Ancient Rites Laguz 1. Golden Path To Samarkand 2. Carthago Delenda Est Ancient Phoenician colony, reigning the untamed Sea Formidable fleet built of the iconic cedar tree Inventing an early alphabet, contriving transparent glass Holding the key to purple, rare colour of the Empire Class TANIT! BA'AL! TANIT! BA'AL! An empire rising so sudden, startled the ancient world Dominance at stake, against Carthago legions had to be hurled For this closed civilisation was looked upon with fear and distrust Whispers of infant sacrifice filled the ancient world with disgust Carthago Delenda Est! The Punic God Ba’al-Hamon, the centre of Carthago religion Demanded human burning flesh, in ancient sources is written Whether dark reality or rumours, opinions are divided to this day A clash of titans, the Punic Wars, and Rome made Carthago pay Hannibal shook the Roman World, victory for Phoenicians within reach "Carthago Delenda Est", Cato The Elder's famous repeated speech "Carthage must be destroyed" Cato stated, a prediction harsh and dire Scipio set the city ablaze, and thus Carthago went down in fire Ancient Phoenician colony, reigning the untamed Sea Formidable fleet built of the iconic cedar tree Inventing an early alphabet, contriving transparent glass Holding the key to purple, rare colour of the Empire Class TANIT! BA'AL! TANIT! BA'AL! Razed to the ground, ruins remained, 50.000 as slaves to be sold It was the most absolute fall for a civilisation that old That is the tragic tale of the once mighty empire of trade Echoes of (Greek) tragedies come to mind, thinking of Carthago's fate Carthago Delenda Est… 3. Under The Sign Of Laguz Onward into the Northern waters, onward! Forward to tame unknown lands, forward! Alfather Odin be our guide, onward! Under the Laguz rune, forward! UNDER THE SIGN OF LAGUZ WE SAIL UNAFRAID OF WHAT AWAITS WHEN THE LIFE'S JOURNEY IS OVER WE BEHOLD VALHALLA'S GATES UNDER THE SIGN OF LAGUZ WE SAIL UNAFRAID OF WHAT AWAITS WHEN THE LIFE'S JOURNEY IS OVER WE BEHOLD VALHALLA'S GATES Laguz representing, ebb and flow of life Sign of the water and spiritual strife The timeless sea, origin and source of life Yet unpredictable element, of Death and of Thrive UNDER THE SIGN OF LAGUZ WE SAIL UNAFRAID OF WHAT AWAITS WHEN THE LIFE'S JOURNEY IS OVER WE BEHOLD VALHALLA'S GATES UNDER THE SIGN OF LAGUZ WE SAIL UNAFRAID OF WHAT AWAITS WHEN THE LIFE'S JOURNEY IS OVER WE BEHOLD VALHALLA'S GATES The ocean, the domain of the Midgard Serpent Giving, but also taking, the life of sailor and merchant Oh symbol of the subconscious and dream Of travel in flesh and mind, haven for souls to redeem Sacred to Njord and the Aegir, deities of the sea Laguz represents the Well of Wyrd, near the Yggdrasil tree Laguz stands for mystery, revelation, fertility, growth, the unknown, life energy Rune of the universal knowledge, collective ancient wisdom Pre-dating more recent teachings, Islamic or Christian UNDER THE SIGN OF LAGUZ WE SAIL UNAFRAID OF WHAT AWAITS WHEN THE LIFE'S JOURNEY IS OVER WE BEHOLD VALHALLA'S GATES UNDER THE SIGN OF LAGUZ WE SAIL UNAFRAID OF WHAT AWAITS WHEN THE LIFE'S JOURNEY IS OVER WE BEHOLD VALHALLA'S GATES 4. Von Gott Entfernt (Bij Nacht En Ontij) The lowlands saw the rise of a Guild unseen A Phoenix rising contra church and regime Dead Man's Hand! Across the countries they spread their attack The legend said that they rode on goat back Dead Man's Hand! "ICK ZWEER GOD AF EN DEN DUYVEL AAN!" Hosts in blood, a mockery of sacred rites! "ICK ZWEER GOD AF EN DEN DUYVEL AAN!" Hosts in blood, a mockery of sacred rites! Bockereyders! Ze Reden Bij Nacht! Bockereyders! Den Ziel Gitzwart! Bockereyders! Brandend Land! Bockereyders! Aan Duyvel Verpand! "Gezellen" or "Complicen" ("companions" or "accomplises") is how they called themselves But they live on in legend as "Bokkereyders", in books on the shelves Some were soldiers, butchers, Captain Kirchhoffs a military surgeon Nol van Geleen an artist, regardless, the road to oblivion was certain "ICK ZWEER GOD AF EN DEN DUYVEL AAN!" Anti-Christian symbolism, robbing of churches, sacking leaders of society Bockereyders! In Der Nacht! Bockereyders! Der Teufel lacht! Bockereyders! Das land brennt! Bockereyders! Von Gott Enhernt! Yet their ranks grew more and more For Gain? Revolt? Or both? Von Gott Enhernt! Von Gott Enhernt! "ICK ZWEER GOD AF EN DEN DUYVEL AAN!" Hosts in blood, a mockery of sacred rites! "ICK ZWEER GOD AF EN DEN DUYVEL AAN!" Hosts in blood, a mockery of sacred rites! Bockereyders! In Der Nacht! Bockereyders! Der Teufel lacht! Bockereyders! Das land brennt! Bockereyders! Von Gott Enhernt! 