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 Path
Blackguard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our limbs to move the body and the will to make it so
What weight will slow the journey?
What test that we might fail?
Will the spirit be overcome or rise and we prevail?
So we question what's right but we never know
And we sit back and watch is the ebb and flow
For all we have done what is there to show?
So endlessly we travel the path we tread
For what more can we do?
Few signs here to follow on the path we tread
One day we'll make it to the end
How cruel!
That the choices we make
Have such resounding effect paralyzed by our fear of mistake
Another chain to break and move on
How cruel!
It's as though the leaves on the trees
Could destroy all that we have become
Or the wind set astray the direction we made to be strong
So winding a road but graced we are to be part of the path
A gift it is and everyday we should think it to finally be our last
The way not clear and never will it ever be
So pick yourself up and come follow me
Or travel the path alone till it leads you finally home
If we could only now
interpret this song, "The Path," by Blackguard as an allegory about life. The lyrics suggest that life is a journey that we must take, and we all have a path that lies before us. The first verse talks about the steps we take to move on, and the willpower to make it happen. The second verse is reflective, questioning what is right, and the ebb and flow of life, accepting what's wrong, and moving forward. The third stanza's lyrics express that life is a journey that must continue, and despite the winding path, we should consider every day as our last.
The chorus has a deep meaning, emphasizing how our choices have significant and resounding effects, and we are often paralyzed by our fear of making mistakes. If we want to move forward, we need to break these chains and keep moving on. The bridge mentions how life is like a road that is winding, and we should consider it a gift to be part of this path. Even though the way forward is not clear, one must pick themselves up and continue walking, either alone or following someone till we finally reach home.
Overall, the song is about accepting the road of life and moving forward despite its twists and turns. Life's journey may not be clear, but it is an incredible gift, and we must keep moving forward until we reach our destination.
Line by Line Meaning
The path that lies before us and the steps we take to move on
We are faced with a journey ahead of us and it is up to us to determine the steps we take to move forward.
Our limbs to move the body and the will to make it so
We have the determination within ourselves, as well as the abilities and strength to physically move forward on this path.
What weight will slow the journey?
We will encounter obstacles and challenges that could potentially slow down our progress on this journey.
What test that we might fail?
We will be tested along the way and there is always a possibility of failure.
Will the spirit be overcome or rise and we prevail?
The true test lies within our spirit, whether it will rise to the challenge or be overcome by the obstacles.
So we question what's right but we never know
Questioning what is right and wrong is a common occurrence, yet we may never truly know for sure.
And we sit back and watch is the ebb and flow
We often observe the ups and downs of life without taking action to change the outcome.
Accepting what's wrong and let it go
Accepting the things that are wrong in life and learning to let them go is important for our journey.
For all we have done what is there to show?
Despite our efforts and progress, it can be difficult to see tangible results or evidence of our accomplishments.
So endlessly we travel the path we tread
Our journey seems never-ending, with many ups and downs as we continue on this path.
For what more can we do?
We may feel like we are doing all we can, but there is always room for improvement and growth.
Few signs here to follow on the path we tread
The path we are on may not always provide clear guidance or signs of the way forward.
One day we'll make it to the end
Despite the challenges we face, there is hope that one day we will reach our destination and complete this journey.
How cruel! That the choices we make have such resounding effect paralyzed by our fear of mistake
It can feel overwhelming to know that the choices we make have a significant impact on our journey, and the fear of making mistakes can hinder our progress.
Another chain to break and move on
Each obstacle we face presents us with another opportunity to break free from whatever is holding us back and continue moving forward.
It's as though the leaves on the trees could destroy all that we have become
Something as small and insignificant as leaves on a tree could potentially have a devastating effect on our progress and accomplishments.
Or the wind set astray the direction we made to be strong
Even our strongest efforts and determination can be swayed and redirected by external forces beyond our control.
So winding a road but graced we are to be part of the path
Our journey is complex and full of twists and turns, yet we are fortunate to be a part of this path and experience it for ourselves.
A gift it is and everyday we should think it to finally be our last
Our journey is a gift and we should cherish each day as if it were our last, embracing every experience and opportunity along the way.
The way not clear and never will it ever be
Our path forward will likely never be clear or certain, and we must learn to navigate through the unknown.
So pick yourself up and come follow me
We must find the strength and determination within ourselves to continue moving forward, with the support and guidance of those who have come before us.
Or travel the path alone till it leads you finally home
Alternatively, we may choose to navigate this journey alone, relying solely on our own abilities and intuition until we reach our final destination.
If we could only now
There is a sense of longing for clarity and certainty on this journey, yet we must embrace the unknown and continue moving forward.
Contributed by Bailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.