Get all 6 Witnere releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Albion Aflame, King of the Britons, Rites of Passage, The Doom of Almand, The Runes, and Clandestine Tales.
1. |
410 AD
01:33
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2. |
Merlin's Warning
05:31
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One day past did merlin come
From his home down in the fenlands
Gathered around a curious crowd
Telling of prophecies
Spoke of Britain’s blooded shores, the Saxon realm of England
And to face this clash of swords
Britain would need a king
Vortigern heard this pass and laughed out loud at Merlin
Told the crowd the Britons did already have a king
Two dragons stirred in the hills far on the horizon
So began their battle dance as they heard the prophets sing
Strong is the sword of the Saxons
Strong is their grip on this land
Weak is the shield of the Britons
The hour of their doom is at hand
When these things would come to pass, Merlin had no answer
All he spoke to Vortigern his prophecies he should heed
With that he returned to his home down in the fenlands
Promised to return again when his magic was in need
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3. |
Furor Saxonicus
04:25
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War on Albion’s shore!
Blinded by fear, Vortigern seals his doom
Fear! Britannia falls
To heathen wolves, desperate and cruel
By heathen hands are the men of Britain slain
Warriors sweep the land and lay claim to their domain
Furor Saxonicus, Odin rides the sky
Furor Saxonicus, Roman god die
Furor Saxonicus, to Britannia ride
Furor Saxonicus, Englaland arise
Flee, far to the sea!
Return to Rome, legions abandon thee
Blood darkens the sand!
Staining the altars of your dying creed
The power of heathen gods
Shall set loose the dogs of war
The fury of the Saxons now descends upon the shore
Furor Saxonicus, Odin rides the sky
Furor Saxonicus, Roman god die
Furor Saxonicus, to Britannia ride
Furor Saxonicus, heathen lords arise
The leaving of the Roman men
Has laid Britannia bare
Albion needs a hero king
To deliver us from these omens of despair
Furor Saxonicus
Furor Saxonicus
Furor Saxonicus
Furor Saxonicus
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4. |
King of the Britons
05:47
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Alone I ride to the fortress
To tell this message of doom
The Saxon army marches
Its fires will be visible soon
Alone I ride through the deep woods
These thoughts weighing heavy my mind
This prophecy, that I decreed, shall come to pass tonight
Artorius, Claim your kingdom now
Britain needs a king to rule
Merlin will show you how
The spirit of Britain awakened,
The sorcerer by your side
Take the sword that Nimue keeps, and put the Saxons to flight
There will be hope yet
To save us from our death
The sorcerer approaches, he rides to our stronghold, from Dinas Emrys
Merlin calls to Arthur with doom on his mind
‘My king, we must fight!’
Artorius rises, courage in his eyes
‘Caliburn is your right!’
Artorius, Claim your kingdom now
Britain needs a king to rule
Merlin will show you how
The spirit of Britain awakened,
The sorcerer by your side
Take the sword that Nimue keeps, and put the Saxons to flight
Who is this man they call Arthur?
Is he a man or a god or a king?
Will he be the one who will lead us?
The one of whom Merlin does sing?
