Show Notes: Ritual

Welcome to the show notes! This is the section where I take the writing/research I’ve done for the episodes and post them for you to see!

Where we left off last episode: The Clergy has formed on the outskirts of society, they are now taking themselves public to try and lure in followers to some success. They were shouted down by the masses of God and have been forced back underground with a growth in numbers.

Now we go into the next scene of our play, Ritual. I picture this as a dark chapel, a very gothic atmosphere. I think some time has passed since Con Clavi Con Dios scene, it seems to me that through a few hints in the song alludes to this. We now join the still smallish clergy in one of their final sermons before the plot to unleash the anti-christ begins.

Tonight we're summoned for a divine cause
Remembrance - No
But for their future loss

“Divine Cause” Again, an interesting usage of a word. Divinity can mean the study of religion, perhaps this Ritual is the description/discovery of the Antichrist. It’s odd that he did not use “Demonic” or “Hellish” as Divinity is mostly associated with God.

“Rembrance – no but for their future loss” Furthers that theory this is the discovery. Looking for a way to move forward to their future even if it is the end times of the Antichrist.

This chapel of ritual
Smells of dead human sacrifices
From the altar..

The order has been practising human sacrifices during the sermons. Whether this is a vain attempt to call forth Lucifer or just to appease their Lord is unknown at this time.

From the number of sacrifices and the smell lingering, we can infer two things. One: This is not the first sermon of the clergy at this place due to the amount of sacrifices being more than one. Two: The clergy has started taking the children of god by force for their rituals. I don't think they have enough members at this point to sacrifice their own.

Beduins and nomads
Carried through the times
Through pestilences and famines
These ancient scrolls of rhymes


Beduins and Nomads. This line refers to the Bedouin people, a group of nomads who have been roaming the middle east for many centuries. They've endured hardships, the mentioned famines etc and are currently at a clash with Isreal over their status in society. It could be that Papa is comparing his clergy to this group, no real home to be found and unwilling to settle for the society of god.

"Our fallen angel vexed
Was banished from the sky
Recite now from the text
Pray for ALL to die"

This is clearly the story of Lucifer being cast down from the heavens. The text is most likely referring to the anti-bible that has been written by the clergy themselves.

This chapel of ritual
Smells of dead human sacrifices
From the altar bed
On this night of ritual
Invoking our master
To procreate the unholy bastard

The reference to the Altar as a bed gives me two thoughts that are backed up by the lines following. Either A) A sacrifice to a diety is often a “virgin” sacrifice. Perhaps the clergy, since they follow Satan and his Sins, believe that a “corrupted” body is more fitting and to ensure this the deed is done on the altar before sacrifice.

B) They are undertaking sacrifices and then trying to procreate on the scene of this sacrifice in an attempt at invoking the conception of the anti-christ. I don't think this works however.

"Our father
Who art in hell
Unhallowed be thy name
Cursed be the sons and daughters
Of thine Nemesis
Whom are to blame
Thy kingdom come
nemA"

The prayer of Satan is obviously a direct reference to the lords prayer, it’s very on the nose. Unhallowed is a direct opposite to “greatly revered”. |This perhaps means the Clergy does not see Satan on a pedestal like the followers of God do for him, but more of leader amongst the masses.

The sons and daughters are most likely referring to the holymen of the Church of God whom brainwashed the populace originally and are to blame for the state of society.

Tonight we summoned for His unholy fiend
Now celebrate
The End

“Now Celebrate, The End” – Double meaning. It could mean celebrate the endtimes as overseen by Antichrist, celebrating the end of the world and the human race in general. It could also be a statement to celebrate the end of Gods grip on humanity as their order grows larger and their plans move forward.