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Words from the Temple of Shadows

from I Am the Dark by Zemial

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    Heavy vinyl, gatefold packaging including photos, lyrics and Vorskaath's thoughts on each song and the production process.

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    Heavy PICTURE vinyl, gatefold packaging including photos, lyrics and Vorskaath's thoughts on each song and the production process.

    European edition featuring artwork by Costin Chioreanu

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about

”Words From The Temple Of Shadows was written in 1991 and is one of the earliest examples of the direction Zemial was taking during that time. It also signified the dissolution of the line-up of that period and the beginning of what soon became a one-man project named Zemial.
A promo recording was circulated in 1991, making this piece publicly available for the first time yet its first ‘official’ recording took place in Berlin/Germany, in December 1998 as part of the “Breath of the Pestilence” recording sessions. It never saw the light of day.
However, I thought it would make the perfect addition to the ‘I Am The Dark’ single, so I breathed life into it in Autumn 2008 at Studio 9.
There is a variety of new arrangements added to the piece, yet the form, main melodies and themes have all remained intact and faithful to the original 1991 version. One of the elements that I derived great pleasure from re-arranging, is the drumming and percussion. For the very first time in this band’s history, I decided to play something more than the standard drum beat and drum-fill. I was relieved to give the drum-set a little more prominence and life! The guitar solo in the second section of the song actually begun as a drum solo, to which I added guitars following the syncopated drum rhythms. For the closing percussion solo, I added a marimba accompaniment based on a traditional Hellenic scale and melody, playing in rhythmic unison with the drum-set.
Those who have followed our discography would agree that this is quite a departure. Indeed. However, I feel that an important balance has been achieved by combining the old ‘straight ahead’ feel with something a little more adventurous and colourful. In addition to the greater range of musical images this piece presents, it also does well to herald the material composed for NYKTA which combines traditional death/thrash metal with more considered arrangements and compositional depth.
Changing one’s preferences and throwing the formula out of the window is simply necessary in order for one to keep going on. It is natural that some fans will disagree and opt to stay with what they know is safe. I understand and accept that. No Abyss for them, just surface.
This is where Zemial is today – in the Abyss.
I have the need to say more with Zemial; not merely through atmosphere and lyrics but also through giving each instrument a voice and a strong, expressive role beyond simple support for cosy stories and throat athletics. Interestingly, despite this leaning toward complexity and textural density, I can already say that the future of Zemial holds a more stripped down, simplified approach, steeped in emotion – as always.
The music continues with or without us – time to choose.”

Vorskaath – Germany, November 2008

lyrics

A rite from the depths of antiquity
Opens the eye of a God
Your name called in the temple of shadows
A sacrifice - you shall respond!

Over and over you reach for Their secret to find
But now you know that the Daemon has spoken the truth
In corridors of whispers, entranced, you have uttered Their names
And cursed the moments when dreams fade away

For They where here before you
Remember the eye of the throne is watching
The chains will break in the deep seas
The gates will open

Over and over you reach for Their secret to find
But now you know that the Daemon has spoken the truth
In corridors of whispers, entranced, you have uttered Their names
And cursed the moments when dreams fade away

"Oh wings of deep darkness,
Bring forth the Gods that ride the ancient starlight and
Dream amongst the heavens"

The serpent, shall scream again
The nights shall have no end
Another, sign to remember,
The walls that hold Absu out... will break

Priestess: "Der Widerhall einer Beschwörung im Tempel der Schatten. Die Zeit ist nah, in der die Pforte sich öffnet und die Träumer erscheinen. Trage uns zur Morgen- und Abenddämmerung und zur Dunkelheit des westlichen Himmels."

-The echo of a summoning in the temple of shadows. The time is near, for the gate to be opened and the dreamers to arrive. Carry us to morning and evening twilight and to the darkness of the western sky.-

credits

from I Am the Dark, released May 31, 2009
Music: Vorskaath - 1991
Lyrics: Vorskaath - 1991
Arrangements: Vorskaath 1991/2008

Recorded and mixed at: Studio 9 at the Devil’s Hole/Germany in 2008
Engineered by: Vorskaath
Mixed and Produced by: Vorskaath

Recording Personnel:
Vorskaath: Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Marimba, Drums, & FX
Melanie Krötz: Voice of the Priestess

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Zemial Athens, Greece

The meandering path of Zemial encompasses diverse music styles ranging from raw black-thrash & epic heavy metal, to progressive rock, electronic soundscapes and avant-garde art music.

Zemial is the one-man project of multi-instrumentalist Vorskaath.
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