The group was founded in 1997 by Tharen (Abigor, Amestigon, ex-Heidenreich, Dominion III, Graumahd) as an opportunity to step away from his usual genre (black metal) and experiment with a different approach to express attitudes and feelings. With Elisabeth Toriser (ex-Abigor, ex-Antichrisis, Dominion III, Soulhunt, Graumahd), who took over the vocal responsibilties in 1998, Dargaard was able to successfully complete the recording of their debut album, "Eternity Rites", released by Napalm Records under the Draenor Productions banner in October 1998.
In August 1999 the duo returned in the studio to record a second full-length. "In nomine aeternitatis" was released in March 2000 and remains within Dargaard's signature style and promise to prove once again their undeniable skill in creating superior melodies and atmosphere. June 2001 welcomed Dargaard's third recording effort, "The Dissolution of Eternity". This album has been described as having reached a milestone in innovative darkwave.
Dargaard's latest full length release, "Rise and Fall", was released in March 2004 and was featured in various magazines as album of the month. It offers a magical sound experience characterized by impressive compositions. Atmospheric, enigmatic darkwave melodies embedded in bombastic choirs and orchestral arrangements are transformed into impressive works of art by the bewitching voice of Elizabeth Toriser.
Official website: http://dargaard.at/mainpage.htm
Niobe
Dargaard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ultima resabat: quam corpore mater,
tota veste tegens,
"Unam minimamque pelinque!
De multis minimam posco"
clamavit,
"et unam!"
dumque rogat, pro qua rogat, occidit.
virumque deriguitaque malis.
Nullos movet aura capillos,
in vultu color est sine sanguine
lumina maestis
stant immota genis nihil
est in immota genis nihil
est in imagine vivum.
Ipsa quoque interius cum duro lingua palato
congelat et venae desistunt reddere motus,
nec pes ire potest intra quoque
viscera saxum est.
Flet tarnen et validi circumdata turbine venti
in patriam rapta est ibi fixa
eacumine montis liquitur
et lacrimas etiam nune marmora manant.
The lyrics are in Latin and describe the tragic story of Niobe, as told in Greek mythology. Niobe, the daughter of the Greek king Tantalus, boasts that she is superior to the goddess Leto because she has fourteen children while Leto has only two. In retaliation, Leto's children, Apollo and Artemis, kill all of Niobe's children, leaving her devastated and alone. In the lyrics, Niobe is depicted as crying out for just one of her children while being struck down by the gods. The last stanza describes her frozen in grief and unable to move, with wind blowing around her and tears flowing from the mountains.
The lyrics paint a picture of immense sorrow and loss, with Niobe's grief consuming her in a physical and emotional sense. The use of language is powerful and vivid, with descriptions of Niobe's hair not moving in the wind, her face devoid of color, and her eyes fixed in a mournful stare. The final image of her being frozen internally and externally, unable to move or even speak, is haunting and poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
Sexque datis leto diversaque passis
Six times, given death and various sufferings
ultima resabat: quam corpore mater,
the ultimate one was experienced by the mother in her body,
tota veste tegens,
covering herself completely with a garment,
"Unam minimamque pelinque! De multis minimam posco" clamavit,
"One and only a small amount! From among many I ask for the smallest" she cried out,
"et unam!" dumque rogat, pro qua rogat, occidit.
"and one!" and while she begged for what she begged for, she died.
orba resedit exanimes inter natos natasque virumque
bereft, she sat lifeless among her sons and daughters and her husband,
deriguitaque malis.
hardened by her misfortunes.
Nullos movet aura capillos,
No breeze moved her hair,
in vultu color est sine sanguine
the color was absent from her face,
lumina maestis stant immota genis
her eyes remained fixed in sorrowful cheeks,
nihil est in imagine vivum.
Nothing is alive in her image.
Ipsa quoque interius cum duro lingua palato congelat et venae desistunt reddere motus,
Even inside, her tongue and palate are frozen hard, and veins stop moving,
nec pes ire potest intra quoque viscera saxum est.
She can't even move her feet, as a stone is inside her viscera.
Flet tarnen et validi circumdata turbine venti
Yet she weeps, surrounded by strong whirlwinds,
in patriam rapta est ibi fixa eacumine montis liquitur et lacrimas etiam nune marmora manant.
taken to her homeland and fixed there on the peak of a mountain, and even now marble is melting with tears.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OVID, ALEXANDER OPITZ, ELISABETH TORISER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind