Ted Lundström Bass
Olavi Mikkonen Guitars
Johan Hegg Vocals
Fredrik Andersson Drums
Johan Söderberg Guitars
Guest:
Messiah Marcolin Vocals
Recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, U.K.
Release dates:
- Europe/ Germany: June 24th
- USA: June 25th
Titled after Loki (or Loke) a deceiver / shape shifting god in Norse / Viking mythology.
Available editions:
• Jewelcase CD
• American fliptop case version includes:
- Mini poster
- Big poster with the cover artwork and the band on the other side
- Digipak
- Bonus CD:
Under the Influence
1. Burning Anvil of Steel (04:27)
2. Satan Rising (04:20)
3. Snake Eyes (03:12)
4. Stand Up to Go Down (03:27)
• German fliptop case version includes the same as the American version plus a bonus DVD:
1. Forging Mjölnir (Mini Documentary)
Live at Summer Breeze 2012
2. Twilight of the Thunder God
3. Guardians of Asgard
4. Cry of the Black Birds
5. The Pursuit of Vikings
• Limited edition boxset includes:
- Limited edition collectible Loki bust (Approx. 10 inches tall)
- Multi panel digipak with 16 page full color booklet
- Under the influence mini poster
- Limited edition fliptop keep case
- Under the Influence EP
• LP version. Released in different colors:
- 500 blue (Nuclear Blast exclusive)
- Regular black vinyl
- Picture disc
Japanese version comes with the Under the influence EP and a different bonus DVD:
1. Twilight of the Thunder God (Official Video)
2. Guardians of Asgaard (Official Video)
3. Destroyer of the Universe (Official Video)
4. Death in Fire (Official Video)
5. The Pursuit of Vikings (Official Video)
6. Runes to My Memory (Official Video)
7. Cry of the Black Birds (Official Video)
8. Death in Fire (Live)
1. Deceiver Of The Gods
Since I was born they have kept me down,
They have forced me to conform.
I will tear down their holy crown in a vengeful thunder storm,
I loathe their bloody righteous ways
It fills me with despise,
Fuelling flames of violent rage,
I will be their world's demise.
[Chorus:]
Asgård's always been my home
But I'm of different blood
I will overthrow the throne
Deceiver!
Deceiver of the gods!
All this rage, and all this hate,
It burns me deep inside,
And still it is, the only thing, keeping me alive.
Dark ambition within my heart and it's aching to break free
The one true nature of my soul, the giant lives in me.
Kneel!
You all shall kneel to me!
Or death will set you free!
You all shall kneel to me!
Fall!
You all shall fall to me!
Vengeance will be sweet!
You all shall fall to me!
[Chorus:]
Asgård's always been my home
But I'm of different blood
I will overthrow the throne
Deceiver of the gods!
[Chorus:]
Asgård's always been my home
I'm born of different blood
I've come to overthrow the throne
Deceiver!
Deceiver of the gods!
2. As Loke Falls
Heimdall gazes east
A sail has caught his eye
He lifts his hand and sounds the horn
The undead army has arrived
Here comes Nagelfar
With Laufey's son on board
He brings chaos, hate and wrath
He brings the war to end all wars
Heimdall knows his fate
The end of all nine worlds
It's what the Vala has foreseen
He knows that everything shall burn
Facing Lopt's deceit
Now they finally meet
The champion and his enemy
On Vigrid's plains they'll find defeat
Their swords meet in a mighty clash
War cries sound, horns they blast
Their eager weapons whip and thrash
This day when all shall end
The lords of war are equal strong
This battle frantic and forlorn
The blades sing a macabre song
This day when all shall end
Heimdall's blade bites burning sharp
As it cuts through flesh and bone
Blood comes gushing from the wound
As Loke's head falls tumbling
Rolling to the burning ground
3. Father Of The Wolf
So he found the heart in barren land
It was beating, still alive
He held it gently in his hand
And looked up to the sky
With evil thoughts of vicious kind
And sinister disdain
His thoughts of bringing back to life
The witch that died in flames
[Chorus:]
Serpent's kin
Born of sin
Dark within
Father of the wolf!
He then devoured Gullveig's heart
And she was born again
They brought to life an evil force
A beast that can't be tamed
With dark deception in his soul
Betrayal of the gods
The bane of Oden now is born
Born of evil blood
[Chorus:]
Serpent's kin
Born of sin
Dark within
Father of the wolf!
