The band's current and former line-up has consisted of many musicians from progenital Gothenburg melodic death metal bands; Kristian Wåhlin, Johan Osterberg, and Alf Svensson were in Grotesque (a predecessor of At the Gates, who Alf would eventually join); and Daniel Svensson briefly played drums with the group before going on to major success with In Flames.
The band's most recent release was The Green Goddess (2001). Various sources differ as to band's status. However, Hans Nilsson's full-time involvement with Dimension Zero and Wåhlin's extensive contributions as an album cover artist and musician for other Scandinavian-area extreme metal bands may be attributable to the long period of no activity.
Dark Man
Diabolique Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dagger of the night
I am the dark man
Cloak of the Styx
I am the dark man
Colder than freezing ice
I am the dark man
I am the dark man
Flesh for the moon
I am the dark man
Blood for the sun
In the shameful heavens
She bears my shadow
And in darkness she caresses my form
She knows my love from Death
She knows my love is Death's
I am the dark man
Her soul's sleep desire
I am the dark man
Burning her higher
She knows my love from Death
She knows my love is Death's
The lyrics to Diabolique's Darkman are cryptic and mysterious, evoking a sense of danger and darkness. The song is sung from the perspective of the eponymous Darkman, who appears to be a supernatural entity with powers that are both chilling and scorching. The first verse introduces him as a figure who wields a "dagger of the night" and is shrouded in a "cloak of the Styx." These associations with death and the underworld suggest that Darkman is a being to be feared. However, the second half of the verse complicates this impression by describing him as having a dual nature, being both "colder than freezing ice" and "hotter than blazing fire." This suggests that Darkman is not simply a force of destruction, but also has the capacity to bring about transformation and change.
The subsequent verses deepen the sense of ambiguity around Darkman's character. The third verse describes him as being "flesh for the moon" and "blood for the sun." These lines suggest a connection to natural forces and cycles, but it is not entirely clear what this connection entails. The final verse introduces a female character who is somehow connected to Darkman. She "bears [his] shadow" and "caresses [his] form," which suggests an intimate relationship. However, the lyrics also suggest the possibility of violence and danger, with the woman knowing that Darkman's "love is Death's." The repeated line "she knows my love from Death" underscores the sense of fatalism and impending doom that pervades the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the dark man
I am an embodiment of darkness and evil
Dagger of the night
I am a weapon of the night, sharp and deadly
Cloak of the Styx
I am a dark and mysterious figure, draped in eternal darkness
Colder than freezing ice
My heart is cold and unfeeling
Hotter than blazing fire
My anger and rage burn like a raging inferno
Flesh for the moon
I offer myself as a sacrifice to the dark forces of the night
Blood for the sun
I spill the blood of my enemies in tribute to the light of day
In the shameful heavens
Even the heavens look down on my dark deeds
She bears my shadow
Even my lover is consumed by my dark aura
And in darkness she caresses my form
My lover finds comfort and pleasure in my darkness
She knows my love from Death
My lover understands that my love is tied to the darkness of death
She knows my love is Death's
My love is tied to the power and allure of death itself
Her soul's sleep desire
My lover is consumed by her desire for the peace of eternal sleep
Burning her higher
My darkness ignites her passion and desire, even as it consumes her soul
Contributed by Sophie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Starduster93
Excellent dark metal!
@AlessioSecondiniMorelli
Not bad. Music with a high sense of Drama, without being too excessive.
@morninghalo
adore the scratch at the top left corner because the booklet was so thick and full of great great great Wahlin artwork
@TheNephilim69
Funesto!!!
@velarnadelalyrre934
girl on cover,its like me
@enriquemaldonado3038
I think your more beautiful
@ManmeetSinghPoetbabu
Wow that escalated... well....