Mass Darkness
Ihsahn Lyrics


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In a world of haunting mirrors,
Your eyes should of been closed.
Instead you lost your shadow,
To become, like them, a ghost.

Immersed within a mist of death,
You withered in the light
And left your disillusioned soul
To tremble in the night.

Look beyond the fear and take it back.
The contours of your spirit
Make them black.
You just have to

(Give in) to the hunger.
(Give in) to the solitude.
(Give in) to the rapture of life.
Give in to darkness.
Mass Darkness.

You just have to give in.

Complete the shadow's circle
To become all that you are.
Surrender to the darkness
To shine just like a star.

You just have to
(Give in) to the hunger.
(Give in) to the solitude.
(Give in) to the sanctity of your heart.
Give in to darkness.
Mass Darkness.
(Give in) to the fire.
(Give in) to the cold.
(Give in) to the rapture of life.
Give in to darkness.




Mass Darkness
Mass Darkness

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ihsahn's song Mass Darkness speak of a haunting and disillusioned reality, where the singer has lost their identity and become trapped in a fog of death. The opening lines suggest that the world the singer is in is like a “haunting mirror,” and that they have become a ghost like the others in this world. They have lost their self and become disenchanted with life, leading them to tremble in the night, unable to find solace in anything.


However, the chorus provides a glimmer of hope as Ihsahn suggests that the singer can overcome their fears and find their true self. The repeated phrase “Give in,” may seem like a surrender to the darkness, but it is actually a call to let go of their past selves and embrace their inner hunger, solitude, sanctity, and the rapture of life. By doing so, they will complete the circle of their shadow and shine like a star.


The message in this song appears to be that over time people can become disillusioned with life, and lose their sense of self in the process. Ihsahn’s message is that even though the darkness may take hold, there is still hope for those who “give in” to their true selves.


Line by Line Meaning

In a world of haunting mirrors,
Existing in a world where the reflection oneself sees holds a haunting quality,


Your eyes should of been closed.
One's eyes should be shut so as to escape the horrors seen all around,


Instead you lost your shadow,
In a world where the darkness encompasses all, the shadow that was once indicative of one's identity has been lost,


To become, like them, a ghost.
To assimilate with the other spirits that traverse the shadows and to lose a sense of individuality in the process,


Immersed within a mist of death,
Surrounded by a dense fog of despair that brings forth the end of all things,


You withered in the light
One has weakened within the presence of the light, unable to withstand its blinding glare,


And left your disillusioned soul
One has departed, leaving behind a soul that has lost faith in the world around it,


To tremble in the night.
To shake uncontrollably in the dark, unable to find any semblance of stability in the absence of light,


Look beyond the fear and take it back.
To face one's fears and take back the aspects of oneself that have been lost amidst the darkness and despair,


The contours of your spirit
The distinctive characteristics that make up one's soul,


Make them black.
Transform them into a darker and more menacing form,


You just have to (Give in) to the hunger.
To submit oneself to the insatiable appetite for power and dominance,


(Give in) to the solitude.
To accept the loneliness that accompanies the path of the outcast,


(Give in) to the rapture of life.
To give oneself over to the ecstasy of existence, to revel in the joys of living,


Give in to darkness.
To surrender oneself to the darkness that permeates everything,


Mass Darkness.
A darkness that has consumed everything, leaving no trace of light or hope,


Complete the shadow's circle
To reconnect with the identity that has been lost, and to become whole once again,


To become all that you are.
To fully embrace every aspect of oneself, regardless of how dark or forbidden,


Surrender to the darkness
To give up the fight against the forces of darkness and to instead become one with them,


To shine just like a star.
To embrace the darkness so completely that one becomes an entity to be feared and revered,


(Give in) to the sanctity of your heart.
To accept the sacredness of one's inner self, even if it is shrouded in darkness and despair,


(Give in) to the fire.
To embrace the heat of passion and desire, even if it leads to destruction and chaos,


(Give in) to the cold.
To embrace the chill of the void and the abyss, even as it threatens to swallow one whole,


Mass Darkness
A force that threatens to consume everything, leaving nothing behind but eternal darkness and despair




Writer(s): Vegard Tveitan

Contributed by Nora J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

jaketaz

Ihsahn is one of the most important metal musicians today

Andi Pawlik

It's 2K thumbs up now. Still way too little for what this song represents. Come on all you former Emperor fans. This is different but just as good.

FF Fivehundread

Agreed. This song is a masterpiece

John A. Zoidberg

What's wrong? For starters, that bullshit dependence on something as trivial as a vote. Turns every goddamn argument into a popularity contest.

Vampire Jack

Only 12 thumbs up?
This is what is wrong with this damn planet....

Nitemortis

It's catchy song, there are moments you don't expect and that I like, Ihsahn always surprises. The melodic pathway he chose I personaly like (in Emperor and Ihsahn melodies always were). The shift towards mainstream is more from the "simplicity" of the song, but as simplicity I don't mean shitty riffs. His songwriting is still outstanding and it's still him!!! I'm curious what Arktis. is going to present.

Shawn DeBray

Matt Heafy of Trivium doing the clean backing vocals on the "give in, give into darkness mass darkness" part according to the man himself

Juan A. Perez

This is how you make a lyric video, a great video, and a great tune. I can't wait to hear this. I respect whatever direction this man goes in. Of course, I like some more then others.

Nicu Bucur

Amen on this, my friend! Everything I've ever heard coming from this man is briliant

Emmanuel Nava

Poderoso Ihsahn

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