Mother Europe

Oh remember the proud Hellenic civilisation
The cradle of Europe where it all began
Or the Portuguese and Spanish Armada
Overwhelming Thy power, a tribute to the south

Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent forever in my heart
Representing medieval Flemish pride
Brave Teutonic, French and English knights
Thy shining armour now long vanished
Thy glory, however, forever remains
Praised be the Scandinavian hordes
Once the nightmare of the Christian world

I talk of not of mercy
I talk not of fear
The hopeless warriors of a Willing Doom

Children of Italia
In ancient times "Roma Caput Mundi"
De Verenigde Nederlanden, parel van het noorden
Belgium and The Netherlands stood as one

Mother Europe born from your womb
Mother Europe on Your soil shall be my tomb

I talk of not of mercy
I talk not of fear
The hopeless warriors of a Willing Doom
Oh what that gallant spirit shall resume
Leap from Europe's bank and call Thee from the tomb

(Hail to the sons of eastern Europe
the Slavonian soul never fades)
Blessed are Scotland, Ireland and Bretagne
Where the Celtic dream still lives on

Shall be my tomb!

(from Gallia to Germania)
I still hear the ancient warcry
(Roma to Brittania)
I still hear the ancient battlecry

The great old European heroes, the proud old European names
Like snow now melted for sunlight, today their lustre gleams

Gone are the great old empires, the proud old names are low
That shed a glory over the ancient world, a thou sand years ago
But wandering the medieval cities beholding our ancient lands
Albion, Saxonia, land of Franks constructed by our ancestor's
hands

(from Erin to Caledonia)
I still hear the ancient warcry
(Ellada to Helvetia)
I still hear the ancient battlecry

(from Lusitania to Hispania)
I still hear the ancient warcry
(Mycenae to Macedonia)
I still hear the ancient battlecry

In the country of our fathers on the land and sea
Can you hear a million voices? Thy forefathers summoning thee!
Summoning thee!

Many centuries ago, beyond the hazy space
In Brittany, Eire and Caledonia there dwelt a mighty race
Celts they were called, like their holy oaks, they had a giant
grace

(fierce was the Byzantine empire
Spread over the Balkans, Asia, Minor and Greece
Combining eastern and western tradition
A gateway to the East)

Slavonian kingdoms, empires and tribes
Defending their ancient lands and rights
From invading hordes from the East
Thousands slaughtered (fair) men and beast

(from Byzantium to Phoenicia)
I still hear the ancient warcry
(Etruria to Cymru)
I still hear the ancient battlecry!!

Powerful lyics. What inspired Ancient Rites to write these poetic warlike songs?

Powerful lyics. What inspired Ancient Rites to write these poetic warlike songs?

I dont know but when I hear them[and I am listening to them now] I feel moved to perform great deeds. It is the music of our movement.
Check out their web site-

http://www.ancientrites.be/

Powerful lyics. What inspired Ancient Rites to write these poetic warlike songs?

You may like this one. :)

When the restless North Sea is
trying to gain more land
And a merciless west wind
steals my breath
When the fierce waves are pounding on the beaches
Plain as an endless desert

Or uttermost vile storms are
Teaching my people humbleness
Then one can see my land resist
There one can see my land fight
As gloomy grey skies
Cast away the northern sun

I turn home.... Always turn home
I turn home.... Always turn home

And our cities and villages
Representing centuries and centuries
Seem to drown due to eternal rainfall
Or the rivers turn into Gold

I turn home.... Always turn home
I turn home.... Always turn home

Fatherland! I always turn to my Fatherland!
Fatherland! Keep on turning to my Fatherland!
Fatherland! Always turn to my Fatherland!
Fatherland! I always turn to my Fatherland!

Our cities seem to drown
Due to eternal rainfall
I watch the rivers
Turn into Gold
Under a genial sun
When snow capped forests
Create visions larger than life
Then I realise where I belong
My eyes have seen the continents
The beauty of foreign civilisations

An uncontrollable desire forces me to wander
Yet echoes of melancholy and remembering
The splendour being mine (make me turn home)
Where castles and towers are the sole mountains
And father time seems to have less grip
Where castles and towers are the sole mountains
There my land can be found

I turn home.... Always turn home
I turn home.... Always turn home

Fatherland! I always turn to my Fatherland!
Fatherland! Keep on coming to my Fatherland!
Fatherland! Always turn to my Fatherland!
Fatherland! Always turn to my Fatherland!

