Stormwarrior is a German power metal band that was formed in 1998 by vocali… Read Full Bio ↴Stormwarrior is a German power metal band that was formed in 1998 by vocalist and guitar player Lars Ramcke and drummer Andre Schumann, adding later in the same year guitarist Scott Bolter and bass player Tim Zienert.[1](p420) The members of Stormwarrior draw their musical influences from the 80's heavy metal scene including such fellow German bands as Helloween and Running Wiild. Stormwarrior were able to lay down their first songs to tape in 1999. Until 2002 two other tapes followed and in the same year they released their first and selfentitled album "StormWarrior", produced by Kai Hansen. 2003 they sold a smaller album named "Heavy Metal fire" including 7 tracks and 2004 the album "Northern Rage" followed. After having a lot of gigs in the year 2005, Stormwarrior moved into an own studio called "Thunderhall Studios", where their Live-Album "At foreign Shores" was produced. It was released in 2006

At the early 2008 their third album "Heading Northe" stormed the metal scene, which came up with a less fierce but even more melodic style. Another live release from the Wacken Open Air 2007 is expected to come out soon.

Current band lineup:
(Vocals/Guitar): Lars Ramcke
(Guitar): Alex Guth
(Bass): Yenz Leonhardt
(Drums): Falko Reshöft

Welcome Thy Rite
Stormwarrior Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Thine twelventh winter hath gone
Thy time of manhoode hath come
Learne how to fighte

Embraced by Helm Bearer's host
Thy consecration to holde
Now wait for the nighte
(Get ready to fighte)

Marked by the spear and hanged thou shalt be
The secrets of the Highe One to see

Welcome thy rite
Embrace the cult of the Ancient One
Offer thyself and wise thou'll become
Welcome thy rite

Now thy rite lies aheade (Tonighte)
Thy vivid bloode will be shed
Fear not the blade

Pain and wrathe thou shalt feele
Ecstatic rage to reveale
Enter this state (Fear not the blade)

Careful they've been the secret to keepe
Helm Bearer's son thou shalt be

Welcome thy rite
Embrace the cult of the Ancient One
Offer thyself and wise thou'll become
Welcome thy rite

[Solo: Kai Hansen]

Marked by the spear and hanged thou shalt be
The secrets of the Highe One to see

Welcome thy rite
Embrace the cult of the Ancient One
Offer thyself and wise thou'll become
Welcome thy rite

Welcome thy rite
Welcome thy rite

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Stormwarrior's "Welcome Thy Rite" speak about a young man who has come of age and is now being initiated into a warrior cult known as the Helm Bearer's host. The lyrics emphasize the importance of learning to fight and becoming consecrated to hold in this group. The young man is told that he will be marked by the spear and hanged, but that he should not fear the blade. In fact, he will feel pain and wrath, but this will reveal his ecstatic rage. The ultimate goal of this rite is to become wise and gain the secrets of the High One.

The lyrics seem to be inspired by ancient initiation rituals of warrior societies, and the language reflects this. The use of archaic words such as "hath," "learne," "thou," and "shalt" give the lyrics a medieval feel, and the use of the word "Highe" instead of "High" suggests a mythical, almost mystical element to the High One of this cult. The solace by Kai Hansen, a legendary heavy metal guitarist and co-founder of the bands Helloween and Gamma Ray, adds to the epic feel of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Thine twelventh winter hath gone
You have passed your eleventh year of life

Thy time of manhoode hath come
You have reached maturity

Learne how to fighte
You must learn how to fight

Embraced by Helm Bearer's host
You have been accepted by the group led by the Helm Bearer

Thy consecration to holde
Your commitment to the group is now official

Now wait for the nighte
Prepare for the upcoming night of your initiation

Marked by the spear and hanged thou shalt be
You will be marked by the spear and hung as part of the initiation ritual

The secrets of the Highe One to see
You will gain access to the secrets of the Higher One

Welcome thy rite
You are welcomed to the initiation ritual

Embrace the cult of the Ancient One
Fully accept the beliefs and practices of the Ancient One's cult

Offer thyself and wise thou'll become
Sacrifice yourself to gain wisdom