They brought to life a malicious force
A vile beast that cannot be tamed
Fimbultyr's nemesis now is born
A vile beast that can't be restrained
Dark!
Deception is his
Soul!
Betrayal of the
Gods!
Oden's bane is
Born!
Born of evil blood!
[Chorus:]
Serpent's kin
Born of sin
Dark within
Father of the wolf
4. Shape Shifter
I was born of giant's blood
Raised in Asgård, the home of gods
I am the master of disguise
For this trait I've gained your prise
Fast in thought, quicker tongue
Brawl with me and you'll get stung
I am the master of deceit
My words bind or set you free
[Chorus:]
I am the walker on the wind
The shape shifter
Two-faced words
And a lying grin
The shape shifter
You call me evil; curse my name
But you only have yourselves to blame
Order need its anarchy
Balance through calamity
We mixed our blood in olden days
Now I wander like a stray
We were brothers, now estranged
I will have my sweet revenge
My words are poison to your ears
I say the words you fear
Still you know it is the truth you hear
Ragnarök is drawing near
There you sit in Aegir's hall
Waiting for the coming fall
Council of the now condemned
Twilight of both gods and men
Face the facts; you're old and weak
Empty words are all you speak
No escape, there's no return
The universe shall bleed and burn
[Chorus:]
I am the eagle in the sky
The shape shifter
Vicious wolf
Howling in the night
The shape shifter
I am the walker on the wind
The shape shifter
Two-faced words
And a lying grin
The shape shifter
I am the eagle in the sky
The vicious wolf
Howling in the night
I am the walker on the wind
Lying words,
With an honest grin
The shape shifter
5. Under Siege
Outside these walls
An army awaits
But in these halls
We feel safe
Countless attacks
We have repelled
They won't turn back
They cannot be quelled
[Chorus:]
Supplies are running low
Starvation now awaits
Reinforcements will not show
They day is much too late
Broken and weak
Never give in
Prospects are bleak
We can't win
There is no hope
No time for lament
End of the rope
Our lives are spent
We have held out for months
Hoping for relief
Our fortress now our tomb
And salvation now our grief
We have held out for months
Waiting for relief
Our fortune's now our own
This is destiny
[Chorus:]
Supplies are running low
Starvation now awaits
Reinforcements never showed
As the daylight starts to fade
There's nothing left to lose
We have run out of time
There is nothing left to choose
Expect how we shall die
Open the gates!
Now we attack!
Ride into fate!
No turning back!
Stand by the King!
To glory we ride!
Weapons and shield!
Together we die!
All is lost now!
Show no fear now!
All the world shall know our bravery!
All is lost now!
Show no fear now!
Let's charge for death or victory!
6. Blood Eagle
Look to my burning eyes
Plead for your worthless life
All remorse I had has died
And all I have is hate inside
You took my soul from me
You took my family
You killed them all ferociously
Now this is what I give to thee
[Chorus:]
Carved upon your naked back
Blood eagle!
Skinned alive your ribs are cracked
Blood eagle!
Still alive you gasp for air
As panic strikes your eyes they stare
Terror grips your dying heart
Blood eagle!
Helpless on the ground
Hands and feet tightly bound
In my eyes no mercy found
My sharp knife starts to carve around
Penetrate your naked skin
Rip flesh and dig within
With a pleased and twisted grin
I spread your lungs like eagle's wings
The burning grief is tormenting me
The hate I feel is destroying me
Only vengeance will give me peace
Only vengeance will set my spirit free
[Chorus:]
Carved upon your naked back
Blood eagle!
Skinned alive your ribs will crack
Blood eagle!
Still alive you gasp for air
As panic strikes your eyes will stare
Slow death grips your tortured heart
Blood eagle!
7. We Shall Destroy
Sword and spear
Wall of shields
Standing strong
On this their chosen battle field
Form the lines
Shield by shield
Side by side
We're marching into destiny
March as one
Don't look back
Oden's sons
Attack!
Unleash hell! Do not repent!
Warfare grants us no lament
Let your weapons slash and tear
This is no place for fear
Hold the lines! Move as one!
In unity our victory's won
Our shields will form a mighty wall
United we shall never fall
Fear will not pierce our hearts
Though swords and arrows will
Victory is our reward
For all the blood we spill
We didn't come to waste our lives
Like pawns in savage game
Our spirits, spears
And shields are linked
In a much stronger chain
March as one
Don't look back
Oden's sons
Attack!
