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.
The Last We Wage
Blackguard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a logging camp in Gatineau
Far away from the ones we love
In the desolation and the snow
Drunk Baptiste says he has a plan
A plan to travel across this land
We'll be with our family tonight and be back before first light
Make a deal with the Devil
He'll give us what we need
On a flying canoe we ride
To the révellion or die
And then the Devil appeared and the rules he made quite clear
Touch not a cross or swear on the Lord's name Or your soul is lost
Be back before the light as well
If not it's straight to hell
We put our fears aside
To the rules we will abide
Let's ride tonight across the sky
Our souls are on the line
To be with our families tonight
The skies are so clear
So much we're eased of all our fear, look out
For the church ahead
Turn away or we'll be dead
Not far to the révellion
So long since I've been home
Not long 'till the journey's done
And the party has just begun
Let's ride tonight!
Across the sky
Our souls are on the line
To be with our families tonight
We'll meet the Devil and play his game
The wage is worth what we will gain
The drink ever did flow
And the dancing never slowed
Alive and we're all here
So raise your glass and give a cheer
The Devil's eyes are watching us
Now our time is almost up
And as the clock struck five we had to leave or die
We said tearful goodbyes
But now we must take to the skies
Onward we went on through the fog
Our boat did hit a cross but not a
Shard touched one of us
Our souls are not yet lost
Let's ride tonight across the skies
Our souls are on the line
To be with our families tonight
We'll meet the Devil and play his game
The wage is worth what we will gain
The drunk Baptiste nearly said the words that'd damn us all to hell
With a swift hit he met my fist and overboard he fell
The rest of us who made it back
We all did agree
Never attempt La Chasse Gallerie
"The Last We Wage" by Blackguard is a song about a group of loggers who are far from their families and homes on New Year's Eve. The group is drinking and sharing stories when Baptiste comes up with a plan to make a deal with the Devil to travel home on a flying canoe, a Quebecois folk legend known as La Chasse Galerie. The Devil agrees to their deal, but with strict rules; they must not touch a cross or swear the Lord's name, and they must be back before first light or risk losing their souls. The loggers accept the terms and embark on their journey, enjoy a night of revelry with their loved ones, and almost make it back without breaking the rules. However, Baptiste nearly causes them all to lose their souls by accidentally breaking one of the rules, but the singer saves the day by punching him and sending him overboard. The song ends with a vow never to attempt La Chasse Galerie again.
Line by Line Meaning
Together on the eve of the new year
A group of people gathered in a logging camp in Gatineau on New Year's Eve.
In a logging camp in Gatineau
The setting of the song where the group of people are gathered.
Far away from the ones we love
The group was separated from their loved ones who are not with them in Gatineau.
In the desolation and the snow
The setting is described as being on a snowy, isolated place.
Drunk Baptiste says he has a plan
A drunk named Baptiste proposed a plan to cross the land to be with their family tonight.
A plan to travel across this land
Baptiste's idea was to travel across the land to be with their families and be back before first light.
We'll be with our family tonight and be back before first light
The group's goal is to be with their families tonight and return early in the morning so that they won't be caught and punished.
We must run La Chasse Galerie
The group must run the legend of La Chasse Galerie, a type of flying canoe which they believe can take them to their families in time.
Make a deal with the Devil
The group must make a deal with the Devil in order to ride the flying canoe.
He'll give us what we need
The Devil promises to give the group what they need to make it to their families.
On a flying canoe we ride
The group rode a flying canoe, as legend tells of La Chasse Galerie.
To the révellion or die
The group is riding the flying canoe to the révellion (a traditional loud and raucous party for New Year's Eve) or they will fail and face punishment.
And then the Devil appeared and the rules he made quite clear
The Devil appeared and explained the rules (such as not touching a cross or swearing on the Lord's name) that the group must follow or face eternal punishment.
Touch not a cross or swear on the Lord's name
The Devil made it clear that touching a cross or swearing on the Lord's name will result in eternal damnation.
Or your soul is lost
Breaking any of the rules stipulated by the Devil means losing one's soul forever.
Be back before the light as well
The Devil also gave a time limit for the group to be back before dawn breaks.
If not it's straight to hell
The group faces eternal damnation if they fail to return before dawn.
We put our fears aside
The group chose to set aside their fears and followed the rules stipulated by the Devil.
To the rules we will abide
The group promised to follow the rules that the Devil gave them during their ride on the flying canoe.
Let's ride tonight across the sky
The group rides the flying canoe across the skies to be reunited with their families.
Our souls are on the line
The group recognizes that their own salvation is in the balance with every action they take.
The skies are so clear
The skies were clear during their ride on the flying canoe.
So much we're eased of all our fear, look out
The group's anxiety was eased since they were riding on a flying canoe.
For the church ahead
The group saw a church ahead of them.
Turn away or we'll be dead
If the group got too close to the church, they would perish, as part of the rules the Devil gave them.
Not far to the révellion
The group is close to the raucous party they intended to attend.
So long since I've been home
One member of the group expressed that they haven't been home for quite some time.
Not long 'till the journey's done
The group is close to the end of their journey to be reunited with their families.
And the party has just begun
The group is excited to join the party after being away from their families for so long.
We'll meet the Devil and play his game
The group will keep their end of the deal they made with the Devil.
The wage is worth what we will gain
The group believed the reward for their actions is worth the risk of eternal damnation.
The drink ever did flow
The party had an abundance of drinks.
And the dancing never slowed
Everyone partied and danced through the night.
Alive and we're all here
The group is ecstatic that they made it through the night.
So raise your glass and give a cheer
The group raised their glasses in celebration of their newfound joy of being with their families once again.
The Devil's eyes are watching us
The group still had a lingering feeling of following the Devil's rules.
Now our time is almost up
The group recognized that their time with their families was almost up.
And as the clock struck five we had to leave or die
They had to leave promptly at 5 AM to avoid the punishment of the Devil.
We said tearful goodbyes
The group had to say goodbye to their families, and it was an emotional moment.
But now we must take to the skies
The group rode the flying canoe again to return where they came from.
Onward we went on through the fog
The group encountered fog during their ride on the flying canoe.
Our boat did hit a cross but not a
The flying canoe made contact with a cross, but no one touched it.
Shard touched one of us
No one in the group was harmed by the cross.
Our souls are not yet lost
The group avoided breaking the rules, and no one lost their soul.
We'll meet the Devil and play his game
The group will stick to their deal to avoid the Devil's punishment.
The wage is worth what we will gain
The group still believed that their reward is worth the risk.
The drunk Baptiste nearly said the words that'd damn us all to hell
One of the members of the group almost cursed and broke one of the Devil's rules, and it would have led to their doom.
With a swift hit he met my fist and overboard he fell
One member of the group punched the drunk Baptiste to stop him from cursing and breaking the rules, causing him to fall off the canoe.
The rest of us who made it back
The group members who followed the rules and made it back to the logging camp and not eternal pain.
We all did agree
The group came to a consensus not to attempt La Chasse Gallerie again.
Never attempt La Chasse Gallerie
The group learned their lesson and decided never to attempt the dangerous journey and deal with the Devil again.
Lyrics © SUMERIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: Paul Ablaze, Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc, Terry Roadcase, Kim Gosselin, Etienne Mailloux, Justine Ethier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind