...In ancient times once rode across the land A man unknown on a horse of untold grand, Adorned his cape by thirty runes of gold Of whom the tales since ages unknown told...
...The man arrived at the shore of sea And gazed onto the nightly sky, His ears could hear and his eyes could see Two ravens dark as night passing by...
...In a distance far the thunder sounds And lightnings reached the frozen grounds, His breath ran fast, his heart pounded strong As the day now came, awaited oh so long...
...Tears will fall and blood will soon be shed When the dawn heralds the twilight of the day... Then into battle they will ride with their swords in hand For a heathenish foray...
...Countless miles he rode through ice and knee-deep snow Over mountains 'till the landscape changed its face So he at last arrived where winds blew strong and chill Like a welcome to all those who trod this place...
...He in cape was wrapped, and with his hammer 'round his neck He forced his way though he didn't saw the path, But he did not rest, 'till he had crossed this land of chill And the storm had calmed, when he stood alone on hill...
...His eyes could see the forrest shining bright And it's trees reflected solens golden light, The sound of horns then reached his ears To welcome him and take away his fears...
...From all their lands the kings, they came With their retinue of countless men, And the maiden in full armour sat on their horses, Winged, until the right began...
So he rested a while an recovered from his ride, The horizon gleamed by the mighty northers light, And the elder ones sang tales about the past, Of their ancestors pride, that will forever last...
...As the darkness fell and gone was solens light The silence ruled amongst the men of heathenpride, Who gatheren in a mighty battle-line And awaited their Gods to give the final sign...
2. ...Of Forests Unknown...
On eagle's swift and supple wings I tore through the utter black. No clouds above, no ground below The flame's my only light. I fell into nothingness until the impact ceased my fall, Into a world unknown to man....
From a forest, unspoiled, unseen, I perceived A whispering, summoning me To follow the path of no return. Step by step I walked this route nobody ever built Holding tight onto my shield and sword....
A cloaking darkness embraces me Though flames are burning bright, In a distance far a flickering, The blaze my guiding light. Snow, caress me, sharp and cold, in the very depths of my hearth. Tired, frightened now I am; my will now fall's apart....
From a forest, unspoiled, unseen, I perceive A whispering summoning me To follow the path of no return. Step by step I walk this route nobody ever built Holding tight onto my shield and sword....
3. Havamal
Rh first I know, unknown to rulers, Or any human mind; Help it is named, for help it can give In hours of despair....
I know a third, in the thick of battle, If my need be great, It will blunt the edges of swords and axes, Their weapons will make no wounds.
I know a ninth, when need I have To shelter my ship on the flood, The wind it calms, the waves it smoothes And puts the sea to sleep.
The Wise One has spoken the words in the hall, Joy to him who understood.
I grew and I throve well; Word from word gave words to me, Deed from deed gave deeds to me.
When I brethern lead to battle I chant it behind my shield, Unwounded they go, Unwounded they return, Unscathed whereever they are.
I know another, only few know, The names of the falles ones. About the gigh ones, elves and gods, I can name them all.
The Wise one has spoken the words in the hall, Joy to him who understood.
I grew and I throve well; Word from word gave words to me, Deed from deed gave deeds to me.
The Wise One has spoken the words in the hall, Needful for men to know. Hail the speaker, hail to who knows, Joy to him who understood.
4. Roman Land
For Manalis en Velandur!!! Mannen, t'leve ma nej evig duur....
Herjan vear et bluden naart. Dounear daveirjent ab Roudenbaard.
There lurks evil round each bend of the road: A long life you must not look to have, So great are the hatreds grown.
For manalis en Velandur!!! Mannen, t'leve ma nej evig duur....
Herjan vear et bluden naart. Dounear daveirjent ab Roudenbaard.
Among kinsmen remain free from fault and reproach: Be slow to wrath though they wrong you much, In death this will do you good.
To battle is better than to be burned in the hall, Although it gleams with gold
Foraan Mannen!!! Trekker Vi Naar Roman Land
Foraan kaempen For manalis en Velandur, Trekkar vi naar Vear dej Wal'es kiest.
