Track By Tracks: Desert Twelve - The Last Dark Wood (2024)

1. To Be the King – In rege pater est:

"To Be the King" represents a deep expression of the pain from losing the father, the creator of the sacred forest, a real place located in central Italy. The track, characterized by a slow and enveloping style, marks the beginning of the journey into rock/ doom/ stoner vibes. The father or as we say “Th king” now reduced to a blurred memory, has become a multitude of recollections obscured by time. Only music has the power to revive the master of a magical realm, the head of a family that remains intact and unscathed, unlike what often happens to great artists. The song is also a declaration of the change of name of the earth in Desert 12.

2. The Dragon – Morsus draconis:

"The Dragon" tells of an ancient legend in which the Dragon's bite soothed the spirits of the old subjects, who held this mythological figure in great reverence. Now the Dragon has vanished from reality and exists only in the mythology of the faithful. Nevertheless, its legend continues to be strongly believed by the people.

3. Bikini Since 1946 – Apocalipsys Fungus:

The track is inspired by actual historical events, and we have chosen to incorporate this historical occurrence into our album, integrating it into our musical realm. It delves into the atomic experiments conducted from 1946 to 1953, a pivotal period following Japan, which led to the development of the hydrogen bomb. The inhabitants of Bikini Atoll would never again witness their islands as they once were but only experience the ravages of radioactivity and atomic mushrooms. This piece reflects the profound transformation of these locales and the devastating impact of nuclear tests on both life and the environment.

4. Eleven Magic Kisses – Undecim oscules sumere:

"11 Magic Kisses" is a title that speaks for itself, capturing the magical moments of love before the end. The song culminates in a final proclamation that reflects on us: it expresses how we felt during the creation of this album, the sources of inspiration that guided us, and the deep connection that binds us together. “WE ARE CONDITIONED BY DIVINE MAGIC, BY THE INFLUENCE OF PLANETS AND THE TIME OF BIRTH, BY ANIMALS AND THE UNIVERSAL SPIRIT OF LOVE.CRYSTAL MIRRORS AND MAGIC SPHERES REVEAL TO US WHAT IS HIDDEN BELOW AND ABOVE, MAYBE WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE SECRETS OF THE SPIRIT OR THE HEART OF THIS WORLD”

5. The Moon – Luna:

"The Moon" is an experimental track that seeks to parallel two timelines: that of the girl and the wolf, and that of the moon and the Earth. At the end of the story, the moon destroys the Earth, and as a result, the wolf kills the girl. This narrative aims to illustrate the profound connection between the characters of the sacred forest and the celestial events, revealing how the forces of the heavens and the Earth are intricately linked and influence the fate of individuals.

6. Echidna – Cerberorum Mater:

Echidna, a figure from Greek mythology, is the mother of Cerberus and heralds the first invasion from the underworld. Half woman and half raptor, Echidna is a powerful and fearsome being, ready to defend her offspring with fierce determination, both for good and especially for ill. The song serves as a potent musical mantra, calling upon the gods for ancestral protection that seems not to arrive, or at least has not yet arrived.

7. The First Underworld Dawn – Inferorum Prima Lux:

In a way, the album could end here. The song tells that we have lost; the underworld emerges from the burning heat of the sun, and ancient masters of terror see them rising from underground like lizards out of control. The first battle is lost, and the world of men is dominated by fear, leading to their self-destruction. However, many still believe in the myth of the golden armor, the only one, built by ancient blacksmiths who died young. This hope drives the new generations to fight to win the second great battle, proudly led by the woman with the invincible voice. We, the old prophets of music, will die in the near yet distant 2069, during the passage of Halley's Comet.

8. THE LAST DARK WOOD – Obscura silva ultima:

The lyrics of the final song depict the end, where the King rests in peace in the last sacred and dark wood. We imagine that one day archaeologists will come to seek the truth. The warriors of the forest have turned into basalt statues and are the new heroes to be exalted before the next sandstorm. In this setting, two pure souls meet and fall in love just by looking into each other's eyes. "Now I see you."

All the lyrics were written by Vittoria Ipri and Gabriele Finotti, with consultation from David Stockdale.