Formed by guitarist Mikael Sandorf in Luleå, Sweden during 2001, The Duskfall emerged from the ashes of the legendary but short-lived melodic death metal band Gates Of Ishtar. Before they were named The Duskfall - at the time they were called Soulash - the group suffered from a number of line-up changes and technical problems with both Tommi Konu (bass) and Urban Carlsson (drums) leaving the band. After months of searching, an old friend from Gates Of Ishtar, Oskar Karlsson, came to the rescue as a drummer and Kaj Molin replaced Tommi on bass. Finally all seemed in place with a full line-up and in summer of 2001 their 5-track demo Deliverance was released with Sandorf performing vocal duties. Shortly after, vocalist Kai Jaakkola joined the band and all 5 demo tracks were re-recorded and re-arranged for their full length debut Frailty was released November 2002, produced by Daniel Bergstrand and Örjan Örnkloo (In Flames, Darkane, Thyrfing) who also mixed, engineered, and performed guest keyboards and guitar.
Their second CD, Source released December 2003 was recorded once again at Daniel Bergstrand's Dug Out Studios. They were joined by Joachim Lindbäck who performed guest solos. Critical response was good and the band projected their music forward with a more distinctive sound. After the release of Source, the lineup curse struck again - Kaj and Joachim decided to leave to band to focus on other things in life. This was a setback but the band got help from Antti Lindholm on guitar & bass, and Marco Eronen took over live bass duties from 2005-06.
Shortly after Antti joined up, a record contract was drawn up with Nuclear Blast and Lifetime Supply of Guilt was released in August 2005. This album was more straightforward than the previous two releases and was not as well received by critics and some fans. Daniel Bergstrand and Örjan Örnkloo once again produced. A music video was created for the song Shoot It In and the track was heavily featured in the video game The Darkness released in 2007 on PS3. Another Swedish extreme metal band, Defleshed (which Duskfall drummer Oskar Karlsson had been in) was also featured on the games' soundtrack.
Their fourth album The Dying Wonders of the World was released in October 2007 on Nuclear Blast, produced by Daniel Bergstand. Matte Järnil, who joined the band in 2006, played bass (and later joined related band Helltrain in 2009), giving Antti the opportunity to focus exclusively on guitar. Lawrence Mackrory (Darkane), who previously performed guest vocals on the debut album Frailty, returned to perform guest vocals once more. On this album, they somewhat returned to form and received a middling response from critics. This was the only album to not feature cover artwork by Seth Siro Anton.
On August 4, 2008, a statement on the official website stated that the band had decided to call it a day, following the departure of main songwriter and founder of the band Mikael Sandorf.
In Spring 2014, after much rumor, the band officially returned with a new lineup, notably including Fredrik Andersson on drums. Sandorf is the only remaining original member. Their upcoming sixth full-length album will be released on German label Apostasy Records.
Official facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDuskfallSweden
Official myspace: https://myspace.com/theduskfa11
Current line-up:
Mikael Sandorf - guitars [2001-]
Ronny Edlund - rhythm guitar [2014-]
Jonathan Storm - bass [2014-]
Fredrik Andersson - drums [2014-] (Amon Amarth, ex-A Canorous Quintet)
Magnus Klavborn - vocals [2014-]
Previous members:
Oskar Karlsson - drums [2001-08] (Helltrain, ex-Gates of Ishtar, ex-The Everdawn, ex-Sarcasm, ex-Scheitan, ex-Defleshed)
Kai Jaakkola - vocals [2001-08] (Deathchain, Deathbound, Monsterspank)
Antti Lindholm - guitar [2004-08] (Monsterspank)
Kaj Molin - bass [2001-05]
Matte Järnil - bass [2006-08](Helltrain)
Joachim Lindbäck - guitar [2003-04]
Glenn Svensson - guitar [2001-02]
Urban Carlsson - drums [2001]
Jonny Ahlgren - guitar [2001]
Tommi Konu - bass [2001]
Kim Bjäle - bass [2014]
the light
The Duskfall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for the silence to greet his final moon
Shadows start to gather, embracing his release
A journey to the darkside, a forever rest in peace
There will be light if you believe
Just let your memories flow free
Embrace my soul and set me free
Honoured in remembrance, locked in precious mind
Mourned among the living - a hurt that never dies
Kept alive through heartbeats, and within bloodline
Failed to be forgiven, erased by human kind
The lyrics to The Duskfall's song "The Light" present a stark yet nuanced portrayal of death and the afterlife. The first verse depicts a man who is shrouded in darkness and awaiting his final moments. The shadows that gather around him symbolize the unknown, the uncertainty of what lies beyond. Yet the chorus offers a glimmer of hope: if he believes, there will be light. The notion of memory is also significant, as the lyrics suggest that our recollections can help guide us towards the light.
The second verse takes a more melancholic tone, as it explores the concept of remembrance. The deceased is "honoured" and "locked" in the minds of those who mourn him, yet his absence still causes "hurt" that never truly goes away. The references to heartbeats and bloodlines suggest a very physical, tangible connection to the memory of the dead, but this connection ultimately falls short of true forgiveness. The final line is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the limitations of human empathy and our inability to fully understand each other's pain and suffering.
Overall, "The Light" is a song that grapples with big, existential questions about life and death. The lyrics are evocative and thought-provoking, and the somber melody complements the mood perfectly. Through its exploration of memory, belief, and forgiveness, the song offers a subtle yet profound commentary on the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
One man in his darkness, lying in his tomb
A person is in despair, lying in their grave waiting for death.
Waiting for the silence to greet his final moon
The person is waiting for death in the peaceful silence of their final resting place.
Shadows start to gather, embracing his release
The person is overcome by darkness, finally finding peace.
A journey to the darkside, a forever rest in peace
The person's journey has ended in the darkness and they can rest in peace forever.
There will be light if you believe
Believing in something will bring light into your world.
Just let your memories flow free
Letting go of the past can bring you peace and happiness.
Show me light where only shadows breed
Bring light to the darkness in my life.
Embrace my soul and set me free
Freeing my soul from pain and suffering will allow me to live my life fully.
Honoured in remembrance, locked in precious mind
The person is remembered as an honorable memory.
Mourned among the living - a hurt that never dies
The person is mourned by those that are still alive and the pain of that loss will never fully go away.
Kept alive through heartbeats, and within bloodline
The person's memory and legacy will continue to live on through their loved ones.
Failed to be forgiven, erased by human kind
The person was never forgiven by humankind and has been forgotten.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind