Novembers Doom formed in 1989, but it was not until 1992 that Novembers Doom would receive some attention in the metal world. An early deal with Regress Records, of Italy, allowed Avantgarde Records to hear the band. This demo (Her Tears Drop) was heavy, combined with moods of darkness and despair. The two songs would lead to the release of the band's full length debut CD, Amid Its Hallowed Mirth on Avant Garde and Nuclear Blast. Exploring and expanding, the band added female backing vocals and continued its thick, eerie brand of metal. A compilation track for Pavement Music soon followed. In 1997, Novembers Doom released the EP For Every Leaf That Falls. The album was well received, leading to favourable reviews and response worldwide. Novembers Doom has since released their second full length album Of Sculptured Ivy and Stone Flowers, with Martyr Music Group. This new offering had received rave reviews.
In May of 2000, Novembers Doom entered the recording studio once again, to record the follow up to Of Sculptured Ivy and Stone Flowers. The band has recorded The Knowing with Studio One's Chris Djuricic. The CD is an extension of the previous material, only taking steps in new directions to enhance their already original sound.
In July of 2000, Novembers Doom officially became a member of Dark Symphonies. Realizing the bands potential, they constructed a deal with Martyr Music Group, to include the band on its roster, releasing The Knowing to the public.
Now, with their third full length release receiving praise, and a European licensed release of the CD through Pavement Music, Novembers Doom secured themselves more attention than before.
To Welcome the Fade
In October 2002, Novembers Doom entered the studio to begin work on their second full length of new material for Dark Symphonies. The band's fourth full length album would be entitled To Welcome the Fade, only this time they recruited the talents of the Grammy Award-winning producer, Neil Kernon. Kernon, best known for his work with acts like Hall & Oates, Kansas, Yes, Queensrÿche, Judas Priest, and more recently Nevermore and Cannibal Corpse, brought a new power and clarity to the sound of the band. This album was chosen as the Number One metal album of 2002 in Metal Maniacs magazine by one of its head editors, Novembers Doom was also a featured cover story on their January 2003 issue.
Signing with The End
In 2004, a successful tour in North America with The Gathering eventually leading to a signing with The End Records that summer. The band entered the studio in the fall to record their fifth album, The Pale Haunt Departure. This time around the band enlisted the help of the very respected producer and artist Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity, Bloodbath and Nightingale) for the mixing duties, and the mastering went to metal guitarist and producer James Murphy (Testament, Obituary and Disincarnate).
In March 2005, The Pale Haunt Departure was released with a tour supporting it. Novembers Doom continues to forge ahead, meshing diverse musical styles and textures in the pursuit of always creating a new and unique listening experience with each new release, while retaining their heavy sound and dark lyrics.
The Novella Reservoir
In June 2006, the band's sixth full-length album, The Novella Reservoir, was announced on The End Records' website. The album will contain eight tracks. It is a follow-up to The Pale Haunt Departure.
Discography
* Her Tears Drop (Demo 1995)
* Amid Its Hallowed Mirth (Full-length 1995)
* For Every Leaf That Falls (EP 1997)
* Of Sculptured Ivy and Stone Flowers (Full-length 1999)
* The Knowing (Full-length, 2000)
* To Welcome the Fade (Full-length 2002)
* Reflecting In Grey Dusk (Best of/Compilation 2004)
* The Pale Haunt Departure (Full-length 2005)
* The Novella Reservoir (Full-length 2007)
* Into Night's Requiem Infernal (Full-length 2009)
* Aphotic (Full-length 2011)
* Bled White (Full Length 2014)
* Hamartia (Full Length 2017)
The Dark Host
Novembers Doom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The emotion of Summer fades
Conscience versus consequence
With a pure possession of fall
This is the law, the law of the land
Where Angels earn their keep
The dark light, the dark light curse
Enjoy the season before Winter arrives
And bitter cold kills vibrant life
We await our ghost, and it will bring pain
I hope you enjoy your fall
This is the law, the law of the land
Where Angels earn their keep
The dark light, the dark light curse
We cheated our way to midnight
Black is the soul of a dying sun, just before aphotic calm
The moment the darkness arrives, be strong and be bold
Remember the day, you said “forever?”
