"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
Nightfall of Mother Earth / Summer Distress
Ophthalamia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(IT: guitars)
(Winter: drums)
(Night: bass)
(Legion: vocals)
Länge jag i sommarhettans dagar sökt men dig ej funnit
Kämpat, trälat och i solens bländande sken jag brunnit
Dig, Elishia skall jag finna vart du än har försvunnit
Årstider de alla igenom jag vaktar med
Leende så stort, jag härskar över allt
Moder jord nu dömer vi dig döden
Så som vi alla andra kommer att dö
Elishia...
Tillsammans skall vi härska
Moder jord...
Skall i våra händer dö
Elishia, dotter av de tre månarna
Skall jaga i natten tillsammans med mig
Och när vi gjort vårt kall så sänk oss i vår grav
Djupt, djupt i döden ned
(Refräng :)
Himmel blå och ljuv sommaräng
Låt er vaggas i ondskans säng
Svarta slöjor, svarta lövverk
Undergången nalkas så låt oss gå
Det stilla regnet faller i natten
Så är rymden i sin saknad
Svarta tårar, svart tomhet
En sista kyss så smeksam och mjuk
(Viskning :)
Den eviga vandringen i den utvaldes mörkaste tankar
På Kaa-Ta-Nuus stränder,
där slott som evigt trasiga står
Du ljuset son så liten,
dig jag åsamka denna smärta
kallad sorg...
... En resa i mörkret...
Moder jord, Elishia och jag dig skall sätta i brand
Vi skall sedan förnedra och våldföra oss på land efter land
Elishia vi skall vandra i detta krigets härjartåg hand i hand
Vi som Satan tjänar är förenade med de starkaste band
(upprepa vers II)
Vacker... Sommaren för andra må vara
Jag... Endast vill döda och dö
(upprepa vers IV)
(upprepa Refräng)
Vi vandrat den ensamma vägen så mörk
Så okäng och farlig för er andra
Ni oss aldrig kommer att forstå
Vi dyrkar döden och ondskans makt
De falsa skall falla för våra fötter
Små människor, vi era härsare är
The shadow went longer until darkness became complete
The superior humans so proud came forward
(upprepa Refräng)
The lyrics to Ophthalamia's song Nightfall of Mother Earth / Summer Distress paint a picture of a person who has been searching for someone named Elishia during the hot summer days but has been unable to find her. He has fought and toiled in the scorching sun but has failed to locate her. The seasons pass by while he watches with a big smile on his face, claiming power over everything. The mother earth is judged for death and destruction as everyone will eventually face their own demise. The person addresses Elishia, the daughter of the three moons, and asks her to join him in ruling the earth until they are laid to rest deep in death. The song ends with a cryptic message about walking down the dark path, worshipping death and power while the "superior humans so proud came forward".
The lyrics are quite dark and laden with elements of mythology and metaphors of destruction. The song tells a story of a desperate search for someone who might be lost or dead or just out of reach. It also brings out a theme of power and control, with the singer wishing to rule over everything and everyone. At the same time, the song talks about the inevitability of death and destruction and the futility of earthly desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Länge jag i sommarhettans dagar sökt men dig ej funnit
I've been searching for you in the scorching summer heat, but I haven't been able to find you
Kämpat, trälat och i solens bländande sken jag brunnit
I've struggled and toiled, burning in the blinding rays of the sun
Vi må ödslat våra liv men vi även en död var vunnit
We may have wasted our lives, but we have also gained a death
Dig, Elishia skall jag finna vart du än har försvunnit
I will find you, Elishia, wherever you have disappeared to
Årstider de alla igenom jag vaktar med
I watch over all the seasons as they pass
Leende så stort, jag härskar över allt
With a huge smile, I rule over everything
Moder jord nu dömer vi dig döden
Mother Earth, we now sentence you to death
Så som vi alla andra kommer att dö
Just like all the others, we will die
Elishia...
Elishia...
Tillsammans skall vi härska
Together we will rule
Moder jord...
Mother Earth...
Skall i våra händer dö
Shall die in our hands
Elishia, dotter av de tre månarna
Elishia, daughter of the three moons
Skall jaga i natten tillsammans med mig
Shall hunt in the night together with me
Och när vi gjort vårt kall så sänk oss i vår grav
And when we have fulfilled our calling, lower us into our grave
Djupt, djupt i döden ned
Deep, deep down into death
(Refräng :)
(Chorus:)
Himmel blå och ljuv sommaräng
Blue sky and delightful summer meadow
Låt er vaggas i ondskans säng
Let yourself be cradled in the bed of evil
Svarta slöjor, svarta lövverk
Black veils, black foliage
Undergången nalkas så låt oss gå
The end is approaching, so let us go
Det stilla regnet faller i natten
The quiet rain falls in the night
Så är rymden i sin saknad
So is space in its longing
Svarta tårar, svart tomhet
Black tears, black emptiness
En sista kyss så smeksam och mjuk
A final kiss so tender and soft
(Viskning :)
(Whisper:)
Den eviga vandringen i den utvaldes mörkaste tankar
The eternal journey in the chosen one's darkest thoughts
På Kaa-Ta-Nuus stränder,
On the shores of Kaa-Ta-Nuu
där slott som evigt trasiga står
where castles forever lie broken
Du ljuset son så liten,
You, the small son of light,
dig jag åsamka denna smärta
I inflict this pain upon you
kallad sorg...
called sorrow...
... En resa i mörkret...
... A journey into the darkness...
Moder jord, Elishia och jag dig skall sätta i brand
Mother Earth, Elishia and I shall set you on fire
Vi skall sedan förnedra och våldföra oss på land efter land
We shall then humiliate and violate ourselves in land after land
Elishia vi skall vandra i detta krigets härjartåg hand i hand
Elishia, we shall walk hand in hand in this ravaging war
Vi som Satan tjänar är förenade med de starkaste band
We who serve Satan are united with the strongest bonds
(upprepa vers II)
(repeat verse II)
Vacker... Sommaren för andra må vara
Beautiful... Summer may be for others
Jag... Endast vill döda och dö
I... Only want to kill and die
(upprepa vers IV)
(repeat verse IV)
(upprepa Refräng)
(repeat chorus)
Vi vandrat den ensamma vägen så mörk
We have walked the lonely, dark road
Så okäng och farlig för er andra
So unknown and dangerous for the others
Ni oss aldrig kommer att forstå
You will never understand us
Vi dyrkar döden och ondskans makt
We worship death and the power of evil
De falsa skall falla för våra fötter
The false ones shall fall at our feet
Små människor, vi era härsare är
Small people, we are your rulers
The shadow went longer until darkness became complete
The shadow grew longer until complete darkness
The superior humans so proud came forward
The proud, superior humans stepped forward
Contributed by Ella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LordNothing
This band is not well known or recognized on "black metal circles", but one thing is for sure:
Most people that have heard Ophthalamia praise them!
M. W.
Agreed
Stormburner
@M. W. This is one of the best Black Metal bands that ever existed
Jacek Bartkiewicz
a wokal jeden z bardziej harczacych:) plus mistyczna melodia:)
M. W.
Sounds just as excellent now as did back then
mamatjunit
oh my god what a amazing band
Jim Saari Cederborg
Their best song I believe.
Jacek Bartkiewicz
mam ta ksete:) plyta jest petarda
Joana Campos
The fucking best!!!!
krzysiek1982
słyszałem to kiedyś z taśmy :P