After a lot of shopping for a new label and little interest, they decided to create and release the "Black Death" LP themselves. For 5 years they worked hard in their Caverns of Thunder basement-studio.
After that, Brocas Helm made a couple of (unreleased) demos, mostly to get a label-deal so they could do a high-quality cd release. Meanwhile, although labels have showed some interest but not enough to actually sign Brocas Helm, Brocas Helm released the "Skullfucker" single.
Brocas Helm later released a live album, "Black Death in Athens", and a new opus, "Defender of the Crown".
In 2011 Brocas Helm announced their breakup at the German Keep It True festival. However, in May 2012 they performed at Ragnarokkr Metal Apocalypse in Joiliet, Illinois.
War Toons
Brocas Helm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man kind begins and ends
Salute the dark with crimson wine
And offerings of skin
Incense of flesh and blood we burn
As tribal music swells
From mother earth and sun we turn
War toons
Laugh and cry
War toons
Laugh and die
Angel of darkness
Send us your grace
Who among us
Hasn't sought your face
Goddess of death
Feathered in steel
We offer you our selves
In bullets breath and soul
War toons
Laugh and cry
War toons
Laugh and die
Angel of darkness
Send us your grace
Who among us hasn't
Sought your face
Goddess of death
Feathered in steel
We offer you ourselves
In bullets breath and soul
War toons
Laugh and cry
War toons laugh
And die
We sacrifice
The strong and brave
We sacrifice
The mindless slave
Black can be white
Or shades of grey
But red is all the same
War toons
Laugh and cry
War toons
Laugh and die
The lyrics of Brocas Helm's song War Toons speak of the endless cycle of war, sacrifice, and death that humanity is caught up in. The song paints a picture of a military society that offers blood and flesh as tributes to the queen of hell, the goddess of death, and the angel of darkness. The opening lines suggest that war has been and always will be part of human history, and it shapes our destiny. The mention of lance and missile flash implies an evolution in the instruments of war, but the end result remains the same - death.
The incense of flesh and blood evokes the image of ancient pagan sacrifice, and the tribal music adds to the primal, animalistic feel. The chorus, "War toons, laugh and cry, War toons, laugh and die" highlights the irony and tragedy of human conflict. The soldiers laugh and cry together, knowing that they are fighting for a cause that is ultimately meaningless. The final stanza asserts that in war, there is no distinction between the strong and the slave, as all are sacrificed in the pursuit of victory. The only constant is the red of blood, which stains all sides equally.
Line by Line Meaning
With battle lance and missile flash
The start of war is signaled by weapons and explosions.
Man kind begins and ends
War is an inevitable part of the human experience.
Salute the dark with crimson wine
Darkness and death are celebrated with blood, as if toasting to them.
And offerings of skin
Human sacrifice is made to appease the gods of war and death.
Incense of flesh and blood we burn
The smell of burning flesh and blood is symbolic of the sacrifices made in war.
As tribal music swells
The music of war drums and horns fills the air, creating a sense of tribal unity.
From mother earth and sun we turn
The natural world is left behind for the world of war and death.
To kiss the queen of hell
Victory in war is seen as a way to impress the goddess of death.
Angel of darkness
The bringer of death.
Send us your grace
Praying for success in war.
Who among us
Everyone has asked for death's favor.
Goddess of death
The deity who controls death.
Feathered in steel
Armored in metal, ready for battle.
We offer you our selves
The soldiers are willing to die for the goddess of death.
In bullets breath and soul
The very essence of their being is given over to war.
War toons
The soldiers in war.
Laugh and cry
The soldiers experience every emotion during war.
We sacrifice
Lives are given over for the sake of war.
The strong and brave
The best of humanity is lost in war.
The mindless slave
Some soldiers are not there because of their own choice.
Black can be white
In war, right and wrong can become blurred.
Or shades of grey
Justifications for war exist on a spectrum.
But red is all the same
Regardless of the reason for war, the bloodshed and loss is always the same.
Contributed by Dominic I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.