For manalis en Velandur!!! Mannen, t'leve ma nej evig duur....
Herjan vear et bluden naart. Dounear daveirjent ab Roudenbaard.
5. Heralder
From beyond a twilight horizon where mountains were covered with snow, Once a man on a horse came the way, On an early autumnal morning, when dew lay chill on the ground, And the sun's first rays heralded the day, To rest at last after riding for more than three days and nights, Through the woods and across the shallow landscapes, To finally reach the village the rumours where talking about, And where the heathen king lived for many years.
His golden armour was shining by the light of awakening sun, And in his hand he held a bronzen shield On which the runes all were written by a blacksmith of wisdom great, To guide him on his way so long. He had come to bring the message the king has given to him, To be conveyed into all heathen countries, And he told about their brethern, overtaken by christian men, Now punished by the cross and christian laws.
So the man dismounted and his horse was taken by it's bridle to be brought into the stabling. Meanwhile he was lead to the hall where the king sat on his greatseat. Forthwith he told him the reasons for his coming, And withing a few minutes all people were gathered by the king's mighty voice. So he rose on his feet and began to speak about the greatest heathen host ever see, Passing towards their brethern land....
After three days and nights of riding the frontier they finally reached, With their hearths wholly determined, And encountered the christian church in their once sacred woods As the chaplain just chimed the bell. At once they put the spurs in their horses, Hearths were filled with rage and hate, And in their hands they held the torches, When Odhinn was amongst and Tyr was leading their hearts Into a world of anciest mysteries....
The night the longswords where grinded And the shields were forged in blood, By the hands of most dextrous blacksmiths, And sacrifices were given to the Goddesses and the Gods, In the woods by the mighty tree, Known in heathen kingdoms as the mighty Irminsul, That was built as an immense landmark Of heathen pride and honour And a symbol of what shall be....
6. Laeknishendr
Se hon valkyrjur
"Heill dagr. Heilir dags synir. Heil nуtt ok nift. Уreiрum augum Lнtiр okkr юinig Ok gefiр sitjцndum sigr."
"Heilir жsir. Heilar бsynjur. Heil sjб in fjцlnэta fold. Mбl ok mannvit Gefiр okkr mжrum tveim Ok lжknishendr, meрan lifum"
[Taken from Sigrdrнfumбl, verses 4 and 5]
7. Walkiesjar
The morning sun is rising, The forest cloaked in gold. And the mist surrounds the mountains, The landscape calm and cold.
The hall of bronzen shields up high In a distance far shining bright. And the horns are sounding from afar For Walkiesjar.
A gentle breeze caresses me, While runes are warily cast, Heralding fate and fortune, My future and my past.
On supple wings two ravens fly To lead us to ultimate truth. And the horns are sounding from afar For Walkiesjar
8. Skirnir
Long is one night, and long the second one; How can I.... how can I wait through three?
Once a month.... a month seemed less to me Compared to this one night of waiting for her....
As dear to no man in days past Was maid as she is to me: But no elf, no god, will grant my prayer That I may lie with her....
Hail to thee, Veraldur!!!
Long is one night, and long the second one; How can I.... how can I wait through three?
Once a month.... a month seemed less to me Compared to this one night of waiting for her....
Arise, Skirnir, now ride swiftly to Frey, my son, And ask him this: With whom is the Wise one so angry, So sad at hearth?
Hail to thee, Veraldur!!!
To stake life on the luck of the dice Is better than to be a coward: The day of my death is by fate, My time is fixed.
Night has fallen: Now we must ride over the misty mountains, The fells of the troll-folk; We shall both arrive or both fall ....into the hands of Gymir.
Hail to thee, Veraldur
[Inspired by the Skirnismal]
9. Gjallar
[Digipack and LP bonus track]
[Re-recorded version of an old track originally featured on the "...Skinn Av Sveri Sol Valtiva..." demo.]
