Released	1999
Genre	Gothic metal Gothic black metal Death/doom Symphonic metal Classical music
Length	49:31
Label	CCP Records

A Sombre Dance is the second album from the Austrian metal band Estatic Fear.

A wooden cabin oversees a lush green meadow. Massive mountains on the background with clear white tops. Sheep grazing peacefully while the wind slowly picks up and the leaves in the few surrounding trees start to bristle; a gentle summer rain begins to fall from a somehow clear sky. In the distance a flash of thunder with accompanying roar. Then the rain hits the grass… Its releases a magical tingle and the entire field is lit up in wonderful display of colours. On the porch of the cabin sits a man in long robes smoking a long pipe observing this spectacle of lights. An amused smile on his face while somehow the rain averts from its downward course just in time to not hit him. When a little man, no more than the height of a child, with a large beard comes out of the cabin and asks him if he wants another cup of tea, he gives a friendly nod while he continues to enjoy the rest of his peaceful yet magical day.

That is perhaps the best description I can ever give of the music that Estatic Fear makes on this wonderful second album. The lush mixture of medieval music, doom-metal and classical arrangements make of this album one of the most tranquil, sorrow filled and intimate pieces of music in my entire collection. Forget bands like Haggard or Therion, this is far superior.

It must be said that the emphasis on this work is put on the classical arrangements, medieval music and metal elements. The doom element has become a lot less prominent. As such Estatic Fear does drift closer to aforementioned Haggard, creating a mix of classical music with metal. Still the pure melancholy found here can be truely overwhelming. Even the at times used blackish screams sound warm, intimate and filled with sorrow. This is simply a forgotten masterpiece. Anybody who claims to be into good music should own this, it really is that simple.

Track listing

1. “Intro (Unisono Lute Instrumental)” – 1:22
2. “Chapter I” – 5:03
3. “Chapter II” – 4:51
4. “Chapter III” – 3:33
5. “Chapter IV” – 10:31
6. “Chapter V” – 4:51
7. “Chapter VI” – 4:50
8. “Chapter VII” – 4:52
9. “Chapter VIII” – 3:16
10. “Chapter IX” – 6:22

Lyrics

1. Intro

[Instrumental]

2. Chapter I

The feeble leafs decline,
Enshrined in downing deep
The mourn abandoned plains,
Laid down in sombre sleep
Misty shades engulf the sky
Like past, worn memories
The bird’s song fills the whispering breeze
With autumns melody

The lunar pale grim shape
At evening’s sight renews
It’s silented wail relieves
Repressed thoughts anew
I hear the lonesome choir
Of fortunes past my way
Disdained in fiery weeps
Throughout my every day
These skies I hail and treasure thee,
Most pleasant misery
Not pittes thorn I shelter thine
Mysterious harmony

Draw on most pleasant night
Shade my lorn exposed sight
For my grief’s when shadows told
Shall be eased in mist enfold
Why should the foolish’s hope
Thy unborn passioned cry
Exhaust unheard
Beneath this pleasent sky?
For if the dusking day declined
Could delight be far behind?

3. Chapter II

Sengi amoris
A mere passions fraud disgraced and to disgrace,
In pacis quentis,
With bewitched charm seduced my every days

Begone my burdened past, wont’s these treasured
Dreams be freed from your bounds at last?
Tvemor inogeng
Makes the truth dilute the mirrage last
Osculum pudens
Makes my shattered present caught
My buried past lured into my angers bed
I pured my raging lust
And touched these fairy eyes instead

4. Chapter III

Weil mein gramgebeugt Klagelied
Klim empor entflieht der Brust die mich geboren.
Am Cage wohlverwahrt
Dem Cramer offenbart
Ward deinem Klang,
des Herzens Kenntnis gehst verwehrt
Magst dereinst Kuh gereift
Dem Geist der leis begreift
Mit holdem Drang der Seele Wagh entziehen

5. Chapter IV

The leafs and I entangled dance a harmonie
I dare not stain with vain delight
And thus embraced we roam the passing eve like a
pillgrim who craves a shelters guiding light
I question thee, beloved night to calm my joy
so that I not like the weary leaves be strewed
For I submitt to thy solitary grace (as) even springs
life is by winters gaze subdued

Lost in a dream I beheld a maiden dance
And when she sat down by a sliver stream
Plunging her feet in the shallow waves
A mist descended, kissed her and fled
And all that’s before been just and fair
Shattered in a rain of crystal shards
Each of them a cry, a dream, a tear

Nunquam submergiove aut diffugo
Ira inflammata mea vita ad salutem nominarit
Et solitudo meurn robur

Everlasting be the war that I declare
Extinguished thy bewitched spark despair
Torched the pile upon which you
Are gathered (still) poisoning my weary heart

And as the forked fires tongue licks high I won’t
lament thy fall
But dance around the burning branches urged by furys
call
And I again shall not be humble slaves but king to thee

Dreams on the barren field did lay strewed
Spread their wings rise up with solemn hope imbued
Ascend the stary stairs into a plain but dear refuge.

6. Chapter V

Many a weary night endured
Since the utter charm of joy has pured
My unquiet dreams, my misery
How sweat if I could share with thee
Unable to endure it’s smile
Which kindly eased my sombre veil
I frightened turned my burdened head
And hid in slumbers shade instead

But lifted from my mournful rest
Was I by thee nocturnal guest
When though did vow to suffocate
My tranquil dreams in thrones bed
You spoke to me with loathed glow
And thus have though not kept thy vow
For when thy shadow sprang on me
I closed my eyes in ecstasy

7. Chapter VI

Unveil yours eyes, see the special moon gone
Leaving not a single ray of joy to rest upon
Feast on those that crave thy kiss with a ghastly wail
Behold them cry as their faces innocence grows pale
Tempt them into approaching your obscure neglect
Until on your detesting laugh their hopes get wrecked
Praise this rage and the only eyes will see
Thy love abandoned mirrors image, thy only company

8. Chapter VII

As the stars above like ludicrous fauns,
Join the grim reapers dionystic glance
We step forward together with the pale withered spring
And join the pipings of their sombre dance

9. Chapter VIII

[Instrumental]

10. Chapter IX

The Dawn arose, the slumbers shadows have passed
The autumnal grace which so kindly has cast
It’s sombre yet gracious delight on my grief
Enshrouded and lulled by the winters far deeper relief

As weary my days will grow from leisure apart
I shall wait for your powers renewed
I pray to whatever there be
“Let be my heard by your tenderness again imbued.”

Cura a die renovato cedit
Dolor et laetitia conjungtus est

Delightful shade was all that I dared hope for
Thy silent charm alone remains to adore.