If ever there was a test case proving that hard work, tenacity, a healthy h… Read Full Bio ↴If ever there was a test case proving that hard work, tenacity, a healthy helping of suffering, and word of mouth pay off, Blackguard is it. Formed in 2001 by guitarist Terry Roadcase and drummer Justine "Juice" Éthier as a straight-ahead black-metal outfit, the Montreal-based sextet—who clawed their way into the public eye under the dauntingly ponderous name of Profugus Mortis—has fought a pitched battle to stand out amongst their international metal brethren, having braved numerous line-up changes and much needed sonic tweaking to get to where they were in 2008.

Blackguard as a viable entity was officially born with the addition of vocalist and born frontman Paul Ablaze in October 2004 to Profugus Mortis' ranks, followed a month later by bassist Étienne Mailloux, with both bringing the necessary dynamics to the band's sound and clarity to the group's collective vision. Staying true to their black-metal roots, the new Profugus Mortis turned their sights on a brutal new interpretation of Scandinavian folk metal.

“This comes to us naturally," says Ablaze, "and we’re definitely the sum of our parts. What’s going on around us influences us to a certain degree, of course, but in the end we’re putting our own spin on it and giving the band its own defining characteristics. Before we came in, the band’s sound was a lot more progressive black metal; there were a lot of riffs and tempo changes. But we’ve gone in a much more straightforward direction since then. I guess we took on a power-metal and a straight-up folk-metal influence along the way."

Wasting no time, they issued a four-song self-produced demo in March 2005, passing out free copies at metal shows in Montreal. In July that same year, Profugus Mortis played the Xtreme Distortion Fest in Montreal with KATAKLYSM and UNEXPECT, winning the coveted slot as Best Unsigned Band at the event. That success translated into a support slot with SODOM and FINNTROLL, which in turn earned Profugus Mortis the opportunity to open for YNGWIE MALMSTEEN at the request of Quebec's Capital du Metal.

Since then, Blackguard (still known as Profugus Mortis at the time) has supported and toured with numerous acts equally respected the world over, including LACUNA COIL, CATAMENIA, WARBRINGER, BEHEMOTH, THERION, INTO ETERNITY, ENSIFERUM, THE AGONIST, CRYPTOPSY, KRISIUN and VOIVOD. Added to this noteworthy rogue's gallery are Canadian tours with the Finnish godfathers of folk metal, MOONSORROW, and more recently QUO VADIS.

Profugus Mortis' first official foray as professional recording artists came in the form of the aptly titled ...So It Begins in March 2007. More a collection of songs showcasing the band's past and their new direction, the album became the best- and fastest-selling album in their label Prodisk's history. The album also signaled the beginning of the end of what was considered by many fans and press people alike to be the one element that made Profugus Mortis unique; in January 2008 violinist Emilie Livernois was given the boot, leaving a hole in the band's sound. Rather than listen to the naysayers, the band raised its middle finger and brought in former GOTHERFALL guitarist Kim Gosselin. It was a perfect match made in hell.

"One of the things that suffered was having a stronger rhythm," Ablaze says of Livernois' violin having been a focal point. "If Terry was doing a lead and Emilie was doing a lead and Jonathan (Leduc/keyboards) was doing his own little thing, the songs could end up sounding pretty weak. It’s absolutely fantastic having Kim in the band now, because he beefs up the songs like crazy. The first time we jammed…we sounded like a frickin’ beast (laughs)."

That beast, now known as Blackguard, has been unleashed. Their major label debut—entitled Profugus Mortis as a tribute to their past—is an outing that has brought diehard fans and (until now) ignorant folk-metal followers up short. Capitalizing on the best moments offered up on ...So It Begins, the new album is a folk-metal onslaught that redefines the genre and raises the bar to an all-time high. Just as important, if not more so, the new material sees a revamped and hungry Blackguard coming into their own as a live act that cannot be ignored.

If all the world is a stage, it belongs to Blackguard—starting now.

