Beneath The Howling Stars

Now that Elizabeth is at the peak of her power, she throws a ball. The beginning of this song merely describes the general feeling of despair that is in the air, and contrasts that by showing Elizabeth resting content with her Dobermans. As the night grows darker, her mood becomes violent, and she kills a servant for the slightest infraction. All of the language thus far seems to be indicating some kind of ominous occurence in the near future. She descends to the ball room, and everyone stops to stare. She is exceedingly beautiful, and the Black Count (apparently just some powerful, wealthy figure) is enraptured by her. They leave the dance after practically fucking on the dance floor and go for a carriage ride, in order to have a more private sexual encounter. She convinces him to kill a hag that insults her age, and he does so with pleasure. This shows us that they are kindred. Eventually, to punish her or incense her to war, the God she abandoned in 13 Autumns and a Widow kills the Black Count. She is furious.

Some of the best lines come from this song. My favorite: "And because He sought Her loves onslaught, He gutted the crone for sport." Awesome.

Since this album was about the serial killer Elizabeth Bathory, who used to torture, rape, and kill virgin servant girls... I would have to guess this is about one of her murders. This is my favorite CoF song. The guitar riff is cool, and when he stops and screams "Beneath the Howling Stars" at the breakdown, it sounds so fucking cool.

I believe that fadeofflashes is right. Of course this song is about Elizabeth Bathory.

could anyone tell me the name of a book about elizabeth bathory and the author?

fadetoflashes's interpretation is spot on. This song is awesome; I love the part in the song describing them having sex ("Tongue unto tongue ...").

"The wench Her tower tombed Tending to Her costume Bore the brunt of the storm When the needle askewed She has Her dogs maul the bitch's wrists through"

• As one of Elizabeth's slaves tended to her clothes, she accidentally pierced her; of course this enraged Elizabeth and she murdered the poor woman.

"Pounding upon the pauper ridge Earshot of a hunched beldame .. ... .. And because He sought Her loves onslaught He gutted the crone for sport"

• Elizabeth toyed with the Count, saying something like "Would you conjugate with this old lady rather than myself?", while referring to a random old beggar. The Count played along with it. The old woman retaliated, basically saying "This bitch here [Elizabeth] will soon get as wasted with age as I am." The Count laughed; Elizabeth was so dazzlingly beautiful that he doubted age would matter to her. Proud, narcissistic Elizabeth, on the other hand, was still heavily insulted by what the hag had said to her, and the Black Count, who promised he would do anything for Elizabeth, destroyed the old woman.

Yeah, that sounds pretty close to me. By the way, I'm new to this site, can anyone tell me how to add bands to the "favorite artists" thing? I wanna add CoF :D, among other bands of course.

Ok close but this song details the events surrounding the meeting and marriage of Elisabeth to her husband

Soon in full moon fever they were wed Lycanthropic in the conjugal bed

Who in the last lines goes of to war to fight off the Turkish incursions into Western Europe

Whilst Her errant Lord Whose seasons savoured war Stormed black to fell the infidel

This basically leaves Elisabeth alone to rule and carry out her murders...

I'ld also like to pnt out that

On this violent night Unholy night

is a paody of the Christmas Carol "Silent Night"

As Bane and Tyranny, Her Dobermans sleep Like spellbound paramours at Her feet

and that these are my fav lines, her dogs are called Tyranny and Bane how cool is that?

The ultimate love song. There is nothing more beautiful and romantic then to kill for the one you love.

"For passions ensnared Phantasies sexed When their eyes, moonstruck met Their friction wore a way Through the sea of foreplay Lovers at first bite She an Eve tempted to lay Gasping at rafters Flesh pressed in ballet"

"Pounding upon the pauper ridge Earshot of a hunched beldame Elizabeth teased, would He dare to please Such elderly loins enflamed? To this He feigned a grim disdain Playing to Her slayful eye But the hag replied.... "This girl that chides Will soon be as plagued with age as I" Her consort laughed a plume of icy breath For Elizabeth's grace could raise A flag of truce in burning heaven Or the dead from early graves Yet still She seethed This proud Snow Queen Embittered with the cursed retort And because He sought Her loves onslaught He gutted the crone for sport"

Dani has quite a way with words, hes so intelligently descriptive.

"Pounding upon the pauper ridge Earshot of a hunched beldame Elizabeth teased, would He dare to please Such elderly loins enflamed? To this He feigned a grim disdain Playing to Her slayful eye But the hag replied.... "This girl that chides Will soon be as plagued with age as I" Her consort laughed a plume of icy breath For Elizabeth's grace could raise A flag of truce in burning heaven Or the dead from early graves Yet still She seethed This proud Snow Queen Embittered with the cursed retort And because He sought Her loves onslaught He gutted the crone for sport"

Anyone like to comment on this part?

I basically agree with fadetoflashes, although the "Dead Count" is NOT dying in this song, but merely going to some sort of religious war ("to fell the infidel"), most probably the war against of the hungary against the ottomen. God is not mentioned in this particular stanza.