Lyrical themes:
Satanic Warmaster's lyrics deal mainly with nature, folklore, Satanism, and "occult and warlike themes." In a Q&A session in 2014 on the official Satanic Warmaster website, Werwolf answered questions from his fans for 24 hours, where he revealed a chart presenting all the lyrical themes and messages in his songs throughout the band's existence up to 2014. The chart had Satan, death and "spiritual rebellion" as three of the most important themes in his music, and against common misconceptions, dismissed the rumor that his music was ever involved in the National Socialist black metal ideology, citing that racism and Nazism were never dealt with as focal themes of any his songs. In 2009, Ylioppilaslehti, the biggest student newspaper in Finland, published an article about black metal, which featured an interview with Werwolf. In the interview, he explained his lyrical aesthetics even further.
Ideology:
The band has received criticism for their associations with NSBM, notably split releases with bands such as Absurd and Aryan Blood. In a 2003 interview for the Finnish metal webzine Imperiumi, Werwolf explained his personal beliefs in a detailed manner: "Pan-European traditional Satanism is a comprehensive ideological and philosophical alignment, which aims for the bettering of an individual and the most beneficial elbow space through the acknowledgement (and partially harnessing) of the dark and destructive (and thus initially creative) force of nature and cosmos. Excluding anything has never been the best option. Satanism constitutes my world view about 100%." In context to his music, he explained the reflection of his ideology into his music even further: "Lyrically Satanic Warmaster is a reflection of the Luciferian spirit through the eyes of a young man. I deal with subjects personally and mainly in a very symbolic way. For example I've written symbolic tales of creation and rebirth influenced by folklore, and totalist and elitist visions of what Black Metal's brotherhood should be like.
I'm driven to do all this by the flame that burns in my music, the (artistic) aspirations of a man and the light of the black star of the dark lord of nature." In January 2015, Werwolf explained his ideology and the protests towards his music even further, "If someone becomes a “Nazi” just by working with or hanging around “the wrong kind of people,” should it not be true in all possible contexts? Unless it is all about the effort of trying to sand down the sharpest edges of modern music. Personally, I could never tie Satanic Warmaster down to the concept of NSBM for the reasons that have been there from 1998: It would not coincide with my conviction and the thoughts I want to convey through my music. To see me crush all the chains of an Abrahamic religion and proclaim my victory in the most insulting way possible, or me seeing good, evil, or lies where, according to political correctness, none should exist, it takes a twisted mind to see all this as a reflection of some political dogma. As I have said before and will say once again: The ideology behind Satanic Warmaster is Satanism and the musical style is black metal. Those, who claim otherwise, do it on the basis of their own feelings and resentment."
Rotting Raven's Blood
Satanic Warmaster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Stench of Darkness
From a kingdom that unveiled it's gate
Through the putrid flesh
Sucking the force of death
From around the white bones
When the black feathers are forever gone
The wings that now bear the epitaph of life
In runes carved on dead flesh by the maggots
Towards the cadaverous gate awaiting to be unlocked
By a key cast in silver of our grievance
All remains silent on this winter funeral night
When the lifeless onyx eyes reflect the starless sky
Glance of a passage to solitary awaiting throne
A skull on a sceptre and a jewel-adorned crown
Rotting Raven's Blood
Trickles onto the snow
To consummate the cycle of life and death
Inside this pentagram
The Satanic Warmaster's song "Rotting Raven's Blood" is a dark and evocative exploration of death and decay. In the opening stanza, the lyrics describe the "Stench of Darkness" emanating from a kingdom that has unveiled its gate. The implication is that this is a kingdom of death, and that the stench comes from the rotting flesh of its inhabitants.
The second stanza then goes on to describe the process by which death consumes life. The "force of death" is seen as "sucking" the life force from the bones of the dead. This imagery is further extended to the raven, whose black feathers are swept away by the north wind, leaving behind only the runes carved on dead flesh by the maggots. These runes bear witness to the fact that death is a universal force, and that all things must eventually succumb to its power.
The final stanza of the song presents a bleak and ominous vision of the afterlife. The "winter funeral night" is silent and still, with only the "lifeless onyx eyes" of the dead reflecting the starless sky. This is a place of solitary waiting, where a skull on a scepter and a jewel-adorned crown signify the ultimate futility of earthly power and wealth.
