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.
In The Valley Of Death I Am Their King
Judas Iscariot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turning, warping in sleep
When the target is sundered
He felt that the prey mured
Rise now
Marching them through the pillars
Where the blinded age
Leading with hearts of horror
Take the body
I!
I am weeping
Life-vengeant stare
For refuge in arms
The blind man felt his way
Cry peace in us
Let no one fear
For thy bless
There's no one left
Don't be afraid to the end
It doesn't taste
This is the valley of death
This is the valley of death
And I am their king
My wrath!
In "In The Valley Of Death I Am Their King," Judas Iscariot portrays a sense of absolute power and control. The first stanza speaks of a sleep full of deceit while the prey remains trapped. The second stanza speaks of marching through the pillars and leading with hearts of horror. This suggests a leader who is both powerful and fearsome, leading through a valley that is symbolic of death. The repetition of the phrase "I am their king" further emphasizes this sense of control, with the lyrics demanding respect and obedience.
The following stanza speaks of weeping and a "life-vengeant stare," which seems to suggest a sense of vengeance or retribution. However, the use of the phrase "cry peace in us" suggests a desire for reconciliation, despite the violent tone of the song. The final stanza gives further emphasis to the idea of the valley of death being under the control of the song's speaker, with the phrase "and I am their king" repeated once again.
Line by Line Meaning
A hundred dreary nights
For countless nights, Judas has been tormented by his thoughts and nightmares.
Turning, warping in sleep
His dreams have been twisted and distorted, causing him great anxiety.
When the target is sundered
When the object of his desire is destroyed,
He felt that the prey mured
He feels like he's trapped, like the prey of a predator.
Rise now
Judas is calling for action, urging himself to take control of his fate.
Marching them through the pillars
Judas leads his followers through an ominous path, surrounded by pillars that symbolize the passing of time and the changing of eras.
Where the blinded age
Judas takes his disciples to a place where the ignorant and foolish roam.
Wandered up to their death
Those who came before them went to their doom, and so will they.
Leading with hearts of horror
Judas and his followers are driven by fear and terror, leading them to a place of despair.
Take the body
Judas is commanding his followers to dispose of the body, to burn it with fire.
I! I am weeping
Judas is in anguish, crying for his own mistakes and sins.
Life-vengeant stare
He is looking at himself with contempt, ready to punish himself for his misdeeds.
For refuge in arms
He seeks refuge in the embrace of someone who could give him peace and comfort.
The blind man felt his way
Judas is lost and confused, without any clear direction to follow.
Cry peace in us
He is calling for peace, hoping for a chance to find redemption and solace.
Let no one fear
Judas wants people to have no fear of death.
For thy bless
He prays for God's blessing, hoping to find mercy and forgiveness.
There's no one left
Judas is alone, with no one to turn to, feeling abandoned and hopeless.
Don't be afraid to the end
He is urging his followers not to fear death, to accept it as an inevitable end.
It doesn't taste
Death is not a pleasant experience, it brings no comfort or relief.
This is the valley of death
Judas is in a dark place, where death seems to be the only option.
And I am their king
In this dark place, Judas sees himself as a ruler, a leader of lost souls.
My wrath!
Judas is angry, filled with rage and despair, ready to take on anything that crosses his path.
Contributed by Maria Y. 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