Towards The Pantheon

Emperor's song "Towards The Pantheon" is a dark and evocative journey into a mythical and foreboding landscape. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a quest through desolate wastelands and barriers of light, driven by a desire to reach an ultimate, perhaps forbidden, goal. The recurring imagery of wolves howling and the age of darkness rising sets a tone of primal power and ancient forces reawakening. This is not just a physical journey but a spiritual and existential one, seeking wisdom, strength, and pure evil, as the lyrics suggest.

The song's narrative is steeped in metaphors of light and darkness, life and death. The 'Shield of life' and 'sword of death' symbolize the duality of existence, held high as the travelers are guided by the moon, a traditional symbol of mystery and the subconscious. The 'black clouds of destruction' and 'dancing shadows of pain' evoke a sense of chaos and suffering, yet there is a purpose to this pain – it is a means to an end, a way to grant power and flame from a higher, perhaps malevolent, being.

Emperor, known for their symphonic black metal style, often explores themes of darkness, mysticism, and the supernatural. This song is no exception, delving deep into the archetypal battle between light and dark, good and evil. The final lines, wishing to touch the 'black flames of the past again... and forevermore,' suggest a longing for a return to a primordial state of being, where darkness and power reign supreme. This is a powerful reflection on the human condition, our eternal struggle, and the allure of the unknown and the forbidden.