Before The Dawn is a Melodic Death/Gothic Metal band that saw daylight in 1… Read Full Bio ↴Before The Dawn is a Melodic Death/Gothic Metal band that saw daylight in 1999 as a solo project by Tuomas Saukkonen. The first line-up was gathered so that the band would be able to perform live. With many changes inside the band, they entered the studio to record an MCD called Gehenna. After two albums (My Darkness and 4.17 am) and numerous changes in the line-up, Tuomas gathered an entirely new line-up in 2005 and went on to record the album The Ghost. The songs that didn't fit on this album were released on Tuomas' other project Dawn of Solace.
From their 2007 album, Deadlight, the song Deadsong was accompanied with a video.

In 2011, their 6th album Deathstar Rising was released at Nuclear Blast.

2011 line-up:

Tuomas Saukkonen: Dark vocals and guitar (Dawn of Solace, Routasielu)
Juho Räihä: Lead guitar (Gloria Morti, Riverside Syndicate)
Lars Eikind: Bass and vocals (Winds, Age of Silence, ex-Khold, ex-Tulus)
Atte Palokangas: Drums (Agonizer)

Website: http://www.beforethedawn.com/

Previously associated musicians:

Guitars:
Pekka Sarkkinen
Timo Hankola
Jani Saajanaho (also Vocals, on "Gehenna")
Panu Willman (2000-2004, also Clean Vocals) (Entwine, Dark Filth Fraternity, St. Hood)
Mika Ojala (2003-2004, also Keyboards) (Damngod)

Bass:
Tomi Malin (on "Gehenna")
Toni Broman (2001-2004) (Kill the Romance, Damngod)

Drums:
Kimmo Nurmi (2000-2001)
Mika Tanttu (on "Gehenna") (Drowned in Life, Kill the Romance, Profane Omen, Coma Clinic)
Dani Miettinen (2002-2004, Session 2007-2009) (Jumalhдmдrд, Solacide)
Aatu Mukka (Live 2005, Session 2005-2006) (Camorra, Downtrodden)

Keyboards:
Tiina Ahokas (also Violin, Vocals, on "To Desire")
Jarkko Mдnnikkц (2000-2003)

In 2021, the band was reformed. On 30 April, the band released the single "Final Storm". The single was made for the Deadlight reissue which was released in 9 July 2021.

Dying Sun
Before the Dawn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

By the powers vested in me
By the entity of choice
I pronounce myself dead
At 4:18 am
I am gathered here
To remember the deceased within me

Last flames of the dying sun

Will burn my world
Creating a starless universe
Awaiting the kingdom come
And for rebirth of angels
I sacrifice this earth

Lowered into the grave
My empty casket
So I can rest in peace
Self created funeral
Will finally purify

By this burial
The stains in me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Dying Sun" by Before the Dawn depict a person who has reached the end of their journey and is ready to let go of their past self. The opening lines, "By the powers vested in me, By the entity of choice, I pronounce myself dead, At 4:18 am," suggest that the singer is taking a voluntary step to shed their old self and declaring themselves dead to the world. As they gather to remember the deceased within them, they are ready to say goodbye to the person they once were.

The image of the "Last flames of the dying sun" burning the singer's world and creating a "starless universe" is a metaphor for the end of something significant and the beginning of a new era. The singer realizes that in order to be reborn, they must let go of their attachments to this world, and they are willing to make a sacrifice for it, as they say, "And for rebirth of angels, I sacrifice this earth."

The final lines of the song suggest that the singer's self-appointed funeral will finally purify them and bury the stains of their past. The image of the empty casket and the burial symbolize the completion of their transformation and their readiness to move on to, as the song suggests, "the rebirth of angels."

Line by Line Meaning

By the powers vested in me
With the authority that has been given to me

By the entity of choice
Through my own free will

I pronounce myself dead
I declare that a part of me has died

At 4:18 am
At a specific time of the day

I am gathered here
I have come together with myself

To remember the deceased within me
To recognize and acknowledge the parts of myself that have 'died'

Last flames of the dying sun
The final lights of my life

Will burn my world
Will destroy everything I know

Creating a starless universe
Leaving me in a dark space without hope or guidance

Awaiting the kingdom come
Anticipating a new beginning, a fresh start

And for rebirth of angels
In the hopes of having a chance at a better life