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…”
The Nameless City
The Equinox Ov The Gods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It lights my way through the desert night
How much further do I have to wander?
How much more must I sacrifice?
Mentioned only by the mad one
The nameless city - shunned by all
What awaits I can't imagine
"That is not dead which can eternal lie
And through strange aeons even death may die..."
The wind... Unspeakable... so cold... so cold...
A presence... in the dark... the wind... it tears my soul
Behind the walls... Underneath the towers...
Of this cursed city... the horror I faced...
Beyond belief... I stared into the abyss...
The Labyrinth... The tombs of glass...
Twisted and grotesque... the demonic corpses.
They looked at me... with empty eyes...
And I swear... And I swear...
I saw them move. The mad poet...
His words... "That is not dead..."
The lyrics of The Equinox Ov The Gods' song "The Nameless City" delve into the singer's journey through a mysterious and forsaken city. The opening lines set the stage with the pale moonlight guiding the singer through the desert night. However, an air of uncertainty lingers as they contemplate the length of their wanderings and the sacrifices that lay ahead. The mention of the "mad one" hints at a character who may have spoken of this city, which has been disregarded and shunned by all.
The singer's anticipation and fear intensify as they try to imagine what awaits them in the nameless city. To aid in understanding their thoughts, they recall the words of a poet, possibly H.P. Lovecraft's influence: "That is not dead which can eternal lie, And through strange aeons even death may die." This quote suggests a theme of eternal existence and the possibility of death being conquered, adding to the atmosphere of darkness and mystery.
The atmosphere changes abruptly as the wind becomes unspeakably cold, chilling the singer to the bone. They sense a presence in the darkness, an intangible force that seems to tear at their very soul. The shift in tone signifies the impending horror that awaits them within the city's walls and beneath its towers.
The climax of the lyrics reveals the singer's harrowing experience within the cursed city. They come face to face with a nightmarish scene that defies belief. Twisted and grotesque, the tombs made of glass house demonic corpses. The singer feels as though these lifeless beings, with their empty eyes, are somehow alive - an experience that shakes their sanity. The mention of seeing the mad poet move suggests a connection between the singer's descent into madness and their encounter with this surreal nightmare. The repetition of the poet's words reinforces the idea that even in the face of death, there is a semblance of life and an eternal existence that persists.
In summary, "The Nameless City" explores a journey through a forsaken and fearsome place. The lyrics present a sense of anticipation, fear, and fascination with the unknown. The haunting imagery and references to eternal existence and death's defeat enhance the dark atmosphere. The singer's encounters with the presence in the dark, the nightmarish tombs, and witnessing the mad poet's movements convey a descent into madness and the surreal horrors that lie within the nameless city.
Line by Line Meaning
Pale shines the moon above me
The moon's pale light illuminates my surroundings
It lights my way through the desert night
The moon acts as my guiding light in the dark desert
How much further do I have to wander?
How much longer must I continue to roam?
How much more must I sacrifice?
What other sacrifices must I make?
Mentioned only by the mad one
Only the mad individual speaks of it
The nameless city - shunned by all
This unnamed city is avoided by everyone
What awaits I can't imagine
I cannot fathom what awaits me there
In my thoughts the poet's words I recall:
I remember the poet's words in my mind
"That is not dead which can eternal lie
"That which can remain eternal is not dead
And through strange aeons even death may die..."
And even death itself may cease to exist through unknown ages"
The wind... Unspeakable... so cold... so cold...
The wind... indescribable... piercingly cold... so cold...
A presence... in the dark... the wind... it tears my soul
An existence... lurking in the darkness... the wind... it rips apart my essence
Behind the walls... Underneath the towers...
Hidden behind the walls... Beneath the towering structures...
Of this cursed city... the horror I faced...
Within this accursed city... the horror that confronted me...
Beyond belief... I stared into the abyss...
Beyond comprehension... I gazed into the infinite void...
The Labyrinth... The tombs of glass...
The intricate maze... The crystalline burial chambers...
Twisted and grotesque... the demonic corpses.
Deformed and horrifying... the damned bodies.
They looked at me... with empty eyes...
They stared at me... with hollow gazes...
And I swear... And I swear...
And I solemnly declare... And I solemnly declare...
I saw them move. The mad poet...
I witnessed them stir. The insane poet...
His words... "That is not dead..."
His words... "That which can remain eternal..."
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ssfane
04:21: 2. The Endless
10:30: 3. The Night of the Dreamer
14:22: 4. Plaguebringer
18:14: 5. The Nameless City
23:54: 6. The Lake
27:55: 7. The Tower
31:52: 8. My Endless Funeral
37:58: 9. Psyche
42:32: 10. The Temple of the Worms / Tombworld
@user-ci2iy3du7f
Мне этот альбом очень понравился.Очень качественный готик дум. Doom шедевр!!! Слушаю лет 17 и до сих пор ляпота