All are one
And one is all
Side by side
The battle calls
All are one
And one is all
Shield by shield
We'll never fall
Unleash hell! Do not repent!
Warfare grants us no lament
Let your weapons slash and tear
This is no place for fear
Charge with force! Break their ranks!
No remorse, crush their flanks!
Pulverize their human wall!
We shall destroy!
8. Hel
Welcome to my humble home
Your soul is mine to keep
There are no walls of rock and stone
Yet no one ever leaves
Those wo die of age and plague
Are welcomed in my court
Murderers, miscreants
Will linger here and rot
Those who die inglorious
And those who die in shame
They are all sent to my dark halls
They all shall fear my name
[Chorus:]
Here hunger is your plate
Here famine is your knife
Here you will forever dwell
I welcome you to Hel
I welcome you to Hel
Now here you are in my cold realm
You are my honoured guest
At the banquette of the dead
Your soul will never rest
[Chorus:]
Here sickness is your bed
Here ruin is your fell
Here you will forever dwell
I welcome you to
Here hunger is your plate
Here famine is your knife
Here you will forever dwell
I welcome you to Hel
9. Coming Of The Tide
Racing 'cross the arctic lands
A mounted legion
Under my command
We're a brutal force
No men can withstand
Total havoc is at hand
[Chorus:]
See the black crows circle high
Waiting for brave men to die
They sense the coming of the tide
When opposition's swept aside
The fateful message
Reached us months ago
That our home was under siege
And since that day
We've been heading north
Our kinsmen needed our relief
As we near our fortress walls
Black smoke is rising to the sky
Burnt black ruins
Of our father's halls
And corpses greet our tired eyes
What madness led them to attack
Victory could not be won
They must've known
There was no turning back
And now they all are gone
No woman, child or man was spared
Their bodies lying where they fell
Suffering, anguish and despair
As they went through living hell
So now we're on the ride again
And vengeance is
Our newfound path
We draw our strength
From grief and pain
These bastards shall know
Our endless wrath
[Chorus:]
See the black crows circle high
Waiting for brave men to die
They sense the coming of the tide
When opposition's swept aside
10. Warriors Of The North
We were the warriors of the north
Notorious and brave
We'd never lost a fight in war
We feared not the grave
The ruler of this northern court
My brother, lord, king
He always had our loyal swords
But we would feel his sting
The ageing king had no decendants
No heir to take his throne
It filled his soul with fear
Transcendent
That next in line was my first-born
The king's heart grew
Full of dark deception
Full of foul conspiracy
This was when dark days
Had their inception
And we fell to his vile deceit
Robbed of arms, robbed of pride
But he spared our lives
The fear he had of Oden's wrath
Held his vengeful knife
With hearts so cold we left our homes
Banished from our land
A life in shame, a life in grief
Until we rise again
Winters come, winters pass
Twenty wasted years
We're ageing men, our youth is gone
We will shed no tears
Winters come and winters pass
Tenty years have gone
Like a dream we fade away
Into oblivion
We are the warriors of the north
Notorious and brave
We're old but strong as before
And we don't fear the grave
From the south an army rises
They ride under cross of gold
From the shades we're called
In a time of crisis
To defend the king now weak and old
As the flames of warfare rage higher
We feel our destiny's embrace
We are ageing men of an old empire
Now we can see Valhalla's gates
We!
March again
First in line
To reach Valhalla's mighty gates
We!
March again
March to fight
To reach Valhalla's mighty
We!
March again
Give our lives
To reach Valhalla's
Mighty royal gates
11. Burning Anvil Of Steel
[Bonus EP “Under the Influence” Track]
Rising up to reek havoc on this land
A beast straight from hell with burning steel in hand
White heat, blinding lights as the molten lava flows
Total devastation as the power hammer blows
Burning anvil of steel
Cast by demons that dwell
Burning anvil of steel
Forged in the furnace of hell
Hammered down, a crushing force of weight
Razor sharp feel the metal penetrate
Grinding pain, the sparks that rip and blind
As Armageddon is brought upon mankind
Burning anvil of steel
Cast by demons that dwell
Burning anvil of steel
Forged in the furnace of hell
Burning!
Burning!
Burning anvil of steel!
Burning!
Burning!
Burning anvil of steel!
