Juraj Grezdo joins the band after splitting up with Nailed Nazarene. The name Bastard is changed to Fatal Infection and by the end of 1994 the demo Behind the Doors of Sorrow is recorded.
The old name doesn't fit the new material, so it's changed into Thalarion meaning the ancient city of mad poets and flying demons (see Lovecraft's story A White Ship). In March 1996 the first album Towards the Obscure Slumberland is released through Hallelujjah Prod..
The MCD Dominium Unfold (1996) for the US label Wild Rags Records has never been released.
Nevertheless in December 1998 the second album is released through Mighty Music. The Tales Of The Woods... Thus Was Written album is well received by the world metal scene.
Their third album Four Elements Mysterium is marked with 1998 Nela Horvathova's vocals. Nela has also done backing vocals on Tales Of The Woods... Thus was Written.
In November 2002 Mighty Music releases the fourth Thalarion album Tunes of Despondency. After the more gothic Four Elements Mysterium the band changes to a faster and more agressive music going closer to their debut album Towards the Obscure Slumberland.
In 2004 the fifth album Hellium is released. Now there are no keyboards or female vocals (Nela Horvathova is now in Disanchely). The new member Michal (guitar) joins the band and takes a great part in writing material.
Current band members
Juraj Grezdo - vocals, keyboards and Slovak flute
Juraj Schlosser - guitar
Michal Zaќko - guitar
Peter Bartakoviи - bass
Jozef Lukac - drums
Sonnet of My Grief
Thalarion Lyrics
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As once Elektra her sepulchral urn
And, looking in thine eyes, I overturn
The ashes at thy feet, behold and see
What a great heap of grief lay hid in me
And how the red wild sparkles dimly burn
Through the ashen greyness, if thy foot in scorn
Could tread them out to darkness utterly
Thou wait beside me for the wind to blow
The grey dust up ... those laurels on thine head
O my beloved, will not shield thee so
That none of all the fires shall scorch and shred
The hair beneath, stand further off then! Go!
[Taken from the Elizabeth B.Browning's "Sonnets from the Portuguese"]
The lyrics of Thalarion's "Sonnet of My Grief" bear resemblance to the poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Sonnets from the Portuguese." It speaks of lifting one's heavy heart and revealing the hidden grief within, symbolized by ashes, which are emptied at the feet of the addressee. The singer implies that if the recipient were to trample the ashes in scorn, they would be extinguishing the singer's grief; but if they waited, the burning embers of red hot grief within could potentially ruin them. The final lines ask the recipient to keep their distance and stay away to avoid getting burnt.
The metaphor of the urn with ashes from death and grief in the song is symbolizing Elektra's mourning of her father, the hero Agamemnon, and her desire for revenge. The ashes are an attempt to preserve memories of a loved one, and the singer's lifting his heavy heart is an acknowledgment of the burden of grief that he is carrying. The red wild sparkles represent the hot embers of grief and mourning, still present despite the ashes' attempts to contain them.
Line by Line Meaning
I lift my heavy heart up solemnly
I am expressing the weight of my grief with a solemn heart.
As once Elektra her sepulchral urn
Similar to how Elektra carried her urn of ashes, I too am carrying my own urn of grief.
And, looking in thine eyes, I overturn
While looking into your eyes, I am spilling out and expressing my emotions.
The ashes at thy feet, behold and see
I am showing you the immense grief that lies within me, by pouring out the ashes at your feet.
What a great heap of grief lay hid in me
I am revealing the extent of my concealed and profound sorrow.
And how the red wild sparkles dimly burn
These emotions within me are intense and powerful, like wild red sparks, but they are also fading away.
Through the ashen greyness, if thy foot in scorn
If you were to treat my feelings with contempt, they would become dull and unimportant, like ashes.
Could tread them out to darkness utterly
You have the power to completely extinguish my feelings and darken my soul, by crushing them with your foot.
It might be well perhaps, but if instead
While it might seem like getting rid of these emotions would be good, there is another option to consider.
Thou wait beside me for the wind to blow
You could stand with me and wait for time to heal my grief, like waiting for the wind to blow away the dust.
The grey dust up ... those laurels on thine head
While we wait, the dust of my sorrow will settle on your head, despite the fact that you wear a crown of laurels.
O my beloved, will not shield thee so
Even your crown of laurels will not protect you from the dust of my sorrow.
That none of all the fires shall scorch and shred
My intense feelings and emotions are like a fire; they will not be contained and will burn until they have scorched and shredded everything in their path.
The hair beneath, stand further off then! Go!
I am telling you to stay away, lest your hair be burned and destroyed by the intensity of my grief and emotions.
Contributed by Gavin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.