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. |
The Whale Road
01:19
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2. |
Englaland
03:44
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Odin
Hugging the coastlands, we follow the stars
By the wind in our sails and the strength of our oars
Summoned we are to the land across the sea
Vortigern's warriors we bend to his knee
Fate calls us across the waves
We sail to glory, or our graves
The land, Englaland
The old home of giants, the new home of our kin
The home of their god, to whom all good is sin
Longships are gliding through wind and through rain
And on these green shores, we will stake our claim
The gods send us on our way
We sail to meet our fate
The land, Englaland
Behold the Saxon shore,
So begins the coming war
This isle of mist and green
Where land is fertile and dewdrops gleam
The land, Englaland
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3. |
Sceadugenga
04:40
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In the heart of the night Saxon ghosts strike
Guided by their gods
In the darkness pierced, Britons throats will be slit
Their land soon to be lost
Haunting terror spreads far and wide
Tales of blood they hear
Brave, bloodthirsty is your claim
Almand the name they fear
Unleash the seax, the eponymous knife
And with one strike take their life
Strike sheer terror into their minds
And fierce reputation find
Sceadugenga, shadow walker
Sceadugenga, ghost walker
Sceadugenga rides again, through hill and fen
All he meets will die
Capture the fort, to Britons no remorse
In forgotten tombs they lie
Lord Woley cowers in fright, his mead hall set alight
Spirits dance in flame
The Saxon horde brings Woodhead a new lord
Prince Almand shall reign
Unleash the seax, the eponymous knife
And with one strike take their life
Strike sheer terror into their minds
And fierce reputation find
Unleash the seax, the eponymous knife
And with one strike take their life
Strike sheer terror into their minds
And fierce reputation find
Unleash the seax, the eponymous knife
And with one strike take their life
The time of reckoning now draws near
Almand, the name you fear
Sceadugenga, shadow walker
Sceadugenga, ghost walker
Sceadugenga, shadow walker
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4. |
The Runes
04:35
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The raven crosses the sky and we watch it as it flies
Calling us to follow it home
We sail for many nights, destination now in sight
House of man whom gods have known
Our chieftain travels far, heeding Odin’s call
A mortal man awaits a mortal fate
Nine nights and nine days, he crosses hill and plain
From dawn until the hour grows late
The runes are cast and the thunder cracks the sky
The one eyed seer gazes into
Almand the chieftain demands to read the runes
To see the prophecy that will foretell his doom
The seer, he told Almand of his fate
And to be wary of betrayal that awaits
The seer calls us inside and we warm by fireside
And look around in wonder at his home
The rune sticks are laid as the fire begins to fade
We gather round to see what he can know
Strange symbols we do see telling doom and misery
Impossible for us to tell apart
The prophecy foretold, passed down from gods of old
He feels the chill in his heart
The runes are cast and the thunder cracks the sky
The one eyed seer gazes into
Almand the chieftain demands to read the runes
To see the prophecy that will foretell his doom
The seer, he told Almand of his fate
And to be wary of betrayal that awaits
Almand the hour grows near
Your doom you shall fear
A warrior betrays a warrior
Betrayed by one held dear
Bring forth my sword
I shall slay this mortal seer
His blood shall be spilled
And prevent my greatest fear
Almand the chieftain demands to read the runes
To see the prophecy that will foretell his doom
The seer, he told Almand of his fate
And to be wary of betrayal that awaits
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5. |
A Fateful Encounter
08:39
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These lands I’ve burned with fire
I shall take what I desire
Lord Woley’s lands I’ve ravaged, he shall do as I command
Princess Ineld, his daughter fair, is who I do demand
Come back with me to Mouselow, sit with me at my throne
You know you want to join with me in my hilltop home
One kiss from your rosy lips, and then we’ll talk of love
If you do not heed my words, I’ll spill your father’s blood
Held tightly within Almand’s grasp, Ineld became enraged
She broke free from his cold embrace and struck him on the face
By Woden, you’re a worthy wife! Prince Almand exclaimed
Someday I will tame you, and together we shall reign
Come back with me to Mouselow, sit with me at my throne
You know you want to join with me in my hilltop home
One kiss from your rosy lips, and then we’ll talk of love
If you do not heed my words, I’ll spill your father’s blood
The princess ran from Almand, she was scared and afraid
To her father’s mansion where she knew that she was safe
Almand promised himself he would win fair Ineld’s heart
But as the days grew longer he heard not one remark
Refusing to abandon hope, Almand waited in the woods
Soon enough Ineld appeared, being as cautious as she could
The Prince followed her closely ‘til she stopped, at a glade
Then Almand made his presence known, emerging from his place
Triumphantly he stood before her, these words he shouted out
Now dear Vixen I have won, we shall marry without a doubt
By will or force, it matters not, either way you shall be mine
Come with me to my fortress, let us waste no time
The Princess fought in vain against his might
But there was no-one in the woods to hear her cries
No man could stop him on that fateful night
As Almand made away with his prize
Suddenly a voice rang out, her saviour was at hand
Lewin of Melandra then appeared behind Almand
She ran towards the newcomer and wept with relief
As Almand raised his axe to bring wrath upon the chief
I could slay you easily, instead I give you life
Your bravery has saved you, but Ineld will be my wife
Go now Lewin, rally your men, we’ll meet in battle array
Melandra against Mouselow, we’ll fight for Longdendale
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6. |
Traitor
06:04
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Traitor! In our presence
The seer’s words were prophecy
What led you to join the foe?
