Dark Sanctuary is a neoclassical darkwave group founded in Paris, France in… Read Full Bio ↴Dark Sanctuary is a neoclassical darkwave group founded in Paris, France in February 1996. Their songs can be categorized primarily as "dark atmospheric", most of them having a unique feel to them - mixtures between gothic, ethereal and ambient music, relying on classical instruments for the most part. Their first official release was a 20 minutes single track MCD, "Funeral Cry", released in 1997 and, at that time, the band only consisted in two members, Arkdae on keyboards and Marquise Ermia on vocals.

In 1998, the band wanted to increase its strength by adding new members: another keyboards player, Hylgaryss, a percussionnist/bassist, Sombre Cÿr and a violinist, Eliane joined Dark Sanctuary. Together, they recorded the first album, "Royaume mélancolique" and made their first concert in September 1998 near Paris.
In November 1999, they signed with Wounded Love Records and after the second violinist Marguerite joined, they recorded their second album, "De lumière et d'obscurité", which was released in November 2000. But, right after their recording sessions, Marquise Ermia left the band to carry on her studies, and a new singer, Dame Pandora, thus joined Dark Sanctuary.

Their third album, "L'être las - L'envers du miroir" was recorded in March 2002 and released at the beginning of 2003, few months after the release of a two-track single. This album, which has had a huge success in France and Germany, definitely established Dark Sanctuary as one of the greatest bands in this musical style.
After few concerts in France, the band returned to Germany in order to record its 4th album, "Les mémoires blessées". This album was released in early 2004 and confirmed Dark Sanctuary's own style while providing a deeper maturity, as well as new musical horizons.
The same year, the band was on tour in Europe, including a memorable date at the Wave Gothik Treffen, in the majestic Leipzig's theatre.

Then the year 2005 began with a major event, their first compilation, "Thoughts: 9 Years in the Sanctuary" was released on the US label Projekt; it summarizes no less than 9 years of career.
The other event of the beginning of this year is Dark Sanctuary's appearance in the tribute to Dead Can Dance, "Summoning of the Muse: A Tribute to Dead Can Dance", also released on Projekt.

In July 2005 Dark Sanctuary went back to Germany to record their fifth opus at the E-Klangschmiede Studio. Consequently, their new album "Exaudi vocem meam, Part I" is scheduled for November 2005.
The year 2006 promises to be rich too as the sequel of this opus, "Exaudi vocem meam, Part II", as well as concerts are announced.

As of 2009, they will be on an indefinite hiatus. They have finished recording, and shall be releasing, a collaborative effort with Victoria Francés titled "Dark Sanctuary".

Official site: http://www.dark-sanctuary.com

Miserere
Dark Sanctuary Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dies irae, dies illa
Solvet saeclum in favilla:
Teste David cum Sibilla.

Quantus tremor est futurus,
Quando judex est venturus,
Cuncta stricte discussurus!

Tuba mirum spargens sonum
Per sepulcra regionum,
Coget omnes ante thronum.

Mors stupebit et natura,
Cum resurget creatura,
Judicanti responsura.

Liber scriptus proferetur,
In quo totum continetur,
Unde mundus judicetur.

Judex ergo cum sededit,
Quidquid latet apparbit:
Nil inultum remanebit.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dark Sanctuary's song Miserere are a Latin hymn known as the "Dies Irae," which translates to "Day of Wrath." The hymn is traditionally sung during Requiem Masses, and it vividly describes the day of judgment when God will return to earth to judge the living and the dead. The first stanza of the hymn sets the scene for what is to come, with the assertion that the world will dissolve into ash, in agreement with the testimony of both David and the Sibyl. The second stanza contemplates the fear that will grip humanity when they face the judge, who will thoroughly examine everyone's deeds. The third stanza describes the end of days, with the sound of trumpets calling forth the resurrection of the dead, who will stand before the throne for judgment. The fourth stanza speaks of death and nature itself becoming stupefied at the sight of the entire created order coming back to life.

Throughout the hymn, the language is intense, leaving no room for ambiguity about the fate that awaits humanity, and conveying the gravity of the moment. The final stanza, in particular, is a cry of desperation, asking what the singer will say when their time of judgment comes, faced with the inevitability of the reckoning that all human beings must face.

Overall, the hymn is a stark reminder that every action we take and every decision we make has eternal consequences, and that sooner or later, we will all be called to account for our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Dies irae, dies illa
The day of judgement, the day of wrath

Solvet saeclum in favilla
Will dissolve the world into ashes

Teste David cum Sibilla
As prophesized by David and Sibyl

Quantus tremor est futurus
How great will be the trembling

Quando judex est venturus
When the judge is coming

Cuncta stricte discussurus
To strictly judge everything

Tuba mirum spargens sonum
The trumpet spreads its wonderous sound

Per sepulcra regionum
Throughout the regions of the graves

Coget omnes ante thronum
Gathering all before the throne

Mors stupebit et natura
Death and nature will marvel

Cum resurget creatura
When creation rises again