Burning anvil of steel
Cast by the demons that dwell
Burning anvil of steel
Forged in the furnace of hell
12. Satan Rising
[Bonus EP “Under the Influence” Track]
In the deep and darkest forest
Night has reached its final hour
Pagans dance 'round brimstone fires
Lucifer comes to call
Evil rites are getting higher
Spinning fast hands to the sky
Unholy chants around the pyre
Heathens call, "Satan" they cry
Sacrificial rites
From the trees a blood-rain's falling
The end of all mankind
Satan stirs; he's heard their calling
From the underworld
Comes the beast arising
Demons gather to behold
From the shadows Satan's rising
13. Snake Eyes
[Bonus EP “Under the Influence” Track]
Life is just a lottery
No matter how you choose
But that has never bothered me
'cause I was born to lose
It doesn't matter what the cost
You know I won't give in
And I don't care about the odds
Because I play to win
[Chorus:]
You know I am a gambling man
And I have paid the price
Luck has never graced my hand
When I roll the dice
Snake eyes!
I trust the way I live my life
The choices that I make
To the rolling of the dice
No matter what's at stake
Some will call me fatalist
And some will call me freak
But hidden in my throwing fist
The fortune that I seek
[Chorus:]
You know I am a gambling man
And I have paid the price
Luck has never graced my hand
When I roll the dice
Snake eyes!
14. Stand Up To Go Down
[Bonus EP “Under the Influence” Track]
I caught your eye in a New York bar
You were looking down at me
An angel in black measuring in
At just over seven feet
Some fellas like their women short
Some fellas like 'em round
But me I like the kind of girl
That makes me stand up to go down!
Stand up! To go down!
No man will throw her around
Stand up! To go down!
When we make out I can't reach the ground
We took a cab, you got in the back
But the front seat had to come out
The car shook, the car bounced
As you ground me pound for pound
But back at your place you took the reins
And saddled up, you rode me around
And just as I reached the finish line
You made me stand up to go down!
Stand up! To go down!
No man will throw her around
Stand up! To go down!
When we make out I can't reach the ground
Stand up! To go down!
I'm going down but I'm upward bound
Stand up! To go down!
In a crowd she's easily found
Stand up! To go down!
No man is gonna throw her around
Stand up! To go down!
When we make out I can't reach the ground
( 2 )
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Этого чудеснейшего релиза я ждал 1.5 года, ровно с выхода предыдущего альбома Surtur's Rising. И результат превзошёл все мои ожидания.
Альбом получился, пожалуй, самым мелодичным в дискографии группы, но фирменная стилистика группы не забыта и это все тот же многими любимый Amon Amarth.
Уже после опубликования заглавной песни релиза, Deceiver Of The Gods, я понял: это то, что нужно!
Фирменная эпичность, отличный уровень техники исполнения, замечательные мелодии и просто шикарные тексты - вот главные козыри этого музыкального шедевра.
Обобщая всё вышеизложенное, можно сказать, альбом настолько хорош, что точно будет в пятёрке лучших релизов 2013 года (а я напомню, только ленивая группа сейчас не сидит в студии). Так что настоятельно рекомендую всем заценитьэто потрясующую новинку!
Amon Amarth - одна из немногочисленных групп, к описанию достоинств которой можно смело отнести понятие высочайшего качества выпускаемой продукции. Найдя своё звучание и находясь в довольно тесных (относительно) рамках скандинавской тематики, музыканты умудряются преподносить что-то новое от релиза к релизу. При этом и без самоповторов не обходится, но это неизбежная плата за консерватизм. Рассматриваемый мной альбом вобрал в себя лучшие стороны предыдущих работ группы, такие как: цепляющий мелодизм; плотный, собранный звук; лихой задор и хитовость большей части материала. Пожалуй, чересчур вторична лишь композиция под номером три, которая напоминает мне столько песен разом, что даже перечислять не стоит. Ну и после вступления финальной композиции "Warriors of the North" у меня практически полностью отпали сомнения в том, что кто-то из ребят неравнодушен к творчеству Judas Priest (сравните с началом их песни "Rock hard, ride free", а также можете поискать параллели между "For the stabwounds in our backs" Амартов и "The Hellion" Пристов). Лично для меня цитирование классики не является проступком, особенно в тех случаях, когда оно уместно. Подытоживая вышеописанное, не премину заметить, что парни в очередной раз выдали на-гора мощнейший альбом, укрепив своё и без того устойчивое положение на мировой сцене тяжмета.
[Chorus:]
Asgård's always been my home
But I'm of different blood
I will overthrow the throne
Deceiver!
Deceiver of the gods!
All this rage, and all this hate,
It burns me deep inside,
And still it is, the only thing, keeping me alive.
Dark ambition within my heart and it's aching to break free
The one true nature of my soul, the giant lives in me.
Kneel!
You all shall kneel to me!
Or death will set you free!
You all shall kneel to me!
Fall!
You all shall fall to me!
Vengeance will be sweet!
You all shall fall to me!
[Chorus:]
Asgård's always been my home
But I'm of different blood
I will overthrow the throne
Deceiver of the gods!
[Chorus:]
Asgård's always been my home
I'm born of different blood
I've come to overthrow the throne
Deceiver!
Deceiver of the gods!
2. As Loke Falls
Heimdall gazes east
A sail has caught his eye
He lifts his hand and sounds the horn
The undead army has arrived
Here comes Nagelfar
With Laufey's son on board
He brings chaos, hate and wrath
He brings the war to end all wars
Heimdall knows his fate
The end of all nine worlds
It's what the Vala has foreseen
He knows that everything shall burn
Facing Lopt's deceit
Now they finally meet
The champion and his enemy
On Vigrid's plains they'll find defeat
Their swords meet in a mighty clash
War cries sound, horns they blast
Their eager weapons whip and thrash
This day when all shall end
The lords of war are equal strong
This battle frantic and forlorn
The blades sing a macabre song
This day when all shall end
Heimdall's blade bites burning sharp
As it cuts through flesh and bone
Blood comes gushing from the wound
As Loke's head falls tumbling
Rolling to the burning ground
3. Father Of The Wolf
So he found the heart in barren land
It was beating, still alive
He held it gently in his hand
And looked up to the sky
With evil thoughts of vicious kind
And sinister disdain
His thoughts of bringing back to life
The witch that died in flames
[Chorus:]
Serpent's kin
Born of sin
Dark within
Father of the wolf!
He then devoured Gullveig's heart
And she was born again
They brought to life an evil force
A beast that can't be tamed
With dark deception in his soul
Betrayal of the gods
The bane of Oden now is born
Born of evil blood
[Chorus:]
Serpent's kin
Born of sin
Dark within
Father of the wolf!
They brought to life a malicious force
A vile beast that cannot be tamed
Fimbultyr's nemesis now is born
A vile beast that can't be restrained
Dark!
Deception is his
Soul!
Betrayal of the
Gods!
Oden's bane is
Born!
Born of evil blood!
[Chorus:]
Serpent's kin
Born of sin
Dark within
Father of the wolf
4. Shape Shifter
I was born of giant's blood
Raised in Asgård, the home of gods
I am the master of disguise
For this trait I've gained your prise
Fast in thought, quicker tongue
Brawl with me and you'll get stung
I am the master of deceit
My words bind or set you free
[Chorus:]
I am the walker on the wind
The shape shifter
Two-faced words
And a lying grin
The shape shifter
You call me evil; curse my name
But you only have yourselves to blame
Order need its anarchy
Balance through calamity
We mixed our blood in olden days
Now I wander like a stray
We were brothers, now estranged
I will have my sweet revenge
My words are poison to your ears
I say the words you fear
Still you know it is the truth you hear
Ragnarök is drawing near
There you sit in Aegir's hall
Waiting for the coming fall
Council of the now condemned
Twilight of both gods and men
Face the facts; you're old and weak
Empty words are all you speak
No escape, there's no return
The universe shall bleed and burn
[Chorus:]
I am the eagle in the sky
The shape shifter
Vicious wolf
Howling in the night
The shape shifter
I am the walker on the wind
The shape shifter
Two-faced words
And a lying grin
The shape shifter
I am the eagle in the sky
The vicious wolf
Howling in the night
I am the walker on the wind
Lying words,
With an honest grin
The shape shifter
5. Under Siege
Outside these walls
An army awaits
But in these halls
We feel safe
Countless attacks
We have repelled
They won't turn back
They cannot be quelled
[Chorus:]
Supplies are running low
Starvation now awaits
Reinforcements will not show
They day is much too late
Broken and weak
Never give in
Prospects are bleak
We can't win
There is no hope
No time for lament
End of the rope
Our lives are spent
We have held out for months
Hoping for relief
Our fortress now our tomb
And salvation now our grief
We have held out for months
Waiting for relief
Our fortune's now our own
This is destiny
[Chorus:]
Supplies are running low
Starvation now awaits
Reinforcements never showed
As the daylight starts to fade
There's nothing left to lose
We have run out of time
There is nothing left to choose
Expect how we shall die
Open the gates!
