While information about the band's membership has never been officially confirmed (apart from Shaxul being known as the band's first vocalist), it is generally believed that Deathspell Omega was created by Hasjarl as a side project before Hirilorn broke up. After Hirilorn split, it is believed that Shaxul, Hasjarl and Khaos created Deathspell Omega, with Hasjarl's brother (no known pseudonym) on drums. Eventually, Shaxul is confirmed to have left due to his distaste for the band moving towards Orthodox Satanism, and is believed to have been replaced by Mikko Aspa on vocals. Apart from Shaxul's identity, there are no official sources for any of this, however; much of the information about the remaining membership appears to be based on correspondence with Shaxul himself, and it's speculated that additional musicians may appear on some of the band's work since he left. The band gave no interviews between 2004 (for Ajna Offensive) and 2019 (for Bardo Methodology); although the band has consistently taken pains to conceal its members' identities, the interviews are quite candid explications of the band's ideologies and mindsets at the times the interviews were given. The Bardo interview also addresses an ideological chasm in the band between the "French core" of the band and "parts of the second circle", which is presumed to refer to Aspa's involvement in the project; Aspa has noted associations with authoritarian political movements. The band gave another interview in 2020 with Roy Kristensen for the website Cult Never Dies in which they elaborated further on some of their ideas.
The Long Defeat, as of this writing Deathspell Omega's most recent release, reflects something of a shift in stylistic focus, as it brings the slower, more melodic elements that had shown up occasionally across the band's prior two decades of work (e.g., "Carnal Malefactor", "Apokatastasis pantôn", "Salowe Vision") to the forefront. It also clearly features several vocalists, although the exact number and which parts they perform remains a matter of conjecture. (Common conjectures include Aspa, Daniel Rostén of Funeral Mist and Marduk, Spica of S.V.E.S.T., M. of Mgła, and Silenius of Abigor and Summoning.) Lyrically, the album is centred around an allegorical fable about techno-capitalism and humanity's despoilment of nature, featuring a silhouette who represents a corruptible man, several beasts, and Satan in the form of a gigantic, diseased black poodle; many of the themes addressed in the Bardo Methodology and Cult Never Dies interviews reappear in the album and its accompanying fable. In addition to these, the album also features a two-metre-long mural addressing many of the same themes. The fable ends with the phrase "To Be Continued", suggesting that it is the first part of a longer work.
Hasjarl is the owner of End All Life Productions and one of the main forces behind Norma Evangelium Diaboli. Mikko Aspa is the owner of Northern Heritage Records and Freak Animal Records (power electronics label), and is also believed to own a progressive rock label called Totuuden Sarvi Levyt. Shaxul (ex-member) is the owner of Legion of Death Records.
In December 2015, the band launched a Bandcamp site.
Major releases:
1999 - Disciples of the Ultimate Void (demo, later re-released as part of Infernal Battles)
2000 - Sob a lua do bode / Demoniac Vengeance (split with Moonblood)
2000 - Infernal Battles
2001 - split with Clandestine Blaze
2002 - split with Mütiilation
2002 - Inquisitors of Satan
2004 - Si monumentum requires, circumspice
2005 - From the Entrails to the Dirt (four-way split with Malicious Secrets, Antaeus, and Mütiilation)
2005 - Kénôse (EP)
2005 - Crushing the Holy Trinity (six-way split with Stabat mater, Musta surma, Clandestine Blaze, Mgła, and Exordium)
2007 - Fas - ite, maledicti, in ignem aeternum
2008 - Veritas diaboli manet in aeternum: Chaining the Katechon (EP, also released on vinyl as part of a split with S.V.E.S.T.)
