New Zealand sludge metal four-piece Beastwars abide by one steadfast maxim:… Read Full Bio ↴New Zealand sludge metal four-piece Beastwars abide by one steadfast maxim: Obey the Riff. Described as "a mongrel mix of Kyuss, Neurosis, and the mighty Godflesh..." (NZ Herald) and playing "heavy tunes for heavy times" (ALARM), the Wellington-based sonic soothsayers utilize the chaos that engulfs our world as ammunition for their defiant howls into the abyss.

Matt Hyde - Vocals
Clayton Anderson - Guitar
James Woods - Bass
Nathan Hickey - Drums

Imperium
Beastwars Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

North by north by sea
Set the black ship free
Raise the golden sword
To Jerusalem

Born with a blind eye
See these tombs of sand
Raise my sword of light

To Jerusalem

Raise the burning branch
Let the blood run free
Take our golden light
To Jerusalem

This Imperium
Raise the sword of life and death

Raise the king by the skull
To Jerusalem

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Beastwars's song "Imperium" evoke a sense of journey, adventure, and conquest. The opening lines, "North by north by sea, Set the black ship free," suggest a maritime voyage, perhaps to distant lands with exotic treasures to be found. The mention of Jerusalem and the golden sword signifies a religious or spiritual aspect to the quest, hinting at a holy war or crusade. The singer seems to possess a unique perspective, as they were "born with a blind eye" but can still "see these tombs of sand" - suggesting a heightened or mystical sense of perception. The chorus, "This Imperium, Raise the sword of life and death, Raise the king by the skull, To Jerusalem," reinforces the idea of a powerful empire or kingdom, whose rulers seek to extend their reach and influence through force and domination.

Line by Line Meaning

North by north by sea
Traveling by boat towards the north towards a destination

Set the black ship free
Release the dark ship from captivity

Raise the golden sword
Lift up the valuable weapon

To Jerusalem
Heading towards the Holy Land

Born with a blind eye
Being born with a physical impairment that affects vision

See these tombs of sand
Observing graves made of sand

Raise my sword of light
Holding up a sword that radiates light

Raise the burning branch
Elevating a flaming piece of wood

Let the blood run free
Allowing blood to flow without restrictions

Take our golden light
Bring our precious source of illumination

This Imperium
This supreme power or authority