Line by Line Meaning
Rotting Raven's Blood
The decaying blood of a raven
The Stench of Darkness
The smell associated with the absence of light
From a kingdom that unveiled it's gate
From a realm that has opened its doors
Through the putrid flesh
Passing through the decaying tissue
Sucking the force of death
Extracting the power of mortality
From around the white bones
From the vicinity of the pale bones
When the black feathers are forever gone
Once the dark plumage has vanished completely
Swept away by the northwind
Carried away by the gales from the north
The wings that now bear the epitaph of life
The wings that now carry the message of existence
In runes carved on dead flesh by the maggots
In symbols etched on deceased tissue by the larvae
Towards the cadaverous gate awaiting to be unlocked
Towards the entrance of death that is yet to be opened
By a key cast in silver of our grievance
Using a silver key made from our sorrow
All remains silent on this winter funeral night
Everything is quiet on this burial occasion in winter
When the lifeless onyx eyes reflect the starless sky
When the black gem-like eyes reflect the sky lacking stars
Glance of a passage to solitary awaiting throne
A glimpse of the way to the throne that awaits in solitude
A skull on a sceptre and a jewel-adorned crown
A skull on a ceremonial staff and a crown set with precious stones
Rotting Raven's Blood
The decayed blood of a raven
Trickles onto the snow
Flows slowly onto the land covered in snow
To consummate the cycle of life and death
To complete the circle of existence and mortality
Inside this pentagram
Within this five-pointed star
Contributed by Kaitlyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marco Afc Ajax
Here’s the lyrics:
Rotting Raven's Blood
The Stench of Darkness
From a kingdom that unveiled it's gate
Through the putrid flesh
Sucking the force of death
From around the white bones
When the black feathers are forever gone
Swept away by the northwind
The wings that now bear the epitaph of life
In runes carved on dead flesh by the maggots
Towards the cadaverous gate awaiting to be unlocked
By a key cast in silver of our grievance
All remains silent on this winter funeral night
When the lifeless onyx eyes reflect the starless sky
Glance of a passage to solitary awaiting throne
A skull on a sceptre and a jewel-adorned crown
Rotting Raven's Blood
Trickles onto the snow
To consummate the cycle of life and death
Inside this pentagram
Camilo Guerrero
Rotting Raven's Blood
The Stench of Darkness
From a kingdom that unveiled it's gate
Through the putrid flesh
Sucking the force of death
From around the white bones
When the black feathers are forever gone
Swept away by the northwind
The wings that now bear the epitaph of life
In runes carved on dead flesh by the maggots
Towards the cadaverous gate awaiting to be unlocked
By a key cast in silver of our grievance
All remains silent on this winter funeral night
When the lifeless onyx eyes reflect the starless sky
Glance of a passage to solitary awaiting throne
A skull on a sceptre and a jewel-adorned crown
Rotting Raven's Blood
Trickles onto the snow
To consummate the cycle of life and death
Inside this pentagram
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Hjördís Aradóttir
I am a 50 year old woman and this is my all time favorite song ( alongside Hordes of Nebulah with Darkthrone). So, not all old ladies listen to old people music
Hindu Saffron III
Rare pick
Ryan Curtis
Fuck Yeah embrace the Kvlt
Soaring Blackbird
You are not old. You are a beautiful soul.
Hjördís Aradóttir
@Wan Chai Lucky Hit NPC well, now I am 54 and still into my black metal# even more if possible. And Pelle Ohlin had a voice and a look, both stage and off stage, that appealed and still does ,so much to me.
Goldberg_fan_ Nico
@Shadow Essence Old People music is Piano shit or Monzart shit
Wojtek The Swindler
That riff, so cold and wintry. SW has some of the best riffs.
Alo
Its said that SW is really Finnish with the sound and the riffs..and it fits
Răzvan Gavrilă
that's the reason SW is my favorite band
Marco Afc Ajax
Here’s the lyrics:
Rotting Raven's Blood
The Stench of Darkness
From a kingdom that unveiled it's gate
Through the putrid flesh
Sucking the force of death
From around the white bones
When the black feathers are forever gone
Swept away by the northwind
The wings that now bear the epitaph of life
In runes carved on dead flesh by the maggots
Towards the cadaverous gate awaiting to be unlocked
By a key cast in silver of our grievance
All remains silent on this winter funeral night
When the lifeless onyx eyes reflect the starless sky
Glance of a passage to solitary awaiting throne
A skull on a sceptre and a jewel-adorned crown
Rotting Raven's Blood
Trickles onto the snow
To consummate the cycle of life and death
Inside this pentagram