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.
This Round's On Me
Blackguard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe tired from washing all the blood from your hands
Do you feel that you have the world's weight on your shoulders
Not getting any younger and feeling kinda slower
Now is the time we leave it all behind
To sit with a glass and think of memories passed
Now's a time for fun not for quarrels and fears
POUR ME A BEER!!!
So cheers for the beers and hail to the ale
Hey chin up brother!
You're looking kinda pale
Put another 50 down 'cause
THIS ROUND'S ON ME!!!
Good tunes, Good brew, Good friends
What we have you can't break or bend
I put another 50 down 'cause
THIS ROUND'S ON ME!!!
So raise your glasses high
To your brothers side by side
And we'll remember all the good times we've shared
So raise your glasses high
To the things that can go in the blink of an eye
And we'll still be here having one hell of a good time
Have a drink for your job
Where you slave all day
To the long days and the long hours
But at least it pays your way
In this moment let's pause
Reflect on what we've got
So let's give thanks
And have a round or two tonight
Before it's gone
The opening lines of Blackguard's song This Round's On Me speaks about the feeling of being lost and confused. It describes a sense of overwhelming burden and exhaustion. The lyricist expresses the need to let go of the past and enjoy the present moment. It highlights the power of shared experiences, memories, and friendships in providing solace and a sense of belonging. The lyrics are evocative of the age-old tradition of raising a glass in celebration, of using alcohol as a means to forget, connect, and heal from life's hardships.
In the chorus, the lyrics shift to one of camaraderie and brotherhood. The singer urges his friends to drink up and have a good time. The song celebrates the joy and freedom that comes with spending time with close friends, listening to good music, and enjoying a drink. The ending lines of the song remind us of how fleeting life can be, and how important it is to cherish our loved ones while we have them.
Line by Line Meaning
When your path's gone astray and you think you've gone mad
When you feel lost and confused, like you don't know what's happening or what to do next, and you feel like you're losing your mind
Maybe tired from washing all the blood from your hands
You may be feeling physically and mentally drained from your involvement in something that was violent or unpleasant
Do you feel that you have the world's weight on your shoulders
Do you feel like everything that's happening in the world is affecting you personally and it's too much for you to handle?
Not getting any younger and feeling kinda slower
You're aware that you're getting older and your body and mind aren't working as well as they used to, which can be depressing.
Now is the time we leave it all behind
It's time to forget about your problems and focus on enjoying yourself
To sit with a glass and think of memories passed
Take a moment to sit and reflect on happy memories from the past while enjoying a drink
Now's a time for fun not for quarrels and fears
Right now, it's important to have a good time and not focus on fighting or being scared
I just needed to get out so POUR ME A BEER!!!
I needed a break from my problems and I want to have a drink to help me forget about them for a while.
So cheers for the beers and hail to the ale
Let us raise our glasses to the beer we're enjoying and appreciate it
Hey chin up brother! You're looking kinda pale
Hey, don't be so down! Keep your head up and enjoy yourself.
Put another 50 down 'cause THIS ROUND'S ON ME!!!
I'm buying another round of drinks for everyone to show my appreciation and gratitude for our time together.
Good tunes, Good brew, Good friends
We have great music, great beer, and great company, which is hard to beat.
What we have you can't break or bend
Our friendship and enjoyment of this moment is unbreakable and can't be harmed.
So raise your glasses high To your brothers side by side
Let's all raise our glasses in celebration and appreciation for each other's company.
And we'll remember all the good times we've shared
We'll remember all the fun we've had together and cherish those memories.
To the things that can go in the blink of an eye
Let's take a moment to appreciate the things we have, because they could easily be taken away in an instant.
And we'll still be here having one hell of a good time
We'll continue to enjoy ourselves and have a great time, regardless of what happens in the future.
Have a drink for your job
Let's raise a glass to our jobs and the fact that they allow us to live comfortably
Where you slave all day
Where we work hard all day to earn a living
To the long days and the long hours
Let's appreciate the hard work we put in every day to earn a living
But at least it pays your way In this moment let's pause Reflect on what we've got
Our jobs may be hard, but at least we're able to make a living. Let's take a moment to appreciate what we have in life.
So let's give thanks And have a round or two tonight Before it's gone
Let's take a moment to be thankful, and enjoy our time together while we can, because life is short.
Contributed by Evan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.