Gateways by Dimmu Borgir Lyrics Meaning – Unlocking the Mysteries Behind the Metal Anthem
Lyrics
Is the only notion to obey
The formula of evolution and sin
Leading the way
The rebirth is near completion
As we slowly awaken from slumber
As we slowly awaken from slumber
The malpractice of the spirit ends
Gateways!
When the gift is once again attained
Gateways!
No rules or restraints are longer valid
Gateways!
When the ancient future is reclaimed
Gateways!
No rules or restraints are longer valid
Gateways!
When the ancient future is reclaimed
Gateways!
It’s all there for the eye that can see
The blind ones will always suffer in secrecy
For it is the omen
Of what lies submerged
Untouched within us
The core principle of freedom
Is the only notion to obey
The formulae of evolution and sin
Leading the way
The rebirth is near completion
As we slowly awaken from slumber
To receive the light that shines in darkness
The light that shines forevermore
Forevermore!
Be the broken or the breaker
Be the giver or the undertaker
Unlatch and open the doors
Be the healer or the faker
The keys are in your hands
Realize you are your own sole creator
Of your own masterplan
Be the broken or the breaker
Be the giver or the undertaker
Unlatch and open the doors
Be the healer or the faker
The keys are in your hands
Realize you are your own sole creator
Of your own masterplan!
Symphonic black metal giants Dimmu Borgir have long been at the helm of the genre, delivering compositions that dive deep into the philosophy of self-empowerment and metaphysical rebellion. ‘Gateways,’ a track off their 2010 album ‘Abrahadabra,’ is no exception, offering a dense tapestry of lyrical enigmas and auditory prowess that demand a closer look.
In the vast landscape of their discography, ‘Gateways’ stands out as a monolithic beacon of thematic exploration. Its lyrics teem with allegorical content and a profound yearning for liberation, leading listeners down a path that stretches beyond the music into the realms of existential contemplation.
An Ode to Primordial Freedom
The serpentine lines in ‘Gateways’ slither around the foundational desire for freedom, an ancestral longing etched into the essence of humanity. Dimmu Borgir doesn’t simply craft songs; they forge anthems for the soul’s liberation, using ‘the only notion to obey’ as a focal point around which the rest of the narrative coils.
This repeated homage to the ‘core principle of freedom’ is a recurring motif, echoing throughout the composition like a clarion call to awaken from the slumber of societal constructs and constraints that have dulled the human experience.
Awakening From Slumber: A Metaphysical Rebirth
The term ‘rebirth’ captures a pivotal theme in ‘Gateways,’ invoking imagery of transformation and awakening. Dimmu Borgir isn’t just playing with metaphor here; they’re challenging the listener to rise, phoenix-like, from the ashes of complacency.
As the song progresses, the notion of ‘slowly awaken[ing] from slumber’ takes on spiritual dimensions, suggesting that this renaissance is one not only of mind but of the very spirit entangled in the material world’s ‘malpractice.’
Unlocking the ‘Gateways’: The Lure of Forbidden Knowledge
The titular ‘Gateways’ serve as both a literal and symbolic bridge to a reclaimed wisdom, a once-lost ‘ancient future’ that beckons with the promise of untapped potential. The repeated invocation of these portals offers a crescendo of insight, heralding a paradigm shift towards enlightenment unfettered by ‘rules or restraints.’
By traversing these gateways, the band seems to suggest an esoteric journey where one can access a hidden trove of knowledge, empowering those who are not ‘blind’ to the greater forces at play in the universe.
The Light That Shines In Darkness: A Dichotomy of Revelation
An arresting image emerges amid the blast beats and growls: ‘the light that shines in darkness.’ This line distills a core concept of the song—the light of understanding residing within the darkest corners of our being, accessible to those courageous enough to confront their own depths.
It’s a declaration that wisdom and insight need not come from external authorities but can often be found in the shadowy recesses of our own introspection and the acknowledgement of our innermost selves.
Master of Your Fate: The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Peering past the initial layer of infernal aesthetics, ‘Gateways’ harbors a secret manifesto—one of self-creation, where each individual is posited as the ‘sole creator of your own masterplan.’ The song isn’t just music; it’s a mirror, reflecting the potential that resides in the listener to forge their destiny.
Ultimately, ‘Gateways’ is an incitation to embrace personal agency. With each bombastic note and fervent lyric, the band implores listeners to seize the keys offered and become either ‘the broken or the breaker,’ the active architect of their life’s narrative.
