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 Night Of The Dreamer
The Equinox Ov The Gods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A ragged shape
So silent stand
In your dreams
With outstretched wings
The Angel dance
So dark and fearful
Can you see his face?
Will this never end?
Dark and deep
The endless sea
Where the dreamer dwells
Belial felt
The dragons breathe
Then the Angels fell
To play among the shadows
Can you hear them call?
Penetrate the silence
Will you heed their call?
Another night
The Broken one
Is back again
The Scarecrow
Can't be banished
Who will hear you pray?
Upon the moor in silence
Heed the dreamers call
It penetrate the silence
Will you heed their call?
The Equinox Ov The Gods's song The Night Of The Dreamer talks about a dream where a ragged shape with outstretched wings is seen standing silently on the moor. The Angel dances darkly and fearfully, and the dreamer wonders if they can see its face. The vision is interrupted by another one, and the dreamer is left wondering when it will ever end.
The dream then shifts to the deep and dark sea where the dreamer resides. Belial, the demon, is felt breathing down the dreamer's neck, and the Angels fall, playing among the shadows. The dreamer hears their call to penetrate the silence and heed their call. Another night, the broken one, the Scarecrow, returns, and it seems as if there is no escape. The dreamer wonders who will hear their prayers and if they will heed the dreamers' call.
The song focuses on the concept of the supernatural, where the Angels and demons co-exist with the dreamer, and there is a struggle for power. The lyrics suggest that the dreamer is trapped in their dreams, where reality and imagination merge, and there is no escaping the supernatural presence that surrounds them.
Line by Line Meaning
Upon the moor
In an open, grassy field
A ragged shape
A figure with rough, uneven edges
So silent stand
Stands very quietly
In your dreams
Appears only in your dreams
With outstretched wings
Extending its wings to its full length
The Angel dance
The angel dances gracefully
So dark and fearful
Ominous and scary
Can you see his face?
Is the face of the angel visible to you?
And then another vision
A new image appears
Will this never end?
Is this cycle ever going to cease?
Dark and deep
Sad and impenetrable
The endless sea
A sea that seems to have no limit
Where the dreamer dwells
Where the person who is dreaming exists
Belial felt
Belial sensed something
The dragons breathe
The breath of the dragon
Then the Angels fell
Angels descended
To play among the shadows
To explore the dark corners
Can you hear them call?
Are you able to hear their summons?
Penetrate the silence
Enter into the still and soundless space
Will you heed their call?
Will you listen and obey their summons?
Another night
In another instance
The Broken one
A being in pieces
Is back again
Has returned once more
The Scarecrow
A figure used to scare birds off crops
Can't be banished
Cannot be made to go away
Who will hear you pray?
Is there anyone who will listen and respond to your prayer?
Upon the moor in silence
In the same grassy area but without any noise
Heed the dreamers call
Pay attention to the request of the dreamer
It penetrate the silence
It breaks through the stillness
Will you heed their call?
Will you listen and obey their summons?
Contributed by Levi M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
iep4b
Equinox ov the Gods released some real masterpieces 2 bad they didnt get enough credit 4 that listen to their album called " Where Angels Dare Not Tread"