With the release of Heaven in Flames (1999), Duane Timlin (aka Cryptic Winter) joined the band as a session drummer. During 1999 and 2000, Akhenaten twice performed live with a line-up featuring members from Nargaroth, Krieg, Absu and Maniac Butcher.
After relocating to Germany, Akhenaten announced the demise of Judas Iscariot on August 25, 2002.
Gaze Upon Heaven In Flames
Judas Iscariot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blessed be the kingdom of night
Wretched blasphemy
Warriors to the dark
Evil in my veins
Swallowing death like an age
Dark demons rise above
On me, on my darkened face
On raging blasphemies
Darkness falls
Destroying the holy
Gloried be the kingdom of the hell
Eternal darkness, deep into the unknown
Dead be the holy ghost
As I mark the kingdom of the snow
Torture in blasphemy
By my eyes rises of war
On me, on my darkened face
On raging blasphemy
Darkness falls
You, the forest splendid
I blissful death
Soar down the burning gates
Gaze upon heaven in flames
Hail beauty darkness
Blessed be the kingdom of the night
Wretched blasphemy
Warriors to the dark
Evil in my veins
Swallowing death like an age
Glory to the dark
Glorious
The lyrics to "Gaze Upon Heaven In Flames" by Judas Iscariot convey a sense of reverence for darkness and a rejection of holiness. The lyricist speaks of the beauty and blessedness of the kingdom of night, and refers to blasphemy and evil as wretched only in a sarcastic sense. The lyricist embraces the demonic, with dark demons rising above to create a glorious and darkened night.
The theme of rejecting holiness and embracing darkness is continued, as the lyricist speaks of destroying the holy and glorifying the kingdom of the hell. The phrase "dead be the holy ghost" implies a rejection of Christianity and its belief in the holy trinity, and suggests a willingness to engage in "torture in blasphemy." The lyricist describes himself as a warrior to the dark, suggesting a sense of pride in his rejection of the light. Finally, the lyricist refers to heavenly gates burning, and urges the listener to "soar down" and "gaze upon heaven in flames." This implies an anticipation and even a desire for the destruction of the holy and the triumph of the demonic.
Line by Line Meaning
Hail beauty darkness
Greetings to the appealing obscurity that lies within me
Blessed be the kingdom of night
May the night, with its enveloping darkness, bless all of us within its kingdom
Wretched blasphemy
My utterances and behaviors, deemed sacrilegious by some, are disgusting
Warriors to the dark
Brave souls follow the path of darkness as their guiding light
Evil in my veins
A malevolent force courses through my bloodstream
Swallowing death like an age
I am consuming death so slowly that it seems like an entire era is passing me by
Dark demons rise above
My demonic companions are ascending upwards
Glorious darkened night
The night, imbued with its beautiful darkness, is splendid
On me, on my darkened face
My dark visage is the embodiment of these thoughts
On raging blasphemies
My enraged utterances are deemed blasphemous by some
Darkness falls
The veil of darkness descends
Destroying the holy
The sacred are being obliterated
Gloried be the kingdom of hell
Praise to the kingdom of the damned
Eternal darkness, deep into the unknown
A darkness that never ends, deep in the mysteries of the unknown
Dead be the holy ghost
May the spirit of the divine be deceased
As I mark the kingdom of the snow
I am carving my territory in the wintry, bleak landscape
Torture in blasphemy
I find pleasure in the torment of those who find my words heretical
By my eyes rises of war
The flames of battle ascend from within my eyes
You, the forest splendid
Oh, majestic woodland, you are truly magnificent
I blissful death
I find ultimate contentment in death
Soar down the burning gates
I will fly down towards the gates of fire
Gaze upon heaven in flames
I will witness the ultimate destruction of the divine realm
Glory to the dark
All praise and honor to the darkness
Contributed by Wyatt V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
hideck1461
on I Awoke To A Night Of Pain And Carnage
In this chariot
Striking for the gates
With mirror [?] [?]
[?]
With no tides [?]
This life fear death
There is the life of power
Forever (forever, forever), be, forever
Nights (nights, nights), forever (forever),
Hail, and take me
And there's a force of ancienty
And there's a sign of night
Here in the gates of the cursed raise
The undead
Forever (forever, forever), be, forever
Yeah
A cursed raised of tyranny [?]
Before the rage obsses
Coming for the [?] [?]
[?]
Rise the king of
Of the army
From the dead