When the Dead March Beneath the Rain

[epic keyboard intro, cold folk atmosphere, distant war drums, low male choir, rain and wind ambience] [Verse 1] Upon the rain-scoured fields where the heather drinks the blood, old names move under the soil, restless beneath the mud. The cairns are split by thunder. The stones remember steel. Every root in the blackened earth still tastes the final kneel. [heavy folk metal riff, tin whistle melody, harsh growls entering] No harp sings for the fallen. No priest keeps back the night. Only rust beneath the fingers, only vengeance given sight. [short guitar solo, Celtic lead melody, driving double kick] [Pre-Chorus] From the grave-mist, from the cold clay, from the oath that would not decay— [Chorus] We rise from ancient slumber, earth-chained, iron-willed. The living world shall splinter where our hunger is fulfilled. With hearts of stone and marrow black, we claim the land once more. Under rain, under ruin, we march to settle war. [bagpipe lead over heavy rhythm guitars, growled chants, pounding drums] [Verse 2] Broken shields upon our backs, banners torn like winter skin, we come with hollow eyes aflame, and the storm comes breathing in. The drums roll over burial mounds, deep as judgement, slow as doom. Each beat unlocks another grave, each cry awakens tombs. [harsh growls, faster riff, bodhrán and metal drums layered] No rest was granted to our bones. No peace was carved in stone. Those who cast us into shadow shall be shadow overthrown. [Pre-Chorus] From the grave-mist, from the cold clay, from the oath that would not decay— [Chorus] We rise from ancient slumber, earth-chained, iron-willed. The living world shall splinter where our hunger is fulfilled. With hearts of stone and marrow black, we claim the land once more. Under rain, under ruin, we march to settle war. [guitar solo, heroic but dark folk melody, blast of bagpipes, galloping rhythm] [Bridge] Through the dead of night we gather, not as men, but as a storm. No pain remains within us, no flesh, no breath, no warmth. The moon is veiled in corpse-light. The ravens leave the trees. When the dead march over kingdoms, the living learn to bleed. [breakdown, deep growls, war drums, choir shouting behind] Bleed for the fields. Bleed for the cairns. Bleed for the oath that death still bears. [Final Chorus] We rise from ancient slumber, earth-chained, iron-willed. The living world shall splinter where our hunger is fulfilled. With hearts of stone and marrow black, we claim the land once more. Under rain, under ruin, we march to settle war. [Outro] The winds howl low. The rain falls cold. The dead laugh beneath their helms of mould. Hear their cries. Hear iron call. Tonight the living fall.