You were my blood, you were my seed
My noble foe to him you ran
Seduced by power and more
You take to him my battle plan
And prepare for the coming storm
Traitor! You were my son
Oath breaker! What have you done?
Betrayer! Seduced by greed
Kinslayer! I’ll watch you bleed
Killer! Slay the sentries
As you make your sly escape
Dishonour! You took my sword
And you disgrace my revered name
I see you now across the field
In Lewin’s shield wall
A traitor in this noble conflict
You will surely fall
Traitor! You were my son
Oath breaker! What have you done?
Betrayer! Seduced by greed
Kinslayer! I’ll watch you bleed
The slaying of the seer saw Almand undone
Blood spilled on enchanted runes bore betrayal by his son
Led astray by promise of wealth, his father’s doom at hand
Lewin lord of Mouselow to rule across the land
Battle! The songs of war
Echo through the windswept hills
Warpath! Across the valley
Two armies take up arms
My ancestral sword I will retrieve
When I step over your corpse
Take your men and leave this fight
Or death will take you all
Traitor! You were my son
Oath breaker! What have you done?
Betrayer! Seduced by greed
Kinslayer! I’ll watch you bleed
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7. |
Redgate
05:46
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Shield wall
Redgate, the hill earns its name
Shields arrayed in colours of blood
Men behind edge through mud
Towards the slaughter, side by side
Together kinsmen will fight and die
Soon the field is filled with dead
Laden with bodies, the hill runs red
Face your foe, hold tight your sword
The sounds and cries and screams of war
Fight, die
Fight, die
Lewin led a charmed life, touched not by blade or knife
Yet his warriors fell all around like wheat before the scythe
Splintered shields met tempered steel as two foes met with hate
One destined for Ineld’s hand, and one to meet his fate
Across the blood red battlefield
He spied his foe Almand
With a furious cry he led the charge
Now your doom’s at hand!
Yet the grim housecarls of Mouselow’s chief
Hacked his men like meat
Lewin feared the battle lost
And saw death in defeat
Fight, die
Fight, die
Lewin led a charmed life, touched not by blade or knife
Yet his warriors fell all around like wheat before the scythe
Splintered shields met tempered steel as two foes met with hate
One destined for Ineld’s hand, and one to meet his fate
Almand turns and slays his son, his glorious moment nigh
Pushing onto Lewin, he lifts his axe up high
The final charge of Lewin’s men is met with steel on steel
The stench of blood and shattered bone, weapons bite through shields
Overpowered by strength of arms, Almand’s brothers flee
But the savage hero stands his ground, slaying all he sees
A thousand mortal wounds he took, a thousand it took to die
Pierced by Lewin’s sword through heart, for him the end was nigh
As I lie scourged with weakness
I see my men, I see them flee
But I shall die, my sword in hand
Face to the foe, Valhalla calls me
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8. |
Pagan Fire
05:09
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Took him from the field of dead
Laid his body upon a pyre
Placed his helm upon his head
Cleansed his soul with pagan fire
Tales of wars he won
Sung by skalds in hall up high
There his time has begun
Where valiant warriors never die
Almand your doom
For a chief there is no tomb
Purified by pagan fire
Almand our lord
Live and die by the sword
Flames send your spirit to the sky
Men gather to hail their chief
Flames light up the valley this night
Their hearts burning with grief
Almand departs in the dying light
To Valhalla his soul is sent
With Odin he feasts and tells his tale
Now his saga is at an end
His name lives on in Longdendale
Almand your doom
For a chief there is no tomb
Purified by pagan fire
Almand our lord
Live and die by the sword
Flames send your spirit to the sky
The new chief cleanses his crimson blade
As the spirit of Almand begins to fade away
Lewin claims his throne atop the bloody Redgate
Ruling with Ineld’s hand, for his next trial he waits
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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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