Check out the [url=http://[officialsite]www.victorymerch.com/store/Blackguard]Blackguard merch store.

Allegiance
Blackguard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This is my allegiance
This is my declaration for where I stand
This is my solemn vow of everything I'll fight to uphold
It's a call to war against all those who build to destroy and live to abhor
There's no room for you anymore
I will not stand by and watch as you
Tear down my world before my eyes

I won't bow down to the things you praise or hate those you despise today
I won't be deceived by the lies
The promise of wealth you can't provide
I am my own man
I fight the good fight
I'm not going to live another day if I can't fight today

This is my allegiance
To those I have fought with side by side
For those I have bled for and those who would bleed for me
For those who would lay their life down
And I would give my life for them
And on the eve of battle we'll have a pint again

I won't bow down to the things you praise or hate those you despise today
I won't be deceived by the lies The promise of wealth you can't provide
I am my own man
I fight the good fight
I'm not going to live another day if I can't fight today

This is my allegiance
This is my declaration of where I stand
This is my solemn vow of everything I'll fight to uphold
It's a call to war against all those who build to destroy and live to abhor
There's no room for you anymore

For every man there comes a time
To choose how to live and how to die
The time is now so make a choice

Who would you fight for
Now pick a side

Overall Meaning

The singer of Blackguard's song "Allegiance" declares their unwavering commitment to fight for what they believe in. They view their allegiance as a call to war against those who seek to destroy rather than build up. The song speaks to the idea of choosing a side and standing up for what one believes in, even if it means challenging the status quo or risking one's life. The lyrics reflect a sense of loyalty towards those who the singer has fought alongside with, and a willingness to lay down their life for them.

At its core, "Allegiance" is a rallying cry for those who refuse to compromise their values and beliefs. It captures the spirit of defiance and the desire to resist forces that threaten to undermine what is important. The lyrics also speak to the idea of individualism, and the resolve to live life on one's own terms. The song empowers individuals to take a stand and fight for what they believe in, while also recognizing the importance of camaraderie and brotherhood.

Line by Line Meaning

This is my allegiance
I am committed to a specific cause and will stand by it

This is my declaration for where I stand
I am making it clear where my loyalties lie

This is my solemn vow of everything I'll fight to uphold
I promise to defend and protect what I believe in at all costs

It's a call to war against all those who build to destroy and live to abhor
I am rallying others to join me in the fight against those who seek to harm and destroy

There's no room for you anymore
I will not tolerate those who oppose my cause and seek to sabotage it

I will not stand by and watch as you
I refuse to be a passive bystander while others cause harm

Tear down my world before my eyes
Destroying what I hold dear will not be allowed to happen

I won't bow down to the things you praise or hate those you despise today
I will not conform to societal norms or hate others based on prejudice

I won't be deceived by the lies
I am not gullible and will not believe falsehoods

The promise of wealth you can't provide
I am not swayed by empty promises of wealth or material possessions

I am my own man
I am an individual with my own thoughts and beliefs

I fight the good fight
I am fighting for a noble cause

I'm not going to live another day if I can't fight today
I will not wait for the perfect moment to act - I will take action now

To those I have fought with side by side
I have formed bonds with those who share my cause and have fought alongside me

For those I have bled for and those who would bleed for me
I am willing to sacrifice everything for those who have done the same for me

For those who would lay their life down
There are others who share my cause and are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice

And I would give my life for them
I am willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for those who share my cause

And on the eve of battle we'll have a pint again
Despite the danger we face, we will still find joy in the moments we share with our comrades

For every man there comes a time
Everyone has a moment when they must make a crucial decision

To choose how to live and how to die
We have the power to decide what we stand for and what we are willing to die for

The time is now so make a choice
We must act now and choose which side of the conflict we stand on

Who would you fight for
We must decide which cause is worth fighting for

Now pick a side
It is time to choose which side of the conflict we will support

Lyrics © SUMERIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: Paul Ablaze, Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc, Terry Roadcase, Kim Gosselin, Etienne Mailloux, Justine Ethier

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS