The Kovenant (at the time known as Covenant) was formed in Hamar, Norway in 1992, by two black metal artists known as Nagash and Blackheart. After releasing a demo titled "From the Storm of Shadows", and gaining some underground recognition, Not long after the band got several offers for record contracts. The original "In Times Before the Light" was released in 1996 on Mordgrimm (underground British label dedicated to black metal), this album was created when they were both at a young age and they established a fan base in Norway.
In 1998 the band released their second album through Nuclear Blast, titled "Nexus Polaris". It marked a significant point in their sound's formation, the album featured less of the grim guitars, and had much more keyboards work than before. The album featured Nagash, Blackheart, Astennu (on the Guitars, who later joined Dimmu Borgir), Sverd (of Arcturus on the keyboards) and Hellhammer (of Mayhem, Arcturus and Dimmu Borgir) and Sarah Jezebel Deva on backing vocals (Cradle of Filth). The album has met good success in Norway and the band was nominated for the Norwegian Grammy Award, winning the Best Hard Rock Band category as the first band in history to win a Grammy Award for Black Metal.
In 1999 the band changed name to The Kovenant, recorded and released "Animatronic", it showed them going from symphonic black metal to industrial metal. With the change of the band name, the members decided to change their names as well to suit their new direction: Nagash became "Lex Icon", Blackheart became "Psy Coma", and Hellhammer became "Von Blomberg". They won another Norwegian Grammy Award and gained a new member while they toured the USA named Angel.
The band found themselves back in the studio in 2002 recording "S.E.T.I.", their fourth album. Deciding to do more touring Von Blomberg left the band to handle other projects. Two new members were recruited, Küth (of Ram-Zet) on drums and Brat (of Apoptygma Berzerk) on keyboards.
Now we continue waiting for their latest creation, Aria Galactica, announced in the early 2000's, to take shape. In 2007, Psy Coma described Aria Galactica to an Italian web site as "technical", with more guitar solos, "much stronger" and different from SETI. The estimated release date would be Christmas. The wait continues in 2021.
Official sites:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-kovenant/101527333219534
http://www.myspace.com/thekovenant
Pantomime
The Kovenant Lyrics
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Between the stars like a wanderer, across the sea of suns
I reached out for the radiant shadow of a figure with horns
Drawn like a moth to flame, and into the lion's den
Space cities of wonders, at an evolutionary dead-end
Pale electric shadows, locked together in common self-hatred
All it takes is an idea, a single word can change the world
There's no difference between up or down out here
Xenophobia
Five fingers are no longer enough
Xenophobia
We lost control a long time ago
The Judas halo, the betrayer spirit
The human ambition in all its disfigured glory
Liars of light, masters of night
We all get what we deserve in the end
Xenophobia
Five fingers are no longer enough
Xenophobia
We lost control a long time ago
The Kovenant's song "Pantomime" is a complex and thought-provoking piece of lyrics that discusses themes of interstellar life, enlightenment, and power struggles. The first stanza paints a vivid picture of a traveler moving through the vastness of space, searching for something ubiquitous yet elusive. The individual reaches out for the "radiant shadow of a figure with horns," a symbol that could be interpreted in many ways, perhaps as an emblem of power or misdirection. The figure draws the singer like a moth to flame into what is described as the lion's den, a metaphorical space of danger and uncertainty.
The second and third stanzas speak to a broader societal problem. The singer describes the "space cities of wonders" as an evolutionary dead-end, where people are locked together in "common self-hatred." The idea that a single word can change the world is introduced to the listener, and the singer expresses the frustration of trying to make others understand that "there's no difference between up or down out here." The fourth stanza is a recognition of the inherent flaws of humanity, as represented by the Judas halo and the betrayer spirit, and how the thirst for power can distort even the most noble ambitions. Ultimately, it seems that the concept of Xenophobia, or fear and hatred of the other, is what led to the downfall of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Burning bright in the industries of night
Glowing fiercely in the dark realm of the night, amidst a world of technology and machines.
Between the stars like a wanderer, across the sea of suns
Traveling aimlessly among the stars, across the vast expanse of the universe.
I reached out for the radiant shadow of a figure with horns
Reaching out towards the alluring and mysterious shadow of a horned figure.
Drawn like a moth to flame, and into the lion's den
Pulled in like a helpless moth towards a dangerous flame, and into a situation that can bring harm.
Space cities of wonders, at an evolutionary dead-end
Technologically advanced cities in space, having reached a standstill in their evolution.
Pale electric shadows, locked together in common self-hatred
Weak, ghostly reflections trapped in loneliness and loathing for oneself.
All it takes is an idea, a single word can change the world
A revolutionary idea or thought could change the course of history forever.
I tried as hard as I could to make you understand
Making every effort to make another individual comprehend something important.
There's no difference between up or down out here
In the vast emptiness of space, there is no such thing as orientation or direction.
Xenophobia
A fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers.
Five fingers are no longer enough
Humans need more than just their basic abilities to survive in the world.
We lost control a long time ago
Humans have lost their grip on reality a long time ago and are spiraling out of control.
The Judas halo, the betrayer spirit
The traitorous and deceitful characteristics that individuals possess.
The human ambition in all its disfigured glory
The twisted and distorted form of human desires for success or greatness.
Liars of light, masters of night
Those who pretend to be good and righteous are often the ones who are in control of the darkness and evil.
We all get what we deserve in the end
Everyone will face the consequences of their actions eventually.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AMUND SVENSSON, STIAN ANDRE HINDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind