At Vance were founded by Lenk, the man already known through his solo album… Read Full Bio ↴At Vance were founded by Lenk, the man already known through his solo albums, as guitarist in the legendary Zed Yago and Progressive project Centers. Their first album, "No Escape" was released in 1998, and followed by "Heart of Steel" two years later. A year after this, in 2001, came the band's third album "Dragonchaser".

After signing with AFM Records in 2002, the band then released "Only Human" before touring Europe with Rhapsody and Angel Dust.

Singer Oliver Hartmann then left the band and a replacement was found in former Yngwie Malmsteen singer Mats Leven.

Lenk spent the next few months writing 2003's album “The Evil In You”. A tour with Kamelot followed. After that, "Chained" was released in 2005 and secured chart entries in Scandinavia. The band then toured with Brainstorm and Mercenary. Mats Leven is no longer a member of At Vance and was replaced by Rick Altzi for their newest album, VII.

Discography :

No Escape (1998)
Heart Of Steel (2000)
Dragonchaser (2001)
Only Human (2002)
The Evil In You (2003)
Chained (2005)
VII (2007)
Ride The Sky (2009)

Friendly Fire
At Vance Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

They were young at heart
Wild and free
Faith was their belief
To kill their enemies
They were marching on and on

Together as one, unite to be strong
Heading where they belong

They were crossing the field
With a gun in their hand
Raisin' their shields
As they walk across the land
Now and forever

They were born to fall, for the sake of war
Heading towards the call

One for all and all for one
Friendly fire has taken them all

Come on

I just run without directions
Hours feel like days
I've been hunting like a madman
Blindly in the haze
For my God and country

Together as one, unite to be strong
Heading where they belong

Burning all my bridges
Just can't find my way out
My life is torn in pieces
I just I just gotta shout
For my God and country

They were born to fall, for the sake of war
Heading towards the call

One for all and all for one
Friendly fire has taken them all

Overall Meaning

The song "Friendly Fire" by At Vance is a powerful statement on the brutality of war, especially for the soldiers who fight on the front lines. The opening lines, "They were young at heart, wild and free, faith was their belief, to kill their enemies," capture the fervor that young soldiers often experience when they first join the military, full of idealism and a sense of purpose. The song goes on to describe the soldiers' march towards battle, united in their mission and their sense of camaraderie. However, the chorus takes a darker turn, revealing that "friendly fire" – the accidental shooting of one's own forces – has taken them all.

The second verse reveals the soldier's personal struggle with the realities of war, as the singer describes feeling lost and directionless, "hunting like a madman blindly in the haze" in their search for a sense of purpose. The lyrics continue to describe the toll that war takes on the individual, as the singer burns bridges and feels torn apart by their experiences, unable to find a way out.

Overall, "Friendly Fire" is a poignant commentary on war and its impact on those who are forced to fight it. While the song is certainly inspired by the experiences of soldiers, it can also be seen as a broader commentary on violence and conflict, and the way in which it tears us apart both individually and as a society.

Line by Line Meaning

They were young at heart
They were full of youthful energy and enthusiasm

Wild and free
They were unrestrained and uninhibited

Faith was their belief
They believed strongly in their cause

To kill their enemies
They were willing to go to war and kill their enemies

They were marching on and on
They were moving forward with determination and resolve

Together as one, unite to be strong
They were working together as a team to be stronger

Heading where they belong
They were determined to reach their destination

They were crossing the field
They were moving through a physical space

With a gun in their hand
They were armed and dangerous

Raisin' their shields
They were protecting themselves from harm

As they walk across the land
They were moving across the terrain