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…”
Stigmata
The Equinox Ov The Gods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Black wings of your ecstasy
Lift it up high
Towards the heavens in blasphemy
I am what i am
What i forever will be
In the name of Jesus Christ
Bleed for me!
Stigmata
Carry my soul on the
Black wings of your ecstasy
The death of an angel
The sacrifice of purity
Impaled by faith
Desecrated is your sanctuary
In Hoc Signo
Bleed for me!
Stigmata
Behold the sign in my hand
I hold the key to the wonderland
The path is clear I'll lead the way
Follow me and don't walk astray
And if you really loves me true
Can i ask one thing from you
Show your love for all to see
Will you bleed for me
The lyrics of Stigmata by The Equinox Ov The Gods are a contemplation of the power imbalance between God and humanity. The first verse indicates a plea to God to allow the soul to rise to the heavens, high on the wings of ecstasy. The use of "Black wings" suggests the darkness of the human soul that desires to unite with God. The second line is intriguing as it suggests "Lift it up high/Towards the heavens in blasphemy." The word "blasphemy" highlights the idea that God is restricting the human from reaching him, therefore any attempt to be with Him is akin to blasphemy. The implication of the phrase "In the name of Jesus Christ/Bleed for me" can be interpreted in different ways. It could be a plea for Jesus Christ to suffer on behalf of humanity, or for humanity to suffer in the name of Christ. The song speaks deeply to the human desire to transcend the limitations of this world and to connect with God, even if it means we must suffer to achieve that.
The second verse continues the theme of the imbalance between God and humanity, using the image of a death and sacrifice of purity to demonstrate the power dynamic. The "Impaled by faith/Desecrated is your sanctuary" line suggests that faith is a violent act that destroys the purity of the sanctuary. This is followed by the Latin phrase "In Hoc Signo" which translates to "In this sign" meaning "by this sign" or "under this sign" and refers to Christianity. The song explores the idea that the key to happiness and fulfillment in life is following the path of Christ. The final lines of the chorus "Show your love for all to see/Will you bleed for me" invokes the idea that bleeding or suffering for love is proof of love itself.
Overall, the lyrics of Stigmata by The Equinox Ov The Gods are an exploration of the human struggle to connect with the divine, even at the cost of suffering. The themes of sacrifice, purity, faith, and power are prominent throughout the song, reflecting the deep emotional and psychological conflict that arises when humans confront the limits of their existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Carry my soul on the
Transport my spiritual essence using
Black wings of your ecstasy
The dark and intense experiences that bring you pleasure
Lift it up high
Raise it above and beyond
Towards the heavens in blasphemy
In an act of irreverence towards orthodox beliefs
I am what i am
I exist as my true self
What i forever will be
This identity is unchanging and eternal
In the name of Jesus Christ
Invoking a powerful religious figure
Bleed for me!
Sacrifice your blood as a symbol of devotion to me
Stigmata
The physical marks of Christ's wounds, reflecting the spiritual torment experienced by the artist
The death of an angel
The loss of innocence, purity, and divine grace
The sacrifice of purity
The offering of something sacred and untainted
Impaled by faith
Pierced and attacked by religious belief
Desecrated is your sanctuary
The holy place is violated and corrupted
In Hoc Signo
Thus we conquer - a phrase from ancient Rome that represents the conquest of spiritual foes
Behold the sign in my hand
Notice the symbol or emblem being presented by the singer
I hold the key to the wonderland
I have the power to access a place of imagination and possibility
The path is clear I'll lead the way
A route to follow is unobstructed, and the artist will guide the listener
Follow me and don't walk astray
Come with me and don't deviate from my teachings
And if you really loves me true
If you genuinely and completely love the singer
Can i ask one thing from you
May I request a single favor?
Show your love for all to see
Demonstrate your affection in a visible and undeniable way
Will you bleed for me
An expression of the ultimate devotion - willingness to suffer and sacrifice for the artist
Contributed by Chase W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Erydiam Wintermoon
what a treasure!... Hail The Equinox Ov The Gods..Hail!!
Morgoth Bauglir
nostalgia ;)
larrysdinner
Nice, can't find their song Deathwish on here. Do you have that?