The infamous British poet/occultist Aleister Crowley once stated βDo what thou wilt shalt be the whole of the law.β 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 βSongs from the Hill of the Heartless Giantβ, was released 1992. After two more demos, βWatch the Shadows Danceβ (1993) and βThis Sombre Dreamlandβ (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. βWhere Angels dare not treadβ was recorded in 1999 and was supposed to be released the same year. But unfortunate circumstances and events lead to that the album wasnβt released until 2002.
The music was early described in reviews as βgothicβ and βdark metalβ but this has never been paths deliberately chosen by the band. In some interviews Fredrik has said βAs 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 creationβ¦β 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 Γstersund, 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 ββ¦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 lifeβ¦β
The Lord Of The Crossroads
The Equinox Ov The Gods Lyrics
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The moon shines bright
The witching hour strikes
You stand at the crossroads
You summon me
Up from hell
With rhymes and spells
I will buy what you sell
You can feel i am near
I'll come. I'll Appear
You do not fear
The lord of the crossroads
Whit your blood you will sign
Your soul will be mine
I am the man in black
The lord of the crossroads
I will burn your soul
In the fires of hell...
The Equinox Ov The Gods's song The Lord Of The Crossroads is a haunting, dark piece that delves into the occult and the idea of summoning the devil himself. The song sets the scene on a Thursday night, where the moon is shining bright and the witching hour strikes. The listener is led to a crossroads, where they summon the "lord of the crossroads" from hell with rhymes and spells. The singer, who is believed to be the devil himself, promises to buy what the listener is selling, indicating an exchange or a pact that is about to take place.
The lyrics further reveal that the devil is near and will appear to the listener, who does not fear him. The ominous tone of the song is revealed when the devil tells the listener to sign their blood, which would result in their soul being his. The devil is described as the "man in black," a common image associated with the devil. The final lyrics are particularly daunting, with the devil promising to burn the listener's soul in the fires of hell.
Overall, The Lord Of The Crossroads is a song that delves into the dark arts and makes references to common occult practices such as midnight rituals, signing pacts with the devil and the idea of a soul being sold to the devil.
Line by Line Meaning
Thursday night
The atmosphere is set as we begin this tale on a particular night of the week.
The moon shines bright
The brightness of the moon creates an eerie ambiance, signaling the arrival of supernatural forces.
The witching hour strikes
As the clock strikes a certain hour, it marks the perfect time for practicing magic, and dark spirits to roam free.
You stand at the crossroads
You, the seeker of otherworldly knowledge, have arrived at the intersection of two paths, a symbol of a pivotal moment in your life.
You summon me
You call out to me, the dark lord at the crossroads, in the hopes of gaining something of value.
Up from hell
My realm is hell, and you have summoned me to the earthly plane, where I can fulfill your wishes.
With rhymes and spells
Through your incantations, you have brought forth your magical prowess, and with it comes the ability to make deals with me.
I will buy what you sell
I am a buyer of souls, and I will listen to your offerings as we negotiate a deal that will suit us both.
You can feel I am near
My presence is overwhelming, and you can sense that I am close, eagerly waiting for your request.
I'll come. I'll Appear
I will manifest before you, as I am obligated to answer your call upon the crossroads.
You do not fear
You are brave enough to seek me out, in spite of the risk and danger that comes with it.
The lord of the crossroads
I am the master of the intersection, a powerful symbol of choice and opportunity.
With your blood, you will sign
You will offer up a part of yourself, perhaps even your life force, as a sign of commitment to our agreement.
Your soul will be mine
In exchange for your sacrifice, your soul is rightfully mine, to do with as I please.
I am the man in black
I am the embodiment of darkness, and the color of my robe represents the void of emptiness that I embody.
I will burn your soul in the fires of hell...
With your soul in my possession, I will take it back to my true realm, where it will be consumed in the infernal flames.
Contributed by Brayden V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.