Now we attack!
Ride into fate!
No turning back!
Stand by the King!
To glory we ride!
Weapons and shield!
Together we die!
All is lost now!
Show no fear now!
All the world shall know our bravery!
All is lost now!
Show no fear now!
Let's charge for death or victory!
6. Blood Eagle
Look to my burning eyes
Plead for your worthless life
All remorse I had has died
And all I have is hate inside
You took my soul from me
You took my family
You killed them all ferociously
Now this is what I give to thee
[Chorus:]
Carved upon your naked back
Blood eagle!
Skinned alive your ribs are cracked
Blood eagle!
Still alive you gasp for air
As panic strikes your eyes they stare
Terror grips your dying heart
Blood eagle!
Helpless on the ground
Hands and feet tightly bound
In my eyes no mercy found
My sharp knife starts to carve around
Penetrate your naked skin
Rip flesh and dig within
With a pleased and twisted grin
I spread your lungs like eagle's wings
The burning grief is tormenting me
The hate I feel is destroying me
Only vengeance will give me peace
Only vengeance will set my spirit free
[Chorus:]
Carved upon your naked back
Blood eagle!
Skinned alive your ribs will crack
Blood eagle!
Still alive you gasp for air
As panic strikes your eyes will stare
Slow death grips your tortured heart
Blood eagle!
7. We Shall Destroy
Sword and spear
Wall of shields
Standing strong
On this their chosen battle field
Form the lines
Shield by shield
Side by side
We're marching into destiny
March as one
Don't look back
Oden's sons
Attack!
Unleash hell! Do not repent!
Warfare grants us no lament
Let your weapons slash and tear
This is no place for fear
Hold the lines! Move as one!
In unity our victory's won
Our shields will form a mighty wall
United we shall never fall
Fear will not pierce our hearts
Though swords and arrows will
Victory is our reward
For all the blood we spill
We didn't come to waste our lives
Like pawns in savage game
Our spirits, spears
And shields are linked
In a much stronger chain
March as one
Don't look back
Oden's sons
Attack!
All are one
And one is all
Side by side
The battle calls
All are one
And one is all
Shield by shield
We'll never fall
Unleash hell! Do not repent!
Warfare grants us no lament
Let your weapons slash and tear
This is no place for fear
Charge with force! Break their ranks!
No remorse, crush their flanks!
Pulverize their human wall!
We shall destroy!
8. Hel
Welcome to my humble home
Your soul is mine to keep
There are no walls of rock and stone
Yet no one ever leaves
Those wo die of age and plague
Are welcomed in my court
Murderers, miscreants
Will linger here and rot
Those who die inglorious
And those who die in shame
They are all sent to my dark halls
They all shall fear my name
[Chorus:]
Here hunger is your plate
Here famine is your knife
Here you will forever dwell
I welcome you to Hel
I welcome you to Hel
Now here you are in my cold realm
You are my honoured guest
At the banquette of the dead
Your soul will never rest
[Chorus:]
Here sickness is your bed
Here ruin is your fell
Here you will forever dwell
I welcome you to
Here hunger is your plate
Here famine is your knife
Here you will forever dwell
I welcome you to Hel
9. Coming Of The Tide
Racing 'cross the arctic lands
A mounted legion
Under my command
We're a brutal force
No men can withstand
Total havoc is at hand
[Chorus:]
See the black crows circle high
Waiting for brave men to die
They sense the coming of the tide
When opposition's swept aside
The fateful message
Reached us months ago
That our home was under siege
And since that day
We've been heading north
Our kinsmen needed our relief
As we near our fortress walls
Black smoke is rising to the sky
Burnt black ruins
Of our father's halls
And corpses greet our tired eyes
What madness led them to attack
Victory could not be won
They must've known
There was no turning back
And now they all are gone
No woman, child or man was spared
Their bodies lying where they fell
Suffering, anguish and despair
As they went through living hell
So now we're on the ride again
And vengeance is
Our newfound path
We draw our strength
From grief and pain
These bastards shall know
Our endless wrath
[Chorus:]
See the black crows circle high
Waiting for brave men to die
They sense the coming of the tide
When opposition's swept aside
10. Warriors Of The North
We were the warriors of the north
Notorious and brave
We'd never lost a fight in war
We feared not the grave
The ruler of this northern court
My brother, lord, king
He always had our loyal swords
But we would feel his sting
The ageing king had no decendants
No heir to take his throne
It filled his soul with fear
Transcendent
That next in line was my first-born
The king's heart grew
Full of dark deception
Full of foul conspiracy
This was when dark days
Had their inception
And we fell to his vile deceit
Robbed of arms, robbed of pride
But he spared our lives
The fear he had of Oden's wrath
Held his vengeful knife
With hearts so cold we left our homes
Banished from our land
A life in shame, a life in grief
Until we rise again
Winters come, winters pass
Twenty wasted years
We're ageing men, our youth is gone
We will shed no tears
Winters come and winters pass
Tenty years have gone
Like a dream we fade away
Into oblivion
We are the warriors of the north
Notorious and brave
We're old but strong as before
And we don't fear the grave
From the south an army rises
They ride under cross of gold
From the shades we're called
In a time of crisis
To defend the king now weak and old
As the flames of warfare rage higher
We feel our destiny's embrace
We are ageing men of an old empire
Now we can see Valhalla's gates
We!
