Dark At Dawn was formed back in 1993 by Torsten Sauerbrey, Peter Arenz, Mic… Read Full Bio ↴Dark At Dawn was formed back in 1993 by Torsten Sauerbrey, Peter Arenz, Michael Lowin, Thorsten Kohlrausch and Oliver Schoening.

After two demo tapes and some local shows, they recorded a mini-CD called "Oceans Of Time" in 1995. In addition to that Dark At Dawn played the famous Wacken Open Air for the first time and supported Saxon in a couple of shows. "Oceans Of Time" was sold very well at concerts. Various radio stations in northern Germany picked up the band and added the songs to their airplay lists. In 1998 the band shopped around some new songs and demos to find a record company for the first full-length album "Baneful Skies" and finally inked a deal with Iron Glory Records. The debut album was recorded by Oliver Philipps and Christian Moos in the Spacelab studios and was released in late 1999.

In November 2000 Dark At Dawn recorded the second album "Crimson Frost" in the Stage-One-studio with Andy Classen. Dissatisfaction with their label was the reason to make only one more record with Iron Glory Records. This record was produced and mixed in the band's own MetalSound-studio.

"Of Decay And Desire" is the CD released in 2003. It was recorded in the MetalSound-studio, mixed by Andy Classen and was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki. AFM also decided to create a new band logo to underline the growing professionalism of the band.

The self-titled album of Dark At Dawn has come with another portion of their talent. Again released by AFM Records the album sounds promising enough to be called 'the next masterpiece of the band'.

They gave their last concert at Harz Rock Open Air on 07.07.2007 and disbanded afterwards.

Dark at Dawn reformed in 2012 and released a new EP "Noneternal" in October 2012.

Glorious Duty
Dark At Dawn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oppressive heat is lying over wasted fields
No breath of wind is in the air
Songs of cicadas supersede the battle cries
Curing the sorrow and despair

Merciless sun is burning from the clear blue sky
The smell of oil and tarnished metal
A fag and spirits telling memories of home

Lulling the fear of the next battle

Chorus:
Field-gray Nazi booty
Goners for the glorious duty
Hopes and dreams defending narcissitic zeal

Tin hat parade gleaming
Still to hear the fallen screaming
Blood will rust resplendent decoration steel

Bloodcurdling sounds of war - reality returns
Behind the lines the Flaks are roaring
Smoke columns fed with ended lives and shattered dreams
With us the hopes of victory are soaring (into the sky)

Chorus

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dark At Dawn's song Glorious Duty describe the brutality of war and its impact on soldiers who fight for their country. The first verse paints the picture of a desolate battlefield, with oppressive heat and no signs of life other than the songs of cicadas. Despite the chaos of battle and the ensuing despair, these songs bring a sense of comfort, as if the insects are trying to cure the soldiers' sorrow. The second verse describes the harsh reality of war, with the sun mercilessly beating down on the soldiers as they take in the smell of oil and metal. The memories of home and a quick cigarette provide a momentary escape from the fear of the next battle.

The chorus is a strong statement on the devastating effects of war. The image of Nazi booty lying on the field, discarded by those who have lost their lives in the name of defending their country, highlights the futility of war. Those who have died are glorified, with their hopes and dreams forever lost. The tin hat parade, signifying the soldiers still standing, is a symbol of the resiliency of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable tragedy. The fallen are silent, but their blood stains the battlefield, turning the steel into a resplendent decoration. The final verse is a reminder that war is not just about the battles fought, but also the sacrifices made by those behind the lines. The Flaks, or anti-aircraft guns, roar in the background, as smoke columns rise from the shattered dreams and ended lives of those who have lost their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Oppressive heat is lying over wasted fields
The intense heat is spread over barren lands, where nothing survives.

No breath of wind is in the air
There's no sign of windy relief from the heated atmosphere.

Songs of cicadas supersede the battle cries
The sounds of cicadas are louder than the war cries, faintly easing the pain of the battle-weary soldiers.

Curing the sorrow and despair
The cicadas' sounds heal the soldiers' depressed minds and soul after the gruesome battle.

Merciless sun is burning from the clear blue sky
The sun is scorching yellow, and its rays piercing through the blue sky, rendering no mercy to the soldiers.

The smell of oil and tarnished metal
The odor of petroleum and rusty iron is emanating from the battlefield.

A fag and spirits telling memories of home
Tobacco and alcohol help the soldiers' spirits, maybe evoking sweet home memories.

Lulling the fear of the next battle
The addictive substances help to pacify the soldiers' anxiety towards future battles.

Field-gray Nazi booty
The Nazi's field-gray uniforms are like a coveted loot for the opposing side.

Goners for the glorious duty
The dead soldiers are a compulsory sacrifice in the name of the nation's glory.

Hopes and dreams defending narcissitic zeal
They're fighting the war to protect their narcissistic patriotic ideologies, even though it may cost lives.

Tin hat parade gleaming
The helmets' reflection is glimmering like a parade march, under the sun.

Still to hear the fallen screaming
The echoes of the fallen soldiers' screams from the battlefield are still ringing in their ears.

Blood will rust resplendent decoration steel
The shed blood becomes a glorious stain on their weapons' shiny steel, acting as a symbol of their bravery.

Bloodcurdling sounds of war - reality returns
The terrifying sounds of war remind them of the barbarity of reality.

Behind the lines the Flaks are roaring
The anti-aircraft guns are firing behind the soldiers' position.

Smoke columns fed with ended lives and shattered dreams
Smoke from death and destruction permeates the area.

With us the hopes of victory are soaring (into the sky)
They're optimistic and hoping to win, looking up at the skies that represent their aspirations.

Contributed by Alexandra M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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