And so I ride from the fortress
To rally the men of the land
With orders to meet at Badon
There will the two armies stand
Great slaughter and death now await us
A war to set Albion aflame
A warrior’s fate, for him awaits,
The spirits call out his name
Artorius, Claim your kingdom now
Britain needs a king to rule
Merlin will show you how
Victorious and mighty
King of the Britons will be
Arthur born of Roman blood
Drive the Saxons to the sea
The spirit of Britain awakened
Its warriors by your side
Take the sword to Badon hill and prepare for the coming fight
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5. |
Hold Tight Your Sword
04:38
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A hand, outstretched
Appearing from the sacred mire
A sword to accept
Forged by gods in British fire
Hard work the bellows in Gofannon’s forges
Strong are the anvils the hammers will strike
Smiths of the underworld wield magic forces
Rods intertwining with iron and might
The time of death and doom draws near
Strong is the blade
In old waters made
Granted to brave
Raise the sword higher
Spears will break
Shields will shake
Legends we make
Arthur hold tight your sword
A promise to keep
Purge the land of heathen Saxons
Souls it will reap
Arawn takes them to his darkness
Heavy the burden on warrior’s shoulders
Weapon of old gods by Gofannon quenched
Worthy the king with his blood-soaked companion
To be returned when his life is at end
A time of death and doom draws near
Hold tight your sword and show no fear
Strong is the blade
In old waters made
Granted to brave
Raise the sword higher
Spears will break
Shields will shake
Legends we make
Arthur hold tight your sword
Glory to Gofannon
The smith of hero swords
The warriors of Britannia prepare for total war
Nimue gives the blade
Arthur’s eyes blaze with fire
King of Britain raise your sword
Across Britannia hopes run higher
Nimue gives him the blade before she fades
Into the mire
King of Britain raises his sword
Destiny sets his heart on fire
Hold tight your sword
Strong is the blade
In old waters made
Granted to brave
Raise the sword higher
Spears will break
Shields will shake
Legends we make
Arthur hold tight your sword
Strong is the blade
In old waters made
Granted to brave
Raise the sword higher
Spears will break
Shields will shake
Legends we make
Arthur hold tight your sword
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6. |
Badon Hill
05:27
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With the cross of his lord upon his shield
Did Arthur lead the charge
At Badon hill with a lust to kill
After three days fighting hard
Forty-four years of Saxon raids
Have led us down this path
Rain pours down upon these fields
Where invaders meet our wrath
Mons Badonicus
Time stands still
Upon Badon hill
900 men fell to Arthur’s sword
Caliburn drinks its fill
Iron tastes blood as we make the climb
The enemy holds the peak
Shield walls splinter under Caliburn’s swing
Ran pierces all it seeks
Mons Badonicus
Time stands still
Upon Badon hill
900 men fell to Arthur’s sword
Caliburn drinks its fill
Badon Hill
Prophecies fulfilled
900 men fell to Arthur’s sword
Caliburn drinks its fill
Flash of the blade
A legend is made
Arthur hacks through bodies with shining sword
Horses stampede into the heathen horde
Time of the axe
A furious attack
Blood soaks the ground as men scream and die
Arthur victorious holds Caliburn high
Time stands still
Upon Badon hill
900 men fell to Arthur’s sword
Caliburn drinks its fill
Badon Hill
Victory fulfilled
900 men fell to Arthur’s sword
Caliburn drinks its fill
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7. |
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Driven mad by the horrors of war
The sorcerer loses his mind
Arthur is robbed of his magical force
His friend leaves his kingdom behind
Wild man of the woods, tell me what you see
Druid of Britain, bring us victory
Wild man merlin, lose your mind
Wild man merlin, run and hide
The ruin of Britain will be your fame
Abandon your king and leave Albion in flames
Beyond the pale of civilised lands
In the wastes he seeks a prize
Not his mind but the treasures of war
With them he can turn the tide
Wizard of this land, tell me what you see
Who now has the power to fortify the weak
Wild man merlin, lose your mind
Wild man merlin, run and hide
The ruin of Britain will be your fame
Abandon your king and leave Albion in flames
Spirits will guide merlin home
Revealing the path in his dreams
The sorcerer flees to his northern abode
The struggles of men he must leave
Thirteen treasures of Britain
Their power as bright as their gleam
Then will the wizard return to the south
And with them the kingdom redeem
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8. |
Avalon
05:42
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Scenes of desolation
Across this broken land
Bodies lying food for crows
Why they died no-one understands
In the face of endless enemies
Warriors die in vain
A foe will die and more arrive
Soon to number among the slain
Fields in flames
In Albion
Sending warriors slain
To the world beyond
When I die
And my spirit is gone
Take my broken body down
To Avalon
Struggling for our freedom
Waiting for our foe
The frontiers fall to silent watch
In the distance fires glow
Our hope is left with Merlin
The glory of our land
Will fade if Albion should burn
Our fate in the sorcerer's hands
Fields in flames
In Albion
Sending warriors slain
To the world beyond
When I die
And my spirit is gone
Take my broken body down
To Avalon
Now I lie in Avalon
And when this land is in need
I will return
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Witnere Manchester, UK
Witnere is a British heavy metal band formed in 2015 by Jase Tyler and Dec Doyle, whose lyrical themes focus on history and mythology. The band recorded their first concept album The Doom of Almand in 2018, telling of Saxon legends. Their second album, Albion Aflame, was released in 2023 and chronicles tales of Arthurian legend. Their name is old English for tormentor. ... more
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