1 • Sarajevo

Music:  Joakim Brodén & Chris Rörland

Lyrics:  Pär Sundström & Joakim Brodén

 

For decades, the Austro-Hungarian empire had been a powerful influence in the heart of Europe.  Resting on a legacy, their house kept stability, order, and peace.  But not everyone bowed to this power.

 

In the Summer of 1914, the archduke Franz Ferdinand of the

empire is visiting Sarajevo, unaware of the assassins awaiting him, and what will come.

 

Two shots are fired, and the archduke is dead.

 

The empire cannot let this go unpunished, and the first declaration of war is made.

 

From a shot that would change the world

Tensions rise and a war is unfurled

Nothing like what had come before

It’s the war that will end all war!

 

Chaos and shockwaves spread from the Balkans across the globe.

Alliances are put to the test, threats exchanged, and armies are put on high alert.

In the east, the Russian Tsar is trying to calm the situation with his cousin, the Kaiser of Germany.

 

But it is all in vain, the situation is out of control.

War is unavoidable.

 

The Battle of the Frontiers starts in August as soldiers cross

borders and bullets are fired in rage.

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War begins.

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2 • Stormtroopers

Music & Lyrics:  Joakim Brodén

 

Now there’s a standstill in the war, repeating what’s been done before

It must come to an end, a few will transcend

They were under twenty-five, and under fire they would thrive

The Sturmmann is born, their enemies scorn

 

A glimpse of the future, new tactics in war

New doctrine in combat explored

As fast as lightning, there’s no time to mourn

A glimpse of the future and Blitzkrieg is born

Strike at zero hour

With overwhelming firepower

They’re fueled by the fear in their enemies eyes

It’s a Shock Troop infiltration

A fast and violent escalation

Out of the trenches the stormtroopers rise

 

Jägers led the way, the pioneers would join the fray

Initiative gained, advancement sustained

Lead through direct command, as they’re advancing through the land

Encircling their flanks, and ravage their ranks

 

Expose their reinforcements, destroying their lines

New doctrine in combat aligns

Infantry attacks, exposing the cracks

New combat ideals, on the Kaiserschlacht’s fields

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3 • Dreadnought

Music:  Joakim Brodén

Lyrics:  Pär Sundström & Joakim Brodén

 

A shadow moves across the water in pursuit

It splits the waves, commands the sea and defies the wind

Instilling fear among its prey, feels nought for itself

Ahead the sea lies calm awaiting the storm

 

Displace the water in its path

Reveal the cannons, align the guns, unleash their wrath

 

Unopposed under crimson skies

Immortalized, over time their legend will rise

And their foes can’t believe their eyes, believe their size, as they fall

And the Dreadnoughts dread nothing at all

 

A hull of steel and all big guns to serve the fleet

Unrivalled firepower riding the waves to war

A devastating blow will send their foes down below

Fearless armada now bombarding their shore

 

Light up the night when cannons roar

In fear of nothing, they lead the navy into war

 

The North Sea has drawn them near

The Fleet of the High Seas approach

A contest of titans commence

These days will dictate their fate

The Grand Fleet prepares their guns

Unleashed as the Dreadnoughts clash at last

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4 • The Unkillable Soldier

Music:  Joakim Brodén

Lyrics:  Pär Sundström & Joakim Brodén

 

Into the fire through trenches and mud

Son of Belgium and Ireland with war in his blood

Leading the charge into hostile barrage

By design, he was made for the frontline

 

Studied law, with a thirst for war

Fought in Africa, wanted more

Back in Europe then straight to France

He’s joining the allied advance

 

Through the Somme and the Devil’s Wood

All the battles that he withstood

Born a soldier enjoyed the war

He always kept coming for more

 

Never die, shot through the eye

Never surrender however they try

How they try, shot through the eye

He’ll never die

 

At the edge of madness, in a time of sadness

An immortal soldier, finds his home

Proven under fire, over trench and wire

No fear of death he’s unshakeable

 

In the battles, when he was shot

Kept on fighting, and never stopped

In Arras, Cambrai, Passchendaele

Ignoring his wounds he prevailed

 

Save the day, he’ll never stray

Facing the foes that are coming his way

Come his way, he’ll never stray

Saving the day

 

At the edge of madness, in a time of sadness

An immortal soldier, finds his home

Proven under fire, over trench and wire

Forged for the war he’s unbreakable

At the edge of madness, he will show no sadness

Never broken, he’ll be back for more

Proven under fire, over trench and wire

No fear of death he’s unshakeable

 

Edge of madness!

No fear of death, he is forged for the war, he will always be coming for more

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5 • Soldier of Heaven

Music:  Joakim Brodén & Chris Rörland

Lyrics:  Pär Sundström 

 

I won´t be coming home

I won´t be going anywhere

I will guard this post forever

Here on the alpine slope where I did my final stand I shall remain

Among the ice and snow that binds me to this mountain

 

A force of nature too strong, sent from above

Where spirits lead the way, the winds will never fade

 

White Friday, I'll take the

Stairway to heaven

I’m sky high, when I die

I'll be immortal

Forever, I never

I won´t return to

Blood Mountain, I am the

Soldier of heaven

 

I saw the end of war

I watched the soldiers come and go

And I kept my watch forever

So many brave men fell in the battles that were raging down below

I have seen it all but none will hear my story

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All of these years I have been frozen in time

I cried for spring to come but here, winter remain

 

I always dreamed that I would, serve high above

Where spirits lead the way, the winds will never fade

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6 • Hellfighters

Music:  Joakim Brodén & Chris Rörland

Lyrics:  Joakim Brodén

 

From a land across the ocean, to the western front where they served

Fought with courage and devotion, preconceptions turned

As the spring offensive kept churning, where the men would earn their name

See the tides of battle turning, and their foes ignite their flame

 

Hear the toll of the bell, kept fighting for 6 months in hell

As the war rages on, they fight at the edge of the Argonne

 

Hear the toll of the bell, over 6 months in hell

Out of the trenches they came

As the war rages on, at the edge of the Argonne

Hellfighters earning their name

 

They would have no prisoners taken, and they never lost any ground

Earned the cross of war unshaken, never turned around

As the armistice is drawing closer, the 369th

Kept on fighting until it was over, and they were first to reach the Rhine

 

(hear the toll - both verses repeated twice)

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7 • Race To The Sea

Music:  Joakim Brodén

Lyrics:  Joakim Brodén

 

We’re keeping the kingdom free

 

As an archduke falls and the battle horn calls, our lives would never be the same

We were looking down barrel of a gun

Now the war has come and the battle has begun, we are desperate and overrun

To the war drum we’ll be marching until it’s done

 

Lead the way, we will follow into the fray

We will hold the line we will not be led astray

 

For king and for country we, are flooding the river

Our stand at Yser will be, the end of the race to the sea

The last piece of Belgium is free, we’re keeping a sliver

A cog in the war machine, October of 1914

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As our foe draws forth we are moving on north we will never let them have it all

There’s a price for freedom paid by Belgium's sons

They may take our towns, they may conquer our grounds we’ll defend the nation and the crown.

We’ll uphold our independence with our guns

 

All the way, on to triumph or to judgement day

We will follow and we will not be led astray

 

See a king and a soldier, fighting shoulder to shoulder

See a king and a soldier, fighting shoulder to shoulder

He overruled his commanders, he made a last stand in Flanders

We see our king and a soldier, they’re fighting shoulder to shoulder

To keep the last piece of Belgium free

 

All the way, on to triumph or to judgement day

We will follow and we will not be led astray

 

For King and for country we are flooding the river

Our stand at Yser will be, the end of the race to the sea

We’re free

For King and for country we are flooding the river

No more of our country lost, the line will be held at all cost