The group was formed in 1992 in Bergen by former Immortal guitarist Jørn Inge Tunsberg and ex-Dark drummer Remi; they were later joined by Janto Garmanslund on bass and second guitarist Wilhelm Nagel. Their first demo, Alone Walkyng, was recorded in June 1993 at Grieghallen and produced by Pytten; this demo was later to be re-released on CD through the Italian label Wounded Love in 1996. In 1993, Tunsberg was convicted, along with fellow black metal musician Varg Vikernes (of Burzum), for the burning of a Norwegian church in Åsane, which led to a prison sentence. Following the release of the demo, the band signed with Full Moon Productions and recorded their first album ,...Again Shall Be, again at Grieghallen, in June/July 1994. Around this time, they also replaced Nagel with Stig Hagenes on second guitar.
Hades recorded their second album Dawn of the Dying Sun at Grieghallen in 1996, which was released through Full Moon in 1997. The band supported the release of this album with extensive touring throughout Europe, as well as in Mexico and the USA. In 1998 the band was forced to change their name from Hades to Hades Almighty, following complaints from an American act already with a prior claim to the name. Following the name-change, the band began working on their next album, as well as playing at the Wacken Open Air festival.
In September 1998 the band released entered Prolog Studios (Dortmund, Germany) to record Millenium Nocturne, released under license from Nuclear Blast through Hammerheart. They toured Europe to support of the album with Immortal and Benediction, and a separate spate of gigs in the Benelux region with Mayhem and Primordial. Their fourth album Pulse of Decay was released in 2001 through Psycho Bitch Records. Hades Almighty signed a management contract with Khaoz Productions in 2003, and a record deal with Dark Essence Records in 2004; the label re-released Pulse of Decay in 2004 with bonus tracks (including a cover of Manowar's "Each Dawn I Die") and a DVD section including the video for the band's own track "Submission Equals Suicide".
Razor
Hades Almighty Lyrics
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Fly at night
Viewing the desolation
Only the crows
Cry at night.
And the victims of my desecration
My time is at night
And you are so afraid my sweet
Cause you know you shall die
I caress your skin
OHH. it's my high
A thin-lined pattern
Red on white
My art. my passion and the crows at night
You twist and tangle
From my cold steel touch.
From a RAZOR!!
Only the crows.
Fly at night
The lyrics to Hades Almighty's song "Razor" speak to the darkness that lurks within one's soul, and the actions that one may take to satisfy their inner desires. The use of the imagery of crows, who typically are associated with death and despair, highlights the cold, unforgiving nature of the singer. As the lyrics state, "only the crows fly at night / viewing the desolation," one gets the sense that the actions being taken are done in secret, and the destruction left behind is only witnessed by these ominous birds.
The use of the descriptor "my sweet" suggests that the singer is potentially inflicting harm on someone they have a connection with, but the twisted nature of their love manifests through violence. "You twist and tangle / from my cold steel touch / From a RAZOR!!" is a chilling reminder that the singer derives pleasure from the pain they inflict, and that their art, as they call it, is their passion. The lyrics convey a sense of powerlessness in the face of this kind of darkness, as the victim states "And you are so afraid", knowing that their life is ultimately in the hands of this dangerous individual.
Line by Line Meaning
Only the crows
No one else is around to see my desolate actions.
Fly at night
The crows are the only ones to witness my disturbing behavior in the dark.
Viewing the desolation
The crows are observing the destruction and ruin that I have created.
Only the crows
No other creatures exist to cry at night.
Cry at night.
The crows mourn for the victims of my atrocious acts.
And the victims of my desecration
Through my immoral actions, I have harmed and wronged many helpless individuals.
My time is at night
I take advantage of the darkness to commit my evil deeds.
When I hear the crows cry
The sound of the crows in the night signals my time to act.
And you are so afraid my sweet
You know that your death is imminent and therefore, you tremble with fear.
Cause you know you shall die
You are aware of your fate because of my past actions.
I caress your skin
I am fondling you, knowing that you will soon meet your demise.
OHH. it's my high
I take great pleasure in these immoral acts.
A thin-lined pattern
I create intricate and precise cuts on the victim's skin.
Red on white
The vibrant red of the blood stands out against the pale white of the victim's skin.
My art. my passion and the crows at night
Through these heinous acts, I have found a sick form of artistic expression that the crows observe.
You twist and tangle
The victim struggles in pain and horror.
From my cold steel touch.
I am merciless, holding a sharp and deadly blade in my hand.
From a RAZOR!!
I use a razor to cause immense pain and suffering to my victims.
Contributed by Alex N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.