Thanks, I really liked that. It makes me want to return home aswell ;)

Thanks, I really liked that. It makes me want to return home aswell ;)

I know.
I posted them for someone special who I miss very much.

Interview with Guenther of Ancient Rites/Lion`s Pride/Iron Clad

http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showinterview.php?id=1302&lang=en
Lion's Pride is also dealing with history, but the lyrical concept is more based on Flanders and Europe. Please explain the lyrics of the songs.
'Europe, United in Diversity':
Gunther: Regardless if I walk the eternal streets of Bruges, Rome, Edinburgh or Prague and no matter how much Athens, London, Paris or Berlin differ from one and other, Europe in its entirety feels like home. Our ancient lands breathe history. Ever since my childhood I am fascinated by the achievements of our ancestors. I embrace Mother Europe in all its splendour and diversity. May everyone of European descent carry the ancient homeland in their hearts, even if they are oceans away.

'Germania'
Gunther: A nocturnal walk in a forest near my home inspired me to write the lyrics for this song. I felt one with the timeless soil and nature. The cold Northern wind on my face felt like a purification. Nature was overwhelming and on that eternal location a pledge of loyalty to the land of my forefathers felt appropriate. I realise how pompous this might sound. On the ancient name "Germania" which dates back to Roman times is now resting a taboo caused by the WW II. But Germania is older than sixty years! There even are moralists who consider Odinist or Celtic Heathen traditions as unacceptable. Flanders is located in what was called "Germania" in ancient times. This is where I belong and where I come from. No "P.C. Brigade Moralist" will ever be able to change that, no matter how much they like to wipe out our heritage or re-write history. That night was like a spiritual experience on which time had no grip! This song became my modest ode to my place of birth. If these sincere emotions and words cause me extra enemies and boycotts, I will gladly accept the consequences, for this is who I am. Poor is the tribe that denies its own roots!

'11th of July, 1302 (De Vlaamse Leeuw):
Gunther: The lyrics for this track are the words of the Hymn Of Flanders "De Vlaamse Leeuw" (meaning Flemish Lion – Nima). 11th of July is the national day of the Flemish Community celebrating a battle that took place on that same date in 1302 when a small army, mostly consisting of peasants, weavers and civilians, managed to throw back a huge invading force consisting of knights and soldiers.

'Where Eagles Dare'
Gunther: This song is an ode to bravery, to the soldier soul. As I come from a family with a huge military tradition I must have this in my genes somehow. I always considered it an honour that I fulfilled my military service in the first battalion Para Commando that was founded in Britain. This song is an ode to veterans of all sides.

Iron Fist (Motörhead-cover):
Gunther: A tribute to the band that was responsible for me forming my own metal band while I was playing in punk/Oi! bands before, which is a symbolic connection. Motörhead always has been widely appreciated in the Oi!-scene because it is straight forward rock 'n roll, like Oi! is.

Lion's Pride's music is somehow difficult to define. The main influences come from the Oi! and punk scene, but also influences of the heavy metal scene and again, Iron Maiden is a name that comes up to me. In the past you used to play in several Oi!/punk bands. What was the reason to revisit this style again? Did you want to go back to your youth?
Gunther: "Ancient Rites has turned musically more complex and progressive over the years, an evolution that I embrace. To meet the technical demands we must play professional clubs with bigger stages etcetera. But I also love to play straightforward music, a return to basics. Lion's Pride is the perfect channel to do so. Plug in and play. All members in the have a metal background and this results in a strange musical mix; the no nonsense approach of Oi!, punk and hard core concerning the song structures but the tightness and heaviness of metal, including the solo's. We have a crossover following. Of course our style confuses people who expect a traditional sound but on the other hand we think it offers a fresh breeze. The vocalist of Les Vilains, a traditional Oi! band I play bass in, once told me: "I like Lion's Pride, but you're too metal for Oi! and too Oi! for metal! But you don't care if everyone hates you" haha! That is correct indeed. Life goes in circles and I think one's youth will always remain a part of oneself. All these years I kept on playing my old punk and Oi! records and even bought the entire collection on cd. I'm not the kind of person who listens a style for a while and then moves on, as years pass by my taste only becomes more varied."