5. Apostata (Imperator Fidelis) "Apostata", One without religion, a name given to Thee That is how one sees Thee, through the eyes of history But as a pupil and writer of the ancient Hellenist school "Fidelis" more appropriate, Thou embraced a more Ancient Rule People and Senate of Rome Thou could not rely on Heathen Frankish Legions Allies to count on history cannot be changed, irony or a trick of fate? For Reformation Thy Life too short, Thy dream came too late Philosopher, Man of Letters, Military Commander Whilst Rome Christianised, Neoplatonic Pagan Defender Last Heathen Ruler over a changing Empire Restoring the Old Rome, enlightening the Ancient Pagan Fire In the haste of pursuing a retreating Sassanid Foe Taking only Thy sword, Front line, though Choosing speed over caution, in 363 AD A spear infliced a mortal wound, causing The End of Thee AGAINST THE GALILAEANS! KATA GALILEON! CONTRA GALILEOS! KATA GALILEON! Philosopher, Man of Letters, Military Commander Whilst Rome Christianised, Neoplatonic Pagan Defender Last Heathen Ruler over a changing Empire Restoring the Old Rome, enlightening the Ancient Pagan Fire "Apostata", One without religion, a name given to Thee That is how one sees Thee, through the eyes of history History cannot be changed, irony or a trick of fate? For Reformation Thy Life too short, Thy dream came too late Against the Galilaeans! Kata Galileon! Contra Galileos! Kata Galileon! APOSTATA! APOSTATA! Libanius the Theosophist wrote, it was Treason causing your fall A spear hired by the Clergy against whom Thou stood Tall APOSTATA! APOSTATA! It was Basil of Caesaria, who ordered The Kill, later made a Saint Well at least so John Malelas from Antioch always claimed Restoring Ancient Temples, casting out politicians corrupt Not even two years Thy Rule, Your Reing ended abrupt For Life does not treat kind the Idealist Nostalgic Soul Those chasing Dreams lost, must burn for Once...For All "Apostata", One without religion, a name given to Thee That is how one sees Thee, through the eyes of history History cannot be changed, irony or a trick of fate? For Reformation Thy Life too short, Thy dream came too late AGAINST THE GALILAEANS! KATA GALILEON! CONTRA GALILEOS! KATA GALILEON! AGAINST THE GALILAEANS! KATA GALILEON! CONTRA GALILEOS! KATA GALILEON! 6. Legio V Alaudae (Fifth Larks Legion) Recruited in Ancient Gallia, sole foreign legion Their status quite apart, remaining gauls at heart Legio Quinta Alaudae, named after the solitary Gallic Lark And their crested Gaulish helmets, their destiny oblivious and dark Legio Quinta Alaudae named after the solitary Gallic Lark And their crested Gaulish helmets, their destiny oblivious and dark OH LEGIO QUINTA ALAUDAE THOU ANCIENT GALLIC LARKS ONWARDS INTO LEGEND, THEN PERISHED INTO OBLIVION THOU MARCHED Punished for their loyalty by a usurper, Alaudae promptly revolted against Rome For in their Gallic minds, their oath sacred, regardless the old Emperor's fall On their shields, a war elephant, a symbol of bravery, the 5th had won For fighting war elephants, first in line, under a burning, African sun In the year of 86, the Legion met their Doom At the battle of Tapae, 5000 went down in gloom Their standard and all men perished, on the Legion list so did their name Thus was the end of the larks, now only in Legend they reign OH LEGIO QUINTA ALAUDAE THOU ANCIENT GALLIC LARKS ONWARDS INTO LEGEND, THEN PERISHED INTO OBLIVION THOU MARCHED Oh Legio Quinta Gallica, in Colonia, a tombstone remains 7. Mind Unconquered Life is not a bed of roses Wise words, most will admit Struggles, ordeals in small or heavy doses Final result:decay in a pit From the Cradle to the Grave - THE POWER OF THE WILL From the Cradle to the Grave - WILLPOWER! From the Cradle to the Grave - MIND UNCONQUERED From the Cradle to the Grave - SOUL INVICTUS! How trivial matters indeed can appear Some cling on to causes, others pray in fear, or think not From the Cradle to the Grave - THE POWER OF THE WILL From the Cradle to the Grave - WILLPOWER! From the Cradle to the Grave - MIND UNCONQUERED From the Cradle to the Grave - SOUL INVICTUS! The human intellect, a blessing or a curse Finding inner strenght, turn pain into gain Important is one fought, even if in vain Knowledge, no matter, is relevant to me Yet no peace of mind offered, no