The band incorporates black metal influences and symphonic elements into an overall grandiose canvas, with the elaborate lyrics of Byron Roberts painting a picture of battles in an antediluvian age where Atlantis had not yet been destroyed and the continents were still joined in a Pangaean mass. A predominant feature is the use of epic keyboards played by Jonny Maudling who composes and arranges the music. The guitar, drums and keyboards work together as an integral entity rather like a symphonic work. The vocals of Byron Roberts are a mixture of spoken word and black metal screams making the songs more like stories set to music than anything else. The stories are told like a play, with many characters (or groups of characters, speaking in unison) exchanging dialogue. Byron uses different vocalizations and effects to set them apart. The songs frequently have very long titles. Byron intends to release some short stories and novellas based on his lyrics and also some graphic novels created in collaboration with the artist Martin Hanford.
They currently have six albums out. The music for the latest one, "The Chthonic Chronicles" was recorded and produced at Jonny Maudling's studio "Waylands Forge", while the vocals were recorded at Academy Music Studio, the same studio where the band's previous five albums were recorded.
In search of the lost cities of antarctica
Bal-Sagoth Lyrics
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Beneath the ice, the endless ice of Pangaea's now axial
eternally frozen frontier, entombed for countless millions of years... the
lost cities of Antarctica!
Secrets locked within the ice, the endless ice of Antarctica,
'Neath the peak of Erebus the First Ones sleep, Lords of Pangaea,
Cities lost within the night, the frozen night of Antarctica,
[The Testament of the Winds:]
Once, the coruscating spires of man here offered their splendour to the
heavens. Now, those spires gleam no more, save in dreams of verdant plains,
save in dreams of time-lost citadels.
Legacy of a utopia lost, forever enshrined 'neath the ice...
[Echoes of the First Ones:]
Sail across Panthalassa to Gondwanaland,
Three moons to guide us on this voyage across the sea,
Sail across Panthalassa to Gondwanaland,
New lands to conquer and claim for our progeny.
[The Testament of the Winds:]
Before the Third Moon fell from orbit, before the
Nine Continents were formed from Pangaea's shattered surface...
Hewn from the Pre-Cambrian rock, behold this primordial metropolis!
And the First Ones shall awaken on that day, when man will return to the stars!
[Echoes of the First Ones:]
We, who were before Man, are destined to be the
architects of his future!
[The Explorer:]
And humanity shall one day rediscover the secrets long-frozen
within the lost cities of Antarctica!
There will come a day when the ingenuity of man shall pierce that impenetrable
shield of ice which keeps Antarctica's wonders from our inquisitive gaze, and
I truly believe that day shall herald a glorious new era of enlightenment for
us all.
This song by Bal-Sagoth titled "In Search of the Lost Cities of Antarctica" explores the idea of an ancient and powerful civilization that existed beneath the ice of Antarctica. The lyrics present the idea that there are secrets locked within the endless ice of Antarctica, and that beneath the peak of Erebus lies the lost cities of the First Ones, the Lords of Pangaea. The song imagines a time when these great cities were alive, with magnificent spires that offered their splendor to the heavens, now permanently frozen and covered in ice. The lyrics suggest that this civilization was created in the Pre-Cambrian era, making these cities millions of years old. The song also presents the idea that these First Ones were voyagers who came from beyond the stars, and that they will awaken when man returns to the stars.
The song creates a fascinating narrative, imagining a future when humanity will rediscover these lost cities and the secrets that they hold. The Explorer believes that one day, humanity will pierce through the shield of ice that covers Antarctica's wonders, opening a new era of enlightenment. This theme of ancient, lost civilizations and the idea that they may be rediscovered and hold secrets to our future is a recurring theme in science fiction and fantasy.
Line by Line Meaning
Beneath the ice, the endless ice of Pangaea's now axial
eternally frozen frontier, entombed for countless millions of years... the
lost cities of Antarctica!
Secrets locked within the ice, the endless ice of Antarctica, where the lost cities of Antarctica have been hidden for countless millions of years.
'Neath the peak of Erebus the First Ones sleep, Lords of Pangaea,
Cities lost within the night, the frozen night of Antarctica,
Pre-Cambrian, the Voyagers, beyond the stars, Lords of Pangaea.
The peak of Erebus is the resting place of the First Ones, who are the lords of Pangaea. The lost cities of Antarctica are hidden in the frozen night of Antarctica. The First Ones are the Voyagers hailing from Pre-Cambrian era, beyond the stars and the lords of Pangaea.
Once, the coruscating spires of man here offered their splendour to the
heavens. Now, those spires gleam no more, save in dreams of verdant plains,
save in dreams of time-lost citadels.
Legacy of a utopia lost, forever enshrined 'neath the ice...
Long ago, the glorious spires of man shone majestically towards the heavens, but now they are nothing more than just dreams. The dreams are of verdant plains and the citadels lost in time. This is a legacy of a utopia that was lost and forever buried beneath the ice.
Sail across Panthalassa to Gondwanaland,
Three moons to guide us on this voyage across the sea,
Sail across Panthalassa to Gondwanaland,
New lands to conquer and claim for our progeny.
Travel across the ancient ocean Panthalassa to reach Gondwanaland. The three moons act as guides on this journey, leading to new lands to conquer and claim for future generations.
Before the Third Moon fell from orbit, before the
Nine Continents were formed from Pangaea's shattered surface...
Hewn from the Pre-Cambrian rock, behold this primordial metropolis!
And the First Ones shall awaken on that day, when man will return to the stars!
Before the Third Moon fell out of orbit, and before Pangaea's surface was shattered, this primordial metropolis was hewn from the Pre-Cambrian rock. The awakening of the First Ones will occur when man ventures out to the stars.
We, who were before Man, are destined to be the
architects of his future!
We, the First Ones who existed before Man, are destined to shape his future!
And humanity shall one day rediscover the secrets long-frozen
within the lost cities of Antarctica!
There will come a day when the ingenuity of man shall pierce that impenetrable
shield of ice which keeps Antarctica's wonders from our inquisitive gaze, and
I truly believe that day shall herald a glorious new era of enlightenment for
us all.
Humanity shall one day rediscover the secrets hidden within the lost cities of Antarctica. With their ingenuity, man shall unveil the secrets of the lost cities by piercing the shield of ice that has hidden them for so long. This will be a glorious new era of enlightenment for everyone.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BYRON A. ROBERTS, CHRISTOPHER MAUDLING, JONATHAN MAUDLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind