[Intro - distant layered Gregorian male chant, cello and low bass] Vox testium... [Male Lead - restrained, clear] Wake the stones. Unseal the ground. Let buried truth be given sound. Let ash arise. Let silence break. Let every grave its witness make. [Full Band Enters - strong rock groove] [Male Lead] The blade is steel in any hand. Blood stains alike on sea or land. Yet mortal wrath is branded sin, while heaven's wars are welcomed in. [Gregorian Choir Only - distant] Testes, surgite. [Verse 2 - driving guitar riff] Thou wrote in stone: Thou shalt not kill. Then blessed the sword that served thy will. If blood condemns the hand of man, what cleans the blade at thy command? [Band Pulls Back - cello, bass, restrained drums] [Male Lead] The earth knows not what creed was cried. The dead ask not which god was right. No sacred word, no holy flame, can teach the dead a different pain. [Drums and guitars gradually return] Kings raised banners in thy name. Priests blessed iron, ash and flame. And every age has learned anew how easily men kill for you. [Break - guitars disappear, bass and cello only] [Male Lead - close and controlled] If wrath makes wicked mortal hands, what virtue crowns divine commands? If vengeance stains the hearts below, why does thy throne escape the blow? [Brief silence] Does death grow just when heaven commands? Does blood turn clean in holy hands? [Full Band Slams In] [Chorus - heavy but melodic, choir behind lead] LET WITNESS RISE. LET SILENCE END. LET EVERY GRAVE ITS VOICE ASCEND. NO PSALM CAN CLEAN THE BLOODIED STONE. NO PRAYER CAN MAKE THE DEAD UNKNOWN. [Gregorian Interlude - drums stop, cello and distant chant] Vox testium... [Half-Time Breakdown - heavy restrained guitars] [Male Lead] Was blood made pure because it fell beneath the sound of temple bell? Did murder cease to murder be when men believed it pleased thee? [Everything cuts] [Close male voice] Or did thy name but gild the stain? [Silence] [Full Band Return - final acceleration] The blade remained. The wound remained. The mothers mourned exactly the same. [Gregorian Choir - large but melodic, no screaming] Vox testium! [Final Verse - full band] So judge mankind if judge thou must— but weigh thy hand upon the dust. And ere thou count the sins of men, count every grave... and count again. [Final Rock Hit] [All drums and distorted guitars disappear] [Outro - cello, low bass, distant Gregorian voices only] [Male Lead - clear, quiet] The dead have testified. [Very distant choir] Vox testium... [Cello fades] [Silence]
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