It’s so unclear exactly what you meant
Cloud cover erased the sunlight
It’s much too late to wish for day
No one’s listening to empty prayers
Autumn’s spirit gathers our hearts
Here we are in the absence of light
Where the night’s chill touches our skin
This is the time where nothing matters
When clouds cover in nightly shade
Where are the friends who promised loyalty?
I never realized how wonderful it was
I look back on that day of promise
And now I understand “Forever.”
Black is the soul of a dying sun, just before aphotic calm
The moment the darkness arrives, be strong and be bold
"The Dark Host" by Novembers Doom is a song that describes the end of summer and the arrival of fall. The dark host, where green stands tall, represents the trees and nature during the fall season. The emotion of summer fades, suggesting a loss of joy and happiness that comes with the end of summer. The lyrics explore the consequences of one's actions and the balance between conscience and consequence. The line "With a pure possession of fall" suggests that the fall season is a time where one should be honest with themselves and their actions.
The chorus is repeated twice in the song, emphasizing the law of the land where angels earn their keep. The dark light curse refers to the dark side of human nature and the cheating that people do to get what they want. The lyrics encourage the listener to enjoy the season before winter comes and to appreciate life before it is gone. The ghost that is mentioned represents death and the pain that comes with it.
The end of the song describes the darkness of the night, where nothing matters and clouds cover in nightly shade. The lyrics express a sense of loneliness and the absence of loyal friends. The line "I never realized how wonderful it was" suggests that the singer is reflecting on a past memory or relationship that they took for granted. The song concludes with the lines "Black is the soul of a dying sun, just before aphotic calm. The moment the darkness arrives, be strong and be bold", which could be interpreted as a call to embrace the darkness and face it with strength.
Line by Line Meaning
The dark host where green stands tall
The setting of the song is in a dark environment where plants still thrive before winter comes.
The emotion of Summer fades
The feeling of summer ends as the season changes.
Conscience versus consequence
It's a dilemma to choose between doing what's right and facing the repercussions from it.
With a pure possession of fall
Autumn is being referred to as the purest season before winter comes.
This is the law, the law of the land
The song mentions a law that governs the surroundings.
Where Angels earn their keep
It appears that angels reside in the environment described in the song and follow the law.
The dark light, the dark light curse
A curse related to the darkness in the environment is mentioned.
We cheated our way to midnight
It's possible that the darkness has come earlier than expected or was created by dishonest means.
Enjoy the season before Winter arrives
One is advised to appreciate autumn before it ends and winter takes over.
And bitter cold kills vibrant life
The harsh winter season will cause the end of life in the environment.
We await our ghost, and it will bring pain
The arrival of the dark and harsh winter season is described akin to a ghost that brings suffering and sorrow.
I hope you enjoy your fall
The song ends with a positive note, wishing the listener to enjoy autumn before it ends.
Black is the soul of a dying sun, just before aphotic calm
The environment during sunset before becoming completely dark is described as black and soulful.
The moment the darkness arrives, be strong and be bold
One must brace themselves when darkness sets in and face it with courage.
Remember the day, you said “forever?”
The topic of the song shifts to a personal relationship where someone made a promise of eternal loyalty.
It’s so unclear exactly what you meant
The person is unsure of the intent or truthfulness of the promise made.
Cloud cover erased the sunlight
The environment is described with no direct sunlight, possibly referring to a sad or depressing feeling.
It’s much too late to wish for day
It's impossible to turn back time and fix things.
No one’s listening to empty prayers
The person's prayers or pleas are going unanswered or unheard.
Autumn’s spirit gathers our hearts
The season of autumn brings people together despite the sadness and sorrow.
Here we are in the absence of light
The environment is portrayed with extreme darkness or possibly referring to a sad or depressing feeling.
Where the night’s chill touches our skin
The cold, dark environment is described physically affecting the person's body.
This is the time where nothing matters
During a tough time or personal struggle, everything else loses significance except for the conflict that must be faced.
When clouds cover in nightly shade
The environment is filled with heavy cloud cover and extreme darkness.
Where are the friends who promised loyalty?
The person is questioning the loyalty of those who once made a promise to the person.
I never realized how wonderful it was
The person reflects on a memory or experience and realizes its value only after it's gone.
I look back on that day of promise
The person recalls the day they were promised eternal loyalty.
And now I understand “Forever.”
The person has come to understand the true meaning of an eternal promise after experiencing loss or betrayal.
Contributed by Ryan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.