Attention: The last three Emperor albums (Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, IX Equilibrium, and Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire and Demise) all center around the Emperor character, who is a Satanist (this is never stated, it just simply has to be true because Ihsahn was a Satanist at the time and he wrote the lyrics ;) ).
Ihsahn himself stopped being a Satanist in real life, and I believe that his whole process of awakening to this realization is shown on this entire album. The opening line on the first track "The Eruption" is:
And after years in dark tunnels, he came to silence; there was nothing.
That is to say, this person has spent a lot of time in "dark tunnels," a reference (in my opinion) to the Satanic lifestyle, but after a while he realizes it isn't doing anything for him.
I don't think the song is about anyone going to hell. When it says the earth swallowed him I think that is just a metaphor for him losing his mind because he can't get what he wants ("a moment of quiet indulgence').
Attention: The last three Emperor albums (Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, IX Equilibrium, and Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire and Demise) all center around the Emperor character, who is a Satanist (this is never stated, it just simply has to be true because Ihsahn was a Satanist at the time and he wrote the lyrics ;) ).
Ihsahn himself stopped being a Satanist in real life, and I believe that his whole process of awakening to this realization is shown on this entire album. The opening line on the first track "The Eruption" is:
And after years in dark tunnels, he came to silence; there was nothing.
That is to say, this person has spent a lot of time in "dark tunnels," a reference (in my opinion) to the Satanic lifestyle, but after a while he realizes it isn't doing anything for him.
I don't think the song is about anyone going to hell. When it says the earth swallowed him I think that is just a metaphor for him losing his mind because he can't get what he wants ("a moment of quiet indulgence').