The Equinox ov the Gods was formed in 1990 by Fredrik Wallin (vocals) and M… Read Full Bio ↴The Equinox ov the Gods was formed in 1990 by Fredrik Wallin (vocals) and Melker Ryymin (bass). The band was founded as a creative platform from where they could explore their realm of music without being restricted by the accepted standards, by time and current trends.

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…”

Winternight Shadows
The Equinox Ov The Gods Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Silent we're approaching
In silence we stride
Dakr as our souls
Is the fire in our eyes
We dance in the moonlight
In forests so black
We've been gone for a while
Now we're back

You can feel our presence
The coldness we bring
You can hear our voices
In the darkness we sing
Songs about solitude
Anguish and tears
Songs about winterland
And freezing fears

Closer and closer
You can feel that we are near
Our darkness surrounds you
Now we are here
Winternight shadows
To haunt you again

We want you to join us
In our icy, dark domain

Overall Meaning

The Equinox Ov The Gods's song Winternight Shadows beautifully encapsulates a hauntingly enchanting experience of an ominous return. The lyrics indicate the mysterious and silent approach of entities that carry darkness within them while demonstrating a certain sense of pride that comes through in their confident steps. The setting is evocative of a forest under the auspices of the moon, coated in a blanket of darkness that strengthens with each passing moment. The lyrics are reflective of the themes of solitude, loneliness, and the overwhelming impact of winter as they croon out songs that fill the night with an eerie intonation of chilling fear.

The lyrics indicate that their presence is felt through the coldness that they bring with them, turning the temperature down as though the winter has arrived. They sing songs about the winterland that reflect their love for the coldness that comes bundled with the season, and their attachment to it is accentuated through their voices that reverberate in the darkness. The lyrics reveal a certain sense of excitement as they ask the listener to join them on this icy, dark journey into their domain, which is reflective of their inclusivity as they add more souls to their coven.

Line by Line Meaning

Silent we're approaching
We are coming without making any noise

In silence we stride
We walk quietly without any sound

Dark as our souls
Our souls are filled with darkness

Is the fire in our eyes
Our eyes have a fiery look filled with darkness

We dance in the moonlight
We perform a dance in the moonlight

In forests so black
We dance in dark forests

We've been gone for a while
We have been away for some time

Now we're back
And we have returned

You can feel our presence
You can sense that we are here

The coldness we bring
We bring a cold feeling with us

You can hear our voices
Our voices can be heard