Hel’s Gate
[Intro] [spoken baritone male vocals] What Odin leaves, the cold earth keeps, and Hel remembers those who sleep. [distorted guitar riff, heavy double-kick drums] [Verse 1] [baritone male vocals] My brothers bear me through the snow Shield on shoulder, steps below The field lies red behind my eyes No raven breaks the ashen skies Iron cold within my hand I gave my blood unto this land I hear them breathe, I hear them weep As I sink down, dark and deep [Chorus] Carry me down to Helheim's gate Where cold winds carve my final fate No golden feast, no hall for me But still my brothers remember me [Bridge] [female vocals, ethereal reverb] What Odin leaves, the cold earth keeps, and Hel remembers those who sleep. [heavy guitar riff returns] [Verse 2] [baritone male vocals] No Valkyrie bent through storm or snow No bright spear showed the way to go No wing, no cry from Odin's throne No feast of gold, no hall of stone Yet I did not fall with empty hand I gave my blood unto this land Let no man say my name was shame I met the dark with iron and flame [Chorus] Carry me down to Helheim's gate Where cold winds carve my final fate No golden feast, no hall for me But still my brothers remember me [Bridge 2] [female vocals singing in Old Norse] Hefigir kalar kom þú heim Óttas gengi Sof þú í friði [Verse 3] [baritone male vocals, half-time feel] No curse awaits beyond her gate Only frost and ancient stone Before the gate of ice and night I saw no fire, I saw no light And Hel stood still, no wrath, no hate The silent keeper at the gate [Outro] [male and female vocal harmony] She spoke my name and fear gave way The cold received what gods let stray Then all my shame fell from my name For death and honor are not the same Open now, O Helheim's gate Let the cold winds speak my name No golden feast, no hall for me But still my brothers remember me What gods may leave, the deep earth keeps And Hel remembers those who sleep Open now, O Helheim's gate I lay down fear, I lay down pain No golden hall is called for me Yet in the cold, my soul is free [acoustic taglharpa and frame drum fade out]