March again
First in line
To reach Valhalla's mighty gates
We!
March again
March to fight
To reach Valhalla's mighty
We!
March again
Give our lives
To reach Valhalla's
Mighty royal gates
11. Burning Anvil Of Steel
[Bonus EP “Under the Influence” Track]
Rising up to reek havoc on this land
A beast straight from hell with burning steel in hand
White heat, blinding lights as the molten lava flows
Total devastation as the power hammer blows
Burning anvil of steel
Cast by demons that dwell
Burning anvil of steel
Forged in the furnace of hell
Hammered down, a crushing force of weight
Razor sharp feel the metal penetrate
Grinding pain, the sparks that rip and blind
As Armageddon is brought upon mankind
Burning anvil of steel
Cast by demons that dwell
Burning anvil of steel
Forged in the furnace of hell
Burning!
Burning!
Burning anvil of steel!
Burning!
Burning!
Burning anvil of steel!
Burning anvil of steel
Cast by the demons that dwell
Burning anvil of steel
Forged in the furnace of hell
12. Satan Rising
[Bonus EP “Under the Influence” Track]
In the deep and darkest forest
Night has reached its final hour
Pagans dance 'round brimstone fires
Lucifer comes to call
Evil rites are getting higher
Spinning fast hands to the sky
Unholy chants around the pyre
Heathens call, "Satan" they cry
Sacrificial rites
From the trees a blood-rain's falling
The end of all mankind
Satan stirs; he's heard their calling
From the underworld
Comes the beast arising
Demons gather to behold
From the shadows Satan's rising
13. Snake Eyes
[Bonus EP “Under the Influence” Track]
Life is just a lottery
No matter how you choose
But that has never bothered me
'cause I was born to lose
It doesn't matter what the cost
You know I won't give in
And I don't care about the odds
Because I play to win
[Chorus:]
You know I am a gambling man
And I have paid the price
Luck has never graced my hand
When I roll the dice
Snake eyes!
I trust the way I live my life
The choices that I make
To the rolling of the dice
No matter what's at stake
Some will call me fatalist
And some will call me freak
But hidden in my throwing fist
The fortune that I seek
[Chorus:]
You know I am a gambling man
And I have paid the price
Luck has never graced my hand
When I roll the dice
Snake eyes!
14. Stand Up To Go Down
[Bonus EP “Under the Influence” Track]
I caught your eye in a New York bar
You were looking down at me
An angel in black measuring in
At just over seven feet
Some fellas like their women short
Some fellas like 'em round
But me I like the kind of girl
That makes me stand up to go down!
Stand up! To go down!
No man will throw her around
Stand up! To go down!
When we make out I can't reach the ground
We took a cab, you got in the back
But the front seat had to come out
The car shook, the car bounced
As you ground me pound for pound
But back at your place you took the reins
And saddled up, you rode me around
And just as I reached the finish line
You made me stand up to go down!
Stand up! To go down!
No man will throw her around
Stand up! To go down!
When we make out I can't reach the ground
Stand up! To go down!
I'm going down but I'm upward bound
Stand up! To go down!
In a crowd she's easily found
Stand up! To go down!
No man is gonna throw her around
Stand up! To go down!
When we make out I can't reach the ground