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Live By The Sword

by Countess

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1.
Through whirlwinds and lightning The raven banners proudly fly Our ships carve through the waves As the hammer cracks the sky Our foes have seen the omens They tremble and fear our wrath Never shall they know peace While the ravens guide our path (chorus) Above our swords The raven banners fly Our foes do tremble They know their end is nigh We have reached the enemy shore And embark with sword and shield Stride through cold morning mist Our foes fate is already sealed We storm towards the monastery The bells ring in fear and dismay The monks soon to meet their doom While the ravens guide our way (chorus) Above our swords The raven banners fly Our gods we honour Let all hear our battle cry "Summa pia gratia nostra conservando corpora et cutodita, de gente fera Normannica nos libera, quae nostra vastat, Deus, regna" Their book shall not save them They pray to their god in vain No mercy for those of the lie Their puny lives now end in pain Our foes all enslaved or slain For the glory of our gods so great Forever We stand in defiance proud While the ravens guide our fate (chorus) Above our swords The raven banners fly This victory we give To He who sits in hall up high He who sits in hall up high He who sits in hall up high
2.
Spectre 04:33
My cry fulfills the Enemies with fear, trampled in rage, WITH BLOOD ON MY SPEAR! On wings I fly through the moonless sky, chasing the banners, to crush all their lies I'm the terror of the cursed soil, frightening the odds with inhuman howl They are forsaken by doom and hate, left by the gods, WITH A RESTLESS FATE~~~! Bloody traces, a cruel path, none shall remain , BELOW AND ABOVE! Horrible sounds like an evil sigh, possessed by spirits, of the righteous might Imposed by vengeance and unsettling visions, I shall not rest, a final decision Where I strike all life fades away, until I might rest ENTHRONED AND DECAYED~~~! (chorus) I'M THE SPECTRE, AN ANCIENT HOWL! I'M THE SHADOW, A NIGHTMARISH SOUL! I'M THE SPECTRE, AN ANCIENT HOWL! I'M THE SHADOW, A NIGHTMARISH SOUL~~~! A Phantom unbound and unchained to kill, atrocious and grey, IS MY LAST WILL! Driven by wrath, the unholy grail, I will succed, you're doomed to fail Left without glory, a grave and betrayed, the bloodshed begins, they shall be impaled The Horror continues with bestial howls, I am alive TO PURIFY YOUR SOULS~~~! (chorus)
3.
Sigrid was a mighty queen of the north A widow with many and great estates And many a king did seek her hand From afar they came to her land Sigrid gave the small kings lodging And all their folk she did host But when all were drunk and asleep They were put to fire and sword Sigrid was now called the Haughty Yet still courted by many a king Among them Olaf traitor vile Who sent her a false gold ring Sigrid agreed to meet with Olaf He insisted she be baptised When her gods she would not forsake Furious the ill-hearted king became He struck and insulted her gravely And Sigrid straight away foretold This would be his death one day She plotted revenge to make him pay Sigrid married the Danish king And created a powerful alliance With her son the king of Sweden And Earl Eirik son of Hakon "The king-subduer raised a host Of warriors on the Swedish coast. The brave went southwards to the fight, Who love the sword-storm's gleaming light; The brave, who fill the wild wolf's mouth, Followed bold Eirik to the south; The brave, who sport in blood -- each one With the bold earl to sea is gone." (Haldor the Unchristian, quoted in Heimskringla, translation Samuel Laing) On the raging sea their foe they met The clang of sword and shield began A fierce battle did unfold One of the severest ever told Many people were slain that day And all of Olaf's ships cleared of men Save the king's own mighty vessel Until at last the allies boarded Most of the men on Olaf's ship fell Finally the king leaped overboard Never to be seen or heard again The allies raised a shout of victory Sigrid had gotten her revenge Against the king who affronted her The traitor who abandoned his faith Paid the price in the end
4.
Tread the Path of Destiny Walk under the Sign Guided by the light of Set Will the moon ever shine? Eternal desert lies ahead The smile of Azazel Whisper an ancient incantation Cast an unholy spell Descend into the darkest chamber Celebrations of sin Worship of Evil so much older Than Prometheus' kin Weird reality surrounds the chosen Deep in Midgard's womb Taste the smell of absurdity In this infernal tomb Manifestation on the altar Pray to eternal truth Sacrifice through fear and lust Virgin flesh so smooth Awake in forest of nowhere Symphony through the haze Innocent blood drowning your soul The skyline is ablaze
5.
Like the tribes who fought the Romans Like the pagans defending their gods Like the Scots at Stirling Bridge We shall struggle against the odds Never to oppression shall we yield Fighting with pride for what we believe No matter how mighty our foe may be With blood and steel all we can achieve (bridge) On the road of rebellion we ride in defiance Against oppression and mindless compliance On wings of defiance We are the rebels who reject your rule We are the infidels who fight your creed We are preachers of the devil’s sermon Never to your power shall we cede Against overwhelming forces we stand In bloody battle we may fall and die Yet our beliefs and ideals shall endure You will never silence our battle cry (bridge) On wings of defiance Like the Irish who fought an empire Like the Spartans who stood at the gates Like the emperor facing the church We shall do battle in dire straits In the past many fought for freedom So many times their lives they gave Their glorious deeds still inspire us all Better die free than live as a slave (bridge) On wings of defiance

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released March 24, 2023

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Countess The Netherlands

Countess is a Dutch band that has been unleashing metal music upon the world since 1992.

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