Last Sunday, I was working around 3 PM, delivering food, when a bolt of inspiration struck me. I heard a melody in my head and I couldn’t get it out, but I knew if I didn’t do something I’d forget it eventually. I’ve lost so many ideas that way. So, I wrote down the first half of the first verse of what would become a new song in less than 24 hours’ time.
In the shadow of our forefathers,
We brave the Winter’s might.”
I didn’t know if I would keep these at the time, or where the song would go from there, but it was enough so I remembered the melody. When I got home at midnight, I picked up my acoustic and fired up the drum program, and out came this song.
And we march on through the frigid night,
In the shadow of our forefathers,
We brave the Winter’s might
Soldiering across this barren lane
To where we’ll join out kin
And resist the invading warriors of
Christendom, who’re threatening
To destroy our very way of life
Don’t let them gain upon your ground
Fight to defend our clan
Cut every last one of them down-
And put our women and children
To their swords and burning stakes
And raze our temples and destroy
Our lore, our tales of old
Traditions handed down for eons
From the bards, we were told
We must not let this be our fate
The next day, after mixing Not While I Draw Breath, Jay and I hammered out Heathen’s Lament in about six hours. While lyrically, this sounds like a gung-ho fight song, it’s intended to be a reflection on the history of what happened centuries ago, how vigorously our pre-Christian ancestors fought, and yet could not stem the spread of Christianity. At best, Christianity absorbed some of the heathen customs, holidays, and traditions, at worst, people were killed and the beliefs of our ancestors were stomped out. This song is written from the perspective of those who are marching off to fight to preserve their traditions, their culture, and their gods, who saw Christianity as a threat to their way of life and were willing to do whatever they had to do to stop it. Ultimately, they failed, and were either assimilated into Christendom, killed, or driven far from their ancestral homes and land.
~Matti Frost
Tags: Asatru, Frost Giant, Heathenry, religious strife, songwriting, viking metal
Nice!
The other morning I was sleeping, and in my dream I was playing a really cool song. I woke up and thought “Man, I wish I’d written that melody”, then I realized “I did!”, and grabbed a recorded to hum it.
Hint: if you ever need to remember anything and don’t have a recorder, call your own number and leave it on voicemail.
MWD
Good idea, Michael. I never thought of that one.
Excellent, Matt! I also listened to the final mix of Not While I Draw Breathe. Love it! Great job!!!
You had me hooked as soon as I saw Thor’s picture from Twighlight of the Thunder God. (Pretty much my favorite album of all time). Great song, good to have some old time spirit up in this blog!
On the other subject: I’ll quit saying hateful things about islam when they stop being violent, dickless tyrants constantly taking away peoples lives and freedom based on their opinion of muhammed’s opinion. I think the only think that pisses me off more than the moselms themselves are the westerners who accept them as part of our society.
That Amon Amarth album is great, isn’t it? Beginning to end, it’s just incredible.
In my opinion, you should be able to say anything you want about any religion without fearing for your life. I don’t think that Muslims, especially those in poorer, less-educated, non-Westernized countries get that. They’re easily manipulated by their religious leaders and too willing to riot and break stuff over a cartoon or a book that criticizes Islam. You don’t see Christians or Jews flipping out and killing people because they found something offensive, at least not anymore. A thousand to two thousand years ago, sure.
As far as Muslims being a part of our society, look- as long as they are Westernized, I don’t mind. I know several Muslims who are completely American, born and raised in the USA, as well as a couple more who were born in Africa (one is from Egypt, the other is from Morocco and is now a naturalized citizen). I don’t claim to have all the answers about Islam, but the Muslims I know personally are respectful of my beliefs and practices and I, in turn, respect them as individuals.
What we should reject is those who form their own fundamentalist enclaves and practice Shari’a Law above and beyond our own Constitutional law- at the very least when Shari’a Law would require a punishment that would not be condoned by the laws of our city/state/fedgov, or that would infringe on the civil rights of others.
~Matti F.
Yeah, that came off harsh, I really don’t have any big problem with muslims who are respectful of our nation and it’s freedoms, so “as long as they are westernized” is the big proviso for me, too.
But anyone advocating Sharia law can just stay in the middle east and wait for their turn to be killed by falling bombs or Marine fireteams as far as I’m concerned. Blood dries faster in the sand!