[Intro] [Heavy acoustic guitar intro, building up with thunder sound effects] [Fast double bass kick and heavy riff drop] [Verse 1] The oak tree bleeds beneath the iron sky, The raven’s call is choked by silver cross. No sacred groves where ancient shadows lie, Only the counting of the heathen loss. The White Christ walks upon our frozen coast, With silent tears and promises of grace, Behind his back, a cold, relentless host To tear the runes from every holy place. [Chorus] [Aggressive gang vocals, heavy chugging] HAMMER AND CROSS! FIRE AND BLOOD! TEAR DOWN THE SHIELD OF THE HEAVENLY GOD! THUNDER WILL RISE! VALHALLA CRY! THE OLD GODS FIGHT OR THE OLD GODS DIE! [Verse 2] Odin’s eye is fixed upon the field, No sacrifice will turn the tide today. The wooden shields begin to crack and yield, As baptism washes all the blood away. They offer peace inside a golden cage, They bury kings beneath the church’s floor. They call our honor nothing more than rage, And lock the gates of Valhalla’s door! [Chorus] [Aggressive gang vocals] HAMMER AND CROSS! FIRE AND BLOOD! TEAR DOWN THE SHIELD OF THE HEAVENLY GOD! THUNDER WILL RISE! VALHALLA CRY! THE OLD GODS FIGHT OR THE OLD GODS DIE! [Bridge] [Tempo slows down, heavy halftime beat, deep growl] No blood for Thor... No mead for the brave... The Allfather sleeps... In a forgotten grave... [Build-Up] [Fast double bass, rising tempo] [High pitched scream] BUT THE THUNDER STILL REMEMBERS! [Guitar Solo] [Fast, technical melodic guitar solo, duel style] [Chorus] [Maximum energy, heavy double bass] HAMMER AND CROSS! FIRE AND BLOOD! TEAR DOWN THE SHIELD OF THE HEAVENLY GOD! THUNDER WILL RISE! VALHALLA CRY! THE OLD GODS FIGHT OR THE OLD GODS DIE! [Outro] [Fade out, slowing drumbeat] The church bells ring... The hammer fades... The old ways die in the silent shades... [Whisper] ...But beneath the stone, the runes still glow. [End]