2008 - Mass Grave Aesthetics (EP, originally released in 2005 on From the Entrails to the Dirt)
2008 - Manifestations 2000-2001 (compilation of previously released material from Mütiilation split, Moonblood split, and Black Metal Blitzkrieg multi-artist compilation)
2008 - Manifestations 2002 (previously unreleased album)
2010 - Paracletus
2011 - Diabolus absconditus (EP, originally released in 2005 on Crushing the Holy Trinity)
2012 - Drought (EP)
2016 - The Synarchy of Molten Bones
2019 - The Furnaces of Palingenesia
2022 - The Long Defeat
Note that the material from the Clandestine Blaze split from 2001 contains material not on any of the other above releases. There are also two untitled, comprehensive vinyl box sets, one a five-LP set compiling all the material from the Shaxul era (2000-2002; LP 1: Infernal Battles, LP 2: Inquisitors of Satan, LP 3: Manifestations 2000-2001, LP 4: Manifestations 2002, LP 5: Deathspell side of Clandestine Blaze split) released in 2009 and the other a seven-LP set compiling all the material from the Mikko Aspa era's "trilogy" and related releases (2004-2012; LPs 1-2: Si monumentum requires, circumspice; LP 3: Kénôse; LP 4: Diabolus absconditus/Mass Grave Aesthetics; LP 5: Fas - ite, maledicti, in ignem aeternum; LP 6: Chaining the Katechon/Drought; LP 7: Paracletus) released in 2012.
Wings of Predation
Deathspell Omega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reflecting the echoes of a fall upon a bed of rocks
Such a hideous clamour
An agony that stained the azure
The light of the world
And the wretched olive tree
Stars receded with shaking grace
Degraded holy essence, the third hypostasis
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine
It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
Take heed therefore unto yourselves
Wherefore hidest thou thy face
In such a vain move of treason?
Rest assured
No veil in this autumnal would could conceil (neither protect)
From the shadows of the deathless Sun
The worm is spread under thee
Et tous les belements de l'agneau vibrent ainsi dans la fosse
Épouvantable sans qu'il soit possible de supposer une seul
Plainte exhalée par le Fils de l'Homme qui ne retentisse pas
Identiquement dans le impossibles exils ou s'accroupit le
Consalateur…
The lyrics of Deathspell Omega's song Wings of Predation describe a scene of intense agony and despair. The persona in the song is experiencing overwhelming emotions reflected in their glances. They have fallen on a bed of rocks, which is causing them great suffering, and the agony is so severe that it has stained the sky blue.
Amidst this chaos, the persona is reminded of the light of the world and the wretched olive tree, symbols of hope that are now perhaps beyond reach. The stars, which normally provide comfort and guidance, are now retreating, leaving the persona alone in their pain. The song also references the holy essence of the third hypostasis, a term used in Christian theology to describe the Holy Spirit. The persona cries out to God in desperation, using the words "De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine" which means "Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Lord."
Despite the persona's anguish, they are also aware of the inevitability of their suffering. They acknowledge that there is no veil in this world that can protect them from the shadows of the "deathless Sun." The song ends with a powerful image of a worm spread beneath the persona, possibly a metaphor for decay and death.
Line by Line Meaning
Twon glances overwhelmed with woes
Two glances filled with sorrow
Reflecting the echoes of a fall upon a bed of rocks
The glances show the sadness of a fall onto a hard surface
Such a hideous clamour
The noise is terrible and frightening
An agony that stained the azure
The feeling is so painful that it even affects the sky
The light of the world
The brightness of existence
And the wretched olive tree
Even the poor, lowly tree feels the sorrow
Stars receded with shaking grace
The stars moved away while trembling beautifully
Degraded holy essence, the third hypostasis
The godly spirit is reduced and changed
Unaltered holy essence, the third hypostasis
The godly spirit remains unchanged
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine
Out of the depths, I cried to you, Lord
It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
God's power is so great that it is fearful to face
Take heed therefore unto yourselves
Be careful and cautious
Wherefore hidest thou thy face
Why are you hiding your face?
In such a vain move of treason?
Why are you doing something so foolish and disloyal?
Rest assured
Be confident
No veil in this autumnal would could conceil (neither protect) from the shadows of the deathless Sun
Nothing can hide from the powerful force of death
The worm is spread under thee
Death is inevitable and close to you
Et tous les belements de l'agneau vibrent ainsi dans la fosse Épouvantable sans qu'il soit possible de supposer une seul Plainte exhalée par le Fils de l'Homme qui ne retentisse pas Identiquement dans le impossibles exils ou s'accroupit le Consalateur…
And all the bleating of the lamb vibrates in the terrible pit, without it being possible to imagine a single complaint uttered by the Son of Man that does not resound identically in the impossible exiles where the Comforter crouches.
Contributed by Claire A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.