The infamous British poet/occultist Aleister Crowley once stated “Do what thou wilt shalt be the whole of the law.” And, perhaps, to honour this motto and to indicate his interest in the occult Fredrik named the band after one of the books written by the Great Beast 666.
The first recording, the demo tape “Songs from the Hill of the Heartless Giant”, was released 1992. After two more demos, “Watch the Shadows Dance” (1993) and “This Sombre Dreamland” (1994), the band was signed for their first full length album. "Images of forgotten memories" was released in 1996 and it was followed in 1997 by "Fruits and Flowers of The Spectral Garden."
At this time the band felt that they could no longer work under the conditions stated by their record company. So when it was time to begin the recording of their third CD they broke up with the old label and soon found another one. “Where Angels dare not tread” was recorded in 1999 and was supposed to be released the same year. But unfortunate circumstances and events lead to that the album wasn’t released until 2002.
The music was early described in reviews as “gothic” and “dark metal” but this has never been paths deliberately chosen by the band. In some interviews Fredrik has said “As soon as you choose a category for your music you immediately set up the limits restraining your creativity. And, personally, I am not interested in restrictions and limitations. I am interested in creation…” But nevertheless the music has evolved into what may be described as a dark brand of metal with strong Gothic undertones which invokes a gloomy atmosphere and visions of ruin and demise.
Since 1990 the Equinox ov the Gods have gone through a lot of changes in its line up. The band has existed and even played gigs with a rather minimalistic line up consisting of only two people. Nowadays, apart from the founding member Fredrik Wallin (Vocals), the line up is Arttu Malkki (drums), Morgan Svedlund (guitar) and Jocke Wassberg (guitar).
The band has played a number of live performces. Among the most memorable gigs were Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig, Germany (2003) and the Devils Night in Östersund, Sweden 2003. A live performance by the Equinox ov the Gods is often a something more than just an ordinary concert. The band strive to give their audience an experience that includes visual aids such as pyrotechnics, props, scenery and stage make up. In an interview Fredrik once described a live performance with the cryptic words “…to play live is in many ways like a shamanic ritual of evocation... to bring forth the beast from within and release it from the chains which holds it through the everyday life…”
I.M.A
The Equinox Ov The Gods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Follow me into my land
Sleep now, child, close your eyes
Take my hand and away we fly
Here ends reality as you know it
The night is here with a gift for you
You've heard them whisper in the closet
Here ends reality as you know that
You're on your own on the dreampath now
Grains of sand in your eyes and
You float away, so far away
Now i lay me down to sleep
I pray the lord my soul to keep
If i should die before i wake
I pray the lord my soul to take
You fade from reality
No string attached
In my arms
No turning back
You float away
So far away
The Equinox Ov The Gods's song I.M.A. is a haunting and surreal piece that takes the listener on a journey into a dreamlike world. The song begins with the singer instructing the listener to sprinkle grains of sand into their eyes and follow them into their land. This suggests a kind of ritualistic process that is required to enter this alternate reality. The singer promises the listener that they will be safe in this place, but warns them that they are on their own once they enter the dream path.
The lyrics suggest that the journey into this new world is a kind of spiritual awakening, where the listener is given the opportunity to transcend the limitations of their everyday reality. The night is described as a gift, which suggests that the darkness and the unknown are not to be feared, but rather embraced as a doorway to growth and enlightenment. The use of religious language in the final lines of the song adds another layer of meaning to the piece, suggesting that the journey into this dream world is akin to a kind of religious experience.
Overall, the lyrics of I.M.A. are open to interpretation, but they create a mood of mystery, otherworldliness, and transcendence that is both profound and unsettling.
Line by Line Meaning
Sprinkle eyes with grains of sand
You are being put under a spell, entranced with the help of a magical element of nature - sand
Follow me into my land
You are being lead into a different realm, away from your reality
Sleep now, child, close your eyes
You are being asked to trust, let go and enter a state of unconsciousness
Take my hand and away we fly
You are being taken on a journey to a new, mystical place
Here ends reality as you know it
You are being warned that a major shift is about to take place
The night is here with a gift for you
The darkness has brought forth an offering, a surprise of sorts for you
You've heard them whisper in the closet
You have felt and sensed the presence of something otherworldly lurking around you
You've seen them lurk under your bed
You have seen unexplainable things happening in your space
You're on your own on the dreampath now
You have entered a path that only you can walk and navigate
Grains of sand in your eyes and
Your vision has been clouded by this magical element, making it difficult to perceive what is real and what isn't
You float away, so far away
You are being carried away from your familiar world and are now in a far-off place
You fade from reality
You have completely left your regular life, entering a different state of being
No string attached
You are unattached and free from all earthly ties
In my arms
You are being embraced and protected in a new realm
No turning back
There is no way to go back to what you have left behind
Contributed by Cooper T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Γιωργος Τζεβελεκος
I remember I bought it the first day that came in Greece. My friend at Metal Era shop (Mutillator)suggest me to buy it. So i did it ! I never regretted. Exellent work !!! More than 23 years n' i still hear it with pleasure !!!
Theodoros Armenis
A true diamond in rust. Haven't listened to it for years it brings back many memories
RRR nigth💀👀
Que atmosfera surpreendente vl Gold essa Band🇧🇷👏🎶🎵🔊👍🤟🤘🥁🎤🎸😎🎹🌆🌇🌃🌍🌒⭐🌟
Overlord
Maravilhoso álbum.
Andrey K
Настоящий готик метал. Лучшее в своем роде
sopakè fulpakè
i love this album , great ambiance .
Aegianlulz
A real hidden gothic gem
Purple Mush
Great album :) \m/
a8anasios666
fantastic album
Opisthokonta
This is fucking magic!
Thanks for share!