"Ophthalamia" is a fantasy-world created by IT. The Goddess of this world is the woman with the demons, called Elishia. IT has also created the surroundings of Ophthalamia (I guess that the shores of Kaa-Ta-Nu are a part of this world, as the sea of Ragiih-Nib and the moutains of Makubu-Keen are), the land's creatures and the language. All songs of Ophthalamia are lyrically connected to stories about this fantasy world.
The first lead vocalist was All, but he moved and was replaced by Shadow on 'A Journey in Darkness'. After that Shadow was replaced by Legion on "Via Dolorosa". After Legion left for the band Marduk, All is back in the band as lead vocalist.
Winter, the drummer, was a member on both of the albums, but he left Ophthalamia right after "Via Dolorosa" was recorded and was later replaced by Bone. The bassist Night replaced Mourning on "Via Dolorosa" and is now the second guitarist, and Mist joined the band as its bassist thus the last known line-up is as follows:
IT: guitar, additional vocals (whispering, speech)
Night: guitar (acoustic and electric)
Bone: percussions
All: lead vocals
Mist: bass
Journey in Darkness / Entering the Forest
Ophthalamia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sun of the infinite sky doesn't reach me here
Oh darkness embrace me blood stop circulating
the mist surrounds me as I'm falling away my trance
My blackened teeth chew at the air we breathe
(whisper) lean its shapeless nothingness from the holy spirit
(whisper) I spit him out in a bloody flood of phlegm
Their world is turned inside out
I take their lips to my mouth
The people lies in articulo mortis
I spread my wings and fly away
I'm the face of the night in which you all will drown
I'm the power the almighty dark everlasting strength
my body was for a moment cold and left alone
still my breath is a sick unken smell
(repeat verses 2 & 3)
The lyrics of Ophthalamia's song "Journey in Darkness / Entering the Forest" paint a vivid picture of a person who has entered a dark, foreboding forest. The opening lines describe the singer as kneeling on the forest floor, cut off from the infinite sky above. The darkness of the forest seems to permeate every part of their being, as they surrender to its embrace and feel their blood slow to a stop. The mist that surrounds them further deepens their trance-like state, as they are lost to the world around them.
The lyrics take on a more sinister tone as the singer spits out the holy teachings of God, viewing their influence as nothing more than a poison that corrupts the minds of men. They revel in the power they feel, as they take the lips of other people to their own to enslave them to their dark will. The final lines of the song depict the singer as a force to be reckoned with, a face of the night that will ultimately drown all those who oppose them.
Overall, the lyrics of Ophthalamia's song "Journey in Darkness / Entering the Forest" evoke a sense of dread and foreboding, depicting a person who has surrendered themselves to the darkness of the forest and taken on the power that it offers.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm kneeling down on the forest's deiny ground
I am bowing down on the damp ground of the forest.
sun of the infinite sky doesn't reach me here
The sun's rays cannot penetrate the dense foliage above me.
Oh darkness embrace me blood stop circulating
I embrace the darkness and desire it to stop the flow of blood in my veins.
the mist surrounds me as I'm falling away my trance
As I fall into a trance-like state, the mist envelops me.
My blackened teeth chew at the air we breathe
My teeth, stained black, gnash uncontrollably in the air.
(whisper) lean its shapeless nothingness from the holy spirit
I whisper of the shapeless emptiness that emanates from the divine spirit.
Poisoned I am by his holy feeble godness
I am poisoned by the weak holiness of the divine being.
(whisper) I spit him out in a bloody flood of phlegm
Again, I whisper of spitting out the holy being amidst a gush of bloody mucus.
Their world is turned inside out
I have inverted their world, twisted it beyond recognition.
I take their lips to my mouth
I take their lips to mine, consuming their essence and life force.
The people lies in articulo mortis
The people lie in the throes of death.
I spread my wings and fly away
With my wings spread, I soar away into the night.
I'm the face of the night in which you all will drown
I represent the unforgiving darkness that will consume you all.
I'm the power the almighty dark everlasting strength
I am the ultimate source of the eternal power that darkness wields.
my body was for a moment cold and left alone
For a brief moment, my body was cold and abandoned.
still my breath is a sick unken smell
My breath is foul and disturbed, a sickening odor.
(repeat verses 2 & 3)
Repeating lines 2 and 3, I continue to dwell in my embrace of darkness and my disdain for the divine.
Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.