1. Dust Of Centuries

"My life seems a constant quest for historical knowledge. I have travelled the
continents in search for remains of ancient / medieval civilisations. My eyes
finally witnessed the beauty I learned through historical works during my
childhood. As far as I am concerned, true happiness can be achieved while
dwelling through what is left of these empires buried by time and dust. The
ultimate voyage unfortunately I will never experience: a travel back in time.
Everyone is a child of his /her own time but still this does not prevent me from
dreaming..."

Like a forgotten paradise
As if refused by father time
My land can be found
Under a clouded grey sky

Walking the eternal landscapes
As painted by our Flemish masters
I hear the music
Created centuries ago

I listen to the northwind
Losing myself in childlike dreams
Watch the eternal rivers flow, they flow

Maybe they understand
My already lost quest

For no one can travel
Travel back in time
For no one can travel
Travel back in time
Like a forgotten paradise
A dream of perfect bliss
Dust of centuries

Yet I can touch the cities
Build by my forefathers

Yet I see the banners
Of long forgotten pride
And watch the eternal rivers flow

Like a forgotten paradise
As if refused by father time
My land can be found
Under a clouded grey sky

Walking the eternal landscapes
As painted by our masters
I hear the music
Created centuries ago

I want to see a bright blue sky
Or feel the rain of our darkest clouds
Want to smell flowers now long withered
Witness the people now long buried
Wish to dwell in places forever lost
Castles buried by time time and dust
Hold a bride so pale and pure
Hear the stories of friends
I never knew

Lost in time
Lost in time

Yet I can touch the cities
Build by my forefathers
Yet I see the banners
Of long forgotten pride

Walking the eternal Landscapes
As painted by our masters
I hear the music
Created centuries ago

Lost in time

2. Totentanz

"Inspired by medieval
German poetry with the well known ®
Danse Macabre Ї as
a main theme"

Danse Danse Danse Macabre
Danse Danse Danse Macabre
Danse Danse Danse Macabre
Danse!

Oh King, your power has come to an end
I wish to invite you for a dance
Amongst our deceased brothers
For also Death has a crown to offer

Noble Lady, danse as you please
Until the flute has the right tone
For she deceived many a lady
Who all have danced
The Dance Of Death

Danse Danse Danse Macabre
Danse Danse Danse Macabre
Danse Danse Danse Macabre
Danse!

Oh King, your power has come to an end
I wish to invite you for a dance
Amongst our deceased brothers
For also Death has a crown to offer

Noble Lady, danse as you please

Oh King, your power has come to an end
I wish to invite you for a dance
Amongst our deceased brothers
For also Death has a crown to offer

Noble Lady, – hah –danse as you please

Danse Danse Danse Macabre
Danse Danse Danse Macabre
Danse Danse Danse Macabre
Danse! Totentanz

3. Death In Midsummer

"It must be tragic indeed to realise that, one only has a short time left on
this
earth, especially when still being quite young. This past summer I prefer to
forget.
Nature in full glory, a weather of perfect bliss and life floating on... But
hardly for
my family. Two of my relatives were fighting a terminal disease and also I was
facing an operation (although a less dangerous kind). Our summer season
overshadowed by gloom. This track I would like to dedicate to my relative who
lost the battle and eventually his life in midsummer."

Death in midsummer

There is true beauty in all that dies
Nothing lasts forever...I know
Dreams, hopes, life itself
Slipping through my fingers
Slipping through my fingers
Like a sand on beaches
I used to know
So many people came and went
As years go by
Their faces fade like a song
In vain I try to hold on
To the humble knowledge
I gathered

Death in midsummer
Death in Midsummer

So much still to learn
To discover, to feel
Yet I sense
My earthly and only existence
Fade away

No light at the end of the tunnel
No God to save one's soul
The atheist's curse
The atheist curse
Life never seemed precious to me
But now...
It is so cruel to die

In the middle of summer
In the middle of summer

4. Gott Ist Tot (Where Science Prevailed)

"The lyrics to this track were created after an interesting conversation that
took
place in Athens one day. Maria, a woman of science, and myself talked for a long
time about the conflict between science and religion. It is her who takes most
credits to this song for which I wish to express my gratitude" Where faith has
failed
Men's mind has travelled
Throughout of space
His wings might fly

No borders for human's
restless desires
Since science killed faith
God even may die

Our dying pride kneeling
In front of the unknown

Where faith has failed
Gott Ist Tot
Where science prevailed
Gott Ist Tot

In front of the immensity
And grace of a universe
With well hidden secrets
That no one has known

With secrets protecting a cosmic curse
When truth seems a lie
And reality a vision

Where faith has failed
Gott Ist Tot
Where science prevailed
Gott Ist Tot
Where faith has failed
Gott Ist Tot

The lights and the colours of planets and stars
Cannot be revealed with simple human's mind

We might step foot on the ground of Mars
But order in chaos we never provide
We might step foot on the ground of Mars
But order in chaos we never provide

Where faith has failed
Gott Ist Tot
Where science prevailed
Gott Ist Tot

Where faith has failed
Gott Ist Tot
Where science prevailed
Gott Ist Tot – God is dead
Where faith has failed
Gott Ist Tot – God is dood
Where science prevailed
Gott Ist Tot – God is dead
Gott Ist Tot!

5. Jester's Farewell (Solitude)

"Once adult dreams and purity fade away. I like to see myselfd as a seeker of
truth and reality, nevertheless the decline of innocence remains a sad event."

