and undying nemesis - an opponent that cannot be defeated.
What follows is a series of assertions about Satan’s identity: he is without father, descent, beginning or end. This idea of Satan as an eternal being is a common depiction in black metal, and is often employed to subvert traditional religious beliefs about the existence of good and evil.
The latter half of the song sees Satan take on a series of historical and mythical personas – the vanguished kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, Longinus, and the elder ones hiding beyond the stars. These various depictions all serve to reinforce Satan’s power, suggesting that he is a mythological force present throughout history and beyond.
Ultimately, the song asserts that Satan cannot be defeated, and is immortal. The final line - “as above, so below” - is a reference to the concept of hermeticism, which posits that what happens in the macrocosm of the universe is reflected in the microcosm of the individual.
Line by Line Meaning
From the vast emptiness spawn
A chaotic birth from the vast emptiness
The eternal, chaos born
Eternal chaos born from the aforementioned birth
The origin, Satan, god of all
Satan, the origin and god of all
The destroyer, the rise and the fall
The destroyer of everything and the bringer of rise and fall
The original
The first of its kind
The eternal
Existing without end
The undying
Immortal and indestructible
The nemesis
An opponent who cannot be beaten
Without father
Having no known origins
Without descent
With no offspring or descendants
Without beginning
Having no starting point
Without end
Having no end point
I am the vanguished kings of Sodom and Gomorrah
I represent the defeated rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah
I am Longinus, wielding the spear
I am the soldier Longinus, holding the spear of destiny
I am the elder ones hiding beyond the stars
I represent ancient beings hiding beyond the stars
I am god of the godless, I bear the stigmata scars
I am the god of those abandoned by other gods, and I have the marks of the crucified savior
But don’t call me the adversary
I am not a mere opponent, but something more
For I cannot be defeated
There is no way to overcome me
Immortal I stand
I exist eternally, impossible to kill
As above, so below
The same laws and rules apply to all levels of existence
Contributed by Avery D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ernorther
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@ogrebattle22763
Have been a fan of this band from the very beginning.... excellent Finnish black metal.... one of their best for sure....
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Respect from belgium
@sole__doubt
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