Lords of Metal


Due to the band's lyrical and somehow nationalistic concept, aren't you afraid that the band will be seen as a Nazi-band? I'm sure you can imagine that people might interpret a title like 'Germania' in a wrong way. Does it concern you that some people might boycott the band due to this fact?
Gunther: "No, it doesn't matter. Besides, Lion's Pride is already boycotted, as is Ancient Rites. Coming from the black metal scene I'm used to that. If not targeted by religious groups we are hated by PC dictators and pseudo revolutionaries. In these politically correct times, I'm already burned by those who want to see me as the personification of evil, only because I take pride in culture and heritage. Nowhere have I ever claimed superiority or destruction of other tribes. I think few people have as many worldwide contacts like I do. But I don't feel the need to stress that fact so I would get clemency from people pretending to be holier than the Pope. I can respect anyone's opinion as long as the feeling is mutual. The anti-fascist organisation Antifa have wrote a clever mix of lies and truth about me. Words I never spoke are placed in my mouth and I don't mind boycotts or hatred, but burn me for my real actions, do not go telling fairytales. I feel Flemish and European and I'm of Germanic stock. Recent DNA investigations revealed that Flemish people do not descend of Gauls but are like the Dutch and Germans of Germanic stock. Therefore a tribute to Germania seemed appropriate. Why deny my ancient roots while the rest of the world can glorify theirs and even kill in the name of their God? I do find these historical aspects interesting. One should know one's roots, because the past is within us and I honour ancestry but that doesn't mean that I find other roots inferior or disrespect them. Every tribe has its own splendour. To be honest I don't wish to apologize or explain. Read my lyrics and love or hate me for them. No problem. And controversy I never cared about. Boycotts are often from unexpected corners, but nothing is black and white in life. Some Oi! festivals are afraid to book Lion's Pride because we place the medieval Flemish Lion banner on stage. Isn't it ironic? German, Scotch or English bands are booked and they place their banners on stage without a problem but because we cultivate our Flemish past it's considered too politically incorrect and too risky in our own country. Ironically, on the other hand some consider Lion's Pride not extreme enough. We receive critics from all sides but that's ok, because others appreciate us for what we do. Somehow everyone has a strong opinion on Lion's Pride. It's a strange, strange world but I stopped caring ages ago and follow my own path regardless what anyone might think. One must always follow one's heart, regardless of the reactions. I must confess that I don't mind controversy and sometimes enjoy a bit of Devilish provocation when being confronted with self-righteous arrogant fake intellectuals who think they live in a garden of Eden and have a solution for everything. You won't find me amongst tree hugging hippies but that doesn't mean I don't like nature. I have patriot sympathies but that doesn't mean I believe in genocides. I'm a bit of a strange case I must admit, a bit of an outsider by choice. The only thing I really relate to is my ancestry, but an outsider to subcultures, movements and organisations. I walk a rather lonely path in life."

As mentioned before, next to the four own tracks, you've also recorded the Motörhead-classic 'Iron Fist'! Why did you choose this song or even this band? Because Motörhead has also had to deal with accusations of being Nazi's and things in that direction.
Gunther: "Reasons are very trivial actually, not even politically inspired and no symbolic meaning. I always loved Motörhead and Ramones who in my world are the essence of rock 'n Roll. We recorded a Motörhead-song ('Iron Fist') and Ramones-song ('Commando') for a New Zealand Oi! compilation. The label had two requests: it had to be covers and they were not to be of Oi! origin. We felt it was an interesting idea, breaking borders of styles. Besides, it was an ideal opportunity to honour two of my old teenage favourites."

As Rony mentioned, the year 1302 is a special year for Flanders and for that reason this split-cd is also limited to 1302 copies. What more can you say about this?
Gunther: "THAT has a symbolic, historical meaning. Flanders is a small country not even officially recognized yet with an own culture, history, past, language that as far as I am concerned is different from the in 1830 artificially created Belgian state. Let's celebrate this day 1302 times, haha."

Is there anything left unmentioned, which deserves to be mentioned? If there is, please go ahead...
Gunther: I think all is said an done, thanks for your support and all the best with Lords of Metal. For info/merchandise feel welcome to visit the bands sites. Ignore the old website address of Lion's Pride printed on the cd booklets: internet heroes belonging to the anti Lion's Pride fraction have re-directed our link in order to prevent people finding the site. Here's the new address:

Lion's Pride:
http://www.lionspride1302.tk/

For Iron Clad info feel free to visit:

Iron Clad:
http://users.pandora.be/ironclad/