man totally free Cultivating self-pity is a way I do detest Face life, face death, is life but a mere test? How trivial matters indeed can appear Some cling on to causes, others pray in fear, or think not From the Cradle to the Grave - THE POWER OF THE WILL From the Cradle to the Grave - WILLPOWER! From the Cradle to the Grave - MIND UNCONQUERED From the Cradle to the Grave - SOUL INVICTUS! Rest assured, solitary minds find no rest Alliances few, lone path, but what is best? The mind blank, the soul of a sheep? Rather walk the path of the Wolf, Soul will not weep From the Cradle to the Grave! From the Cradle to the Grave! Struggles, ordeals in small or heavy doses Final result:decay in a pit MIND POWER! MIND POWER! 8. Umbra Sumus (We Are Shadows) UMBRA SUMUS - WE AR SHADOWS - UMBRA SUMUS If you lie in hiding and hardly breathe at all You will see grey-clad weaver folk, like shadows on the wall Dim shadows on the moonbeams Of people of old times Come trooping from the attics Salute, talk, advance If you lie in hiding and hardly breathe at all One Day you and I appear like Shadows on the Wall If you lie in hiding and hardly breathe at all You will see iron clad soldiers, like silhouettes on the wall Fierce shadows on the moonbeams Of heroes of old times Salute! In line! Advance! Salute! In line! Advance! IF YOU LIE IN HIDING AND HARDLY BREATHE AT ALL ONE DAY YOU AND I APPEAR LIKE SHADOWS ON THE WALL If you lie in hiding and hardly breathe at all One Day you and I appear like Shadows on the Wall Umbra Sumus - Wae re shadows - Umbra Sumus If you lie in hiding and hardly breathe at all You will see elegant lady folk, like flowers on the wall Dim shadows on the moonbeams Of wenches of old times Come trooping from the attics Embrace, kiss, advance IF YOU LIE IN HIDING AND HARDLY BREATHE AT ALL ONE DAY YOU AND I APPEAR LIKE SHADOWS ON THE WALL Forgotten shadows on the moonbeams, ghosts longing for past times And you and I come trooping from the attic...Dead, Lost, In Trance 9. Frankenland Yet once more let us look upon the North Sea Behold the lands, where our folk & kin roamed free Ancient echoes from distant valleys, where once afar Elder cults practised in sacred woods, Pagan fires under many a Star Ethics of Valour, codes of Ancient Pride Now long gone, the Archaic Gods in hide Fled seem to have the olden Souls too But if one listens carefully, they might reach through For if one has an olden spirit, a centuries old heart Forgotten Chants might echo, hear the ancient bard Scaldic poetry of runes, of victory and defeat Vague sounds of song, an ancient heartbeat AVONDLAND, IN HET HART GEBRAND OUD GERMANENLAND Alas the Ancients faded, centuries shred a cloud Over what once was, the songs no longer loud AVONDLAND, IN HET HART GEBRAND ZIEL VERBRAND, OUD GERMANENLAND Life no fairy tale, survival of the fittest, true Blood, sweat and tears, battles to pull through Ethics of Valour, codes of Ancient Pride Now long gone, the Archaic Gods in hide Fled seem to have the olden Souls too But if one listens carefully, they might reach through Life no fairy tale, survival of the fittest, true Blood, sweat and tears, battles to pull through But if not for our forefathers there would be none of us Passed on the torch, to the Ancients loyalty thus AVONDLAND! FRANKENLAND! AVONDLAND! FRANKENLAND! 10. Fatum (Ill Fate/Noodlot) A merciless Sea dragging you down, while the distant shore almost in Reach Trying to find a way back home, when one's vessel stranded on a distant Beach Like longing for a beam of Sunlight, in a world of hostile Frost Adam and Eve reaching out for light, when already their Paradise is Lost Finally declaring how great ones Love, while the lovers' heartbeat faded Away A Terminal patient wishing for Life, but forever gone, yet another Day A poet seeking Eternity, whose talents are drowned in Absinth Wishing for a vast landscape, when King Minos sent you to his Labyrinth At last innocence proven, buit the guillotines' blade cut a minute too soon Like a Vampire captured by a Midsummer Night, when the Sun banished the Moon A young soldiers broken eyes, gazing at an empty, cold winter Sky Never knowing why, on the Last Day of the War, he had to Die Writing the words to a Poem, composing a Song, that no Soul will hear Standing at Crossroads, never progressing, because all choices shall cost you dear Gunther Theys — Vocals, Bass Walter Van Cortenberg — Drums Erik Sprooten — Guitars Domingo Smets — Guitars