Dark Moor began the recording sessions for their second album, The Hall of the Olden Dreams, in August 2000 at New Sin Studios with producer Luigi Stefanini. During these recording sessions, the band recorded their cover of "Halloween", which was included on the CD The Keepers of Jericho part I - A Tribute to Helloween (Arise Records).
Their E.P. The Fall of Melnibone was released in June 2001. This E.P was a limited edition; 1500 copies were released and only for the Spanish market.
Dark Moor began the recording of their third album, The Gates of Oblivion, in Autumn 2001 at New Sin Studios. Dark Moor signed with the major label JVC for the Asian release. The band played 18 gigs at festivals such as Rock Machina, Viña Rock and Nit De Reis. After the first part of the tour, keyboardist Roberto Peña left the band and they were forced to finish the tour with a guest musician.
In August 2003 Dark Moor recorded four new exclusive acoustic tracks along with a string quartet, to be included in Between Light and Darkness, which was released in April 2003. Due to differing points of view regarding the musical direction for the next Dark Moor album, vocalist Elisa Martin, guitarist Albert Maroto and drummer Jorge Sáez decided to leave Dark Moor to start a new band.
The two remaining members of the band decided to start a search for new members. After the auditions, they accepted vocalist Alfred Romero, guitarist Jose Garrido, and drummer Andy C.
In August 2003, the band started recording their fourth album, Dark Moor, at New Sin Studios in Italy. Following a month of recording sessions, the album was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios.
On 23 November 2006, the band announced the departure of their drummer on their official website, due to "incompatibility with his other musical projects." He would go on to play drums for Saratoga. His replacement, Roberto Cappa, was previously in the Spanish metal band Anima Sola.
In January 2009, their seventh album Autumnal was released.
The band made an announcement on their website, dated 4 June 2010, that their eighth album was in the works. It featured Berenice Musa as a guest vocalist. The album is titled Ancestral Romance and it was released in November 2010.
On 18 June 2013 the band released their ninth album Ars Musica, with the Japanese limited version including a bonus CD with five bonus tracks. They toured Mexico and Asia the same year, as well as few dates in Europe in 2014 to support the new album.
Dark Moor started recording their 10th studio album, Project X, on 27 July 2015 and released it in Europe on 6 November 2015 on Scarlet Records.
On 21 July 2018, Enrik Garcia, guitarist and founder of the band, announced via Facebook that their next album would be called Origins and that, after the parenthesis they did with ufology themes on Project X, they would return to their habitual themes; Origins will be about the celtic world, also adding celtic instruments on their new songs. This album has been released on 12 December 2018.
Alea Jacta
Dark Moor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The blue stream its head inclines
Doubt's river-like
Made with cold blood
My will's the dyke
That stops the flood
When anguish grows
When I have just done my best
I say: Alea jacta est
I've made up my mind
With my troops behind
The eagles are shadowing the west!
I see the river
And know I have to cross
Waters carries past with them
Never coming back yet
A bitter stone like round distress
Suddenly I take and toss
Gushes flow with scum light red
Omen of a fast end
When I have just done my best
I say: Alea jacta est
I've made up my mind
With my troops behind
The eagles are shadowing the west!
Doubt!
After reflecting I shout:
Eagles of the war, march on!
Water hasn't got return when it is gone
In the opening lines of Dark Moor's "Alea Jacta", the singer describes their blurred sightline as they stare out at a blue stream where doubt runs rampant like a river made of cold blood. The singer then likens their willpower to a dyke that can hold back the flood of doubt and anguish when it threatens to take over. However, they recognize that when the emotions become too overwhelming, the anxiety will begin to slowly overflow.
With an understanding that their situation is dire, and feeling like they've done all they can, the singer utters the phrase "Alea jacta est" which translates to "the die is cast". This suggests a level of finality, like a gamble has been made, and they are now committed to their course of action. With their mind made up and their troops behind them, the singer is determined to press forward even if there are no guarantees of success. They use the image of eagles casting shadows in the west to emphasize their conviction.
The second half of the song centers around the idea that the singer must face a river they know they must cross. The river represents the challenges and obstacles that they must overcome. The water carries things away with it, never to return, emphasizing the idea that time waits for no one. The singer then reaches a pivotal moment, represented by the act of tossing a bitter stone into the water. This symbolic gesture suggests that they are willing to let go of the pain and uncertainties of the past to focus on the task at hand. In the final lines, the singer acknowledges that there is no going back, and instead rallies their troops as the eagles of war.
Line by Line Meaning
My sight is a blurred skyline
I am struggling to see the path ahead clearly.
The blue stream its head inclines
The river flows towards its source, as I struggle to make progress.
Doubt's river-like
My doubt is a powerful force, like a river that can sweep me away.
Made with cold blood
My doubt is fueled by fear and anxiety.
My will's the dyke
I try to hold back my doubts with my own willpower and determination.
That stops the flood
I hope to prevent my doubts from overwhelming me.
When anguish grows
As my doubts and fears become more intense,
It overflows so slow
They slowly, but surely, start to consume me.
When I have just done my best
Despite my doubts, I still try my hardest.
I say: Alea jacta est
I declare that the die is cast, and I must accept the outcome of my efforts.
I've made up my mind
I have decided on my course of action.
With my troops behind
My supporters and allies are ready to follow me.
The eagles are shadowing the west!
The eagles, a symbol of strength and freedom, are watching over us as we head towards the unknown.
I see the river
I am aware of the obstacles that stand in my way.
And know I have to cross
But I also know that I must overcome them in order to succeed.
Waters carries past with them
The river carries away what has gone before, and I must move forward with it.
Never coming back yet
I cannot go back to the past, and must face what is to come.
A bitter stone like round distress
I encounter obstacles that are hard to swallow, like a stone in my throat.
Suddenly I take and toss
But I try to overcome these obstacles and move past them.
Gushes flow with scum light red
The river flows with impurities, symbolizing the chaos and difficulties of life.
Omen of a fast end
It is a sign that the end may be near.
Doubt!
My doubts and fears persist.
After reflecting I shout:
But I try to overcome them by reflection and inner strength.
Eagles of the war, march on!
I call on the powerful symbol of the eagle to inspire me to keep going and never give up.
Water hasn't got return when it is gone
Once the river has flowed past, it cannot be brought back - I must always move forwards, even when it is hard.
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Elis Butterfly
Thank you so much :D
Iron Mario
Traducttion? se dice "Translate", por si acaso, para que no te vuelvas a equivocar.