All who still remain
Are leaving their shelter One by one
The King leads his court

The sun seeks it's own reflection
On their clothes that shine like Gold

I speak the language of the colourless present
My words do not reach their ears anymore
A quest in vain
Trying to hold on to my youth
But still I remember those princes and wenches

He tries to tell me reality took over my soul
The walls behind which I wish to dream
Are coming down

Those princes and wenches
Visiting the castle
Represented my infant years
They flee into eternal woods
Only the jester turns around
One last time
Now I recognise my sad companion
Who kept me company Countless times

The Jester kept me company countless times
In hours that seemed darker than these

He tries to tell me reality took over my soul
The walls behind which I wish to dream
Are coming down
He tries to tell me reality took over my soul
The walls behind which I wish to dream
Are coming down down down!

6. Decline Of Romanticism (The Border)

"An experiment that turned out epic. Total artistic freedom was the corner stone
to this track. Both Antoinette and I came with different lyrics, somehow they
fitted perfectly together and a dialogue was achieved. The ultimate anti-ballad
(lyrics) in the shape of almost a ballad... Shizo situations I adore..."

Decline of Romantiticism

Where will be the border?
And who will draw your line?
In your life there is no order
You just lost track of time

This is your direction
You will never have satisfaction
Intentions, although they were noble
Dreams however, could not be shared
The only choice left
Is to turn away...

Will you ever have enough?

How to explain
It is purity I seek?

In a life with no emotion?

But one has to realise
I need to hang on to a dream

With no emotion

Is this your direction?
You will never have satisfaction
Will you never ever have enough
In a life With no emotion
– So much for this love
With no emotion
– So much for this love

How will you get further?
For you there is no way,

Is this the way
You want to die tonight?

Our feelings and words
Never meant the same

Where will be your border?
And who will draw your line?
In your life there is no order
You just lost track of time

Time, never was on my side
How to explain
It is purity I seek?

Is this the way you want to die?

7. Tristesse (Of Cardinals And Skeletons)

"® Writing poetry in the fields of Bretagne Ї expresses a wish that never
happened. The sentence came to me when being on tour with my band.
We were crossing the land of Bretagne and the landscape with it's woods and
menhirs
seemed so inviting. Visions of Celtic traditions and legends immediately came to
mind and the unreachable within reach. Due to a busy schedule it was impossible
to stop and really taste the atmosphere. It always has been my experience that
events that ALMOST took place are the most inspiring for reality had no grip on
the whole. This way a strange kind of magic, a dreamworld even, can remain
intact."

Blood red skies like a messenger of doom
Skeletons on parade in villages on fire
Divine maidens suffering from the plague
Apocalypse my friend put these cities into dust

Dust on coffin lits
Tales never told
Citizens living in cages of glass
Writing poetry in the fields of bretagne
But hear the cries of a distant battle

Cardinals in decay and Gods who failed everywhere
Nero's fiddle distuned, Rome into flames

With wings wide spread I wish to fly
Like an eagle embracing the sky
Dying during a final flight
Oh deliver me from life

Plundering savages drunk with bloodlust
Knights in armour now long vanished

Jesters holding the crown
Noblesse fading away
Noblesses fading

Blood red skies like a messenger of doom
Skeletons on parade in villages on fire
Divine maidens suffering from the plague
Apocalypse my friend put these cities into dust

Dust on coffin lits
Tales never told
Citizens living in cages of glass

Writing poetry in the fields of Bretagne
But hear the cries of a distant battle

Cardinals in decay
Gods who failed everywhere
Gods who failed... TRISTESSE!

8. Ignorance Is Bliss (Di, Talem Terris Avertite Pestem)

"The subtitle in Latin (after Vergilius) freely translated means ® Gods deliver
the
earth from such a pest Ї. A feeling that comes to mind whenever being
confronted with mass hysteries. When someone famous dies millions of people
who never even met the person are shedding tears, artists are recording songs
for the funeral and millions of records are being sold. Pathetic. Soap series
polluting the TV screen consumed by ignorant masses. Jetset people living in
their ivory tower cultivating ® the cult of personality Ї, all so tiring.
Artificial
values become standard. The each his own, I am aware, nevertheless this track
to show our disrespect for sheep, how arrogant this may sound. Vocals
performed in this way, exactly how I felt when thinking of the people
described."

It is so amusing
To see you clap your hands
To some else's tune
So pleasant to hear you speak
Words created by others
Quite easy to follow
Another person's steps
Convenient to walk a path
Secured by others

Ever thought about finding your own?
What about integrity?
Where did you hide your soul?
What about finding your own?
Individuality? Where did you hide your soul?

Your eyes are red
Your voice is rough
But is it your song
You are chanting?

Speaking way too loud
Slogans I have heard before
Tapping your foot
To someone else's tune?

Where did you hide your soul?

9. Overture To The Sun (Finsternis)

(Instrumental)

"A tribute to the Sun while cultivating Darkness"

10. Megalomania

"Machines and computers were used to accentuate the cold atmosphere of the
song. Praising misanthropy?"

As we march through the cities
of conquered lands
A feeling of power
Takes over our minds

When we see the enemies' fate
Upon our hands
So difficult to keep control
Rage and insanity
Fill our hearts
Are we but animals?

Years of warfare
Exterminated ideals
All that is left
Are animal instincts

Control Control, we must control!
Control Control, we must control!
Control Control, we must control!
Control Control, we must control!

Rage and insanity
Fill our hearts
We feel like animals
We march! We march! We march!

Megalomania
We are God!