Art of War: Chapter 1 - Laying Plans

[INTRO — DISTANT WHISPERS] (whispered) Measure the earth… Measure the heavens… Measure the fear in men… (low distant throat chants begin) (female whisper) Victory… Before battle… [VERSE 1 — DEEP BARITONE] The reckless speak with sharpened tongues While wise men sharpen silence Maps unfolded under candle flames I study storms in private Before the arrow leaves the string Before the banners rise The war is weighed in unseen scales Inside the leader’s eyes [PRE-CHORUS — BUILDING TENSION] Patience... Is not surrender Stillness... Is not weakness The mountain does not chase the storm It watches... And remains [CHORUS — MASSIVE TAIKO DRUMS ENTER] Win before the battle Strike before the blade Break the will unseen Let the enemy decay Move like hidden rivers Silent as the grave The greatest wars are victories That never must be waged [POST-CHORUS — FEMALE ETHEREAL VOCALS] (haunting layered vocals) No wasted motion... No wasted blood... No wasted kings... [VERSE 2 — DARKER ENERGY] The loud announce their coming wrath The wise arrive as shadows A fortress falls long before fire When doubt corrodes the marrow To know yourself is discipline To know your foe is fate But to control the field between Is mastery of state [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK] (tribal drums) (throat singing) (eastern flute textures) (reversed industrial impacts) [BRIDGE — SPOKEN PROPHECY] (spoken slowly) Anger... Is expensive Pride... Kills kingdoms The victorious general Sees the ending Before the beginning (silence) (one massive drum hit) [FINAL CHORUS — HUGE CINEMATIC EXPANSION] Win before the battle Rule before the crown Silence shakes the earth Long before the armies sound Move like unseen heaven Strike without a name For those who master waiting Never need to chase fame [OUTRO — COLLAPSING INTO WHISPERS] (whispered repeatedly) Know yourself... Know the enemy... Know yourself... Know the enemy... (female whisper) Victorious... Before battle... (low drones fade out) (distant horns)