In the early 80's, south of Montréal in Saint Bruno, Quebec, Rick (vocals) and Dan Hughes (drums) formed a heavy metal band called Sword. They were joined by guitarist Mike Plant and bassist Mike Larocque in the first lineup of the band. They signed their first commercial contract in 1984 with Aquarius Records.
Sword released two albums for Aquarius Records - the debut album Metalized in 1986 and its follow-up Sweet Dreams in 1988. They toured in the support slot for Motörhead, Alice Cooper and Metal Church, and the group was hand-picked to open for Metallica on the 1986 Master of Puppets tour.
After disbanding, Rick Hughes formed Saints & Sinners and released a self-titled album with them.
In 2006, Aquarius Records released a compilation album The Best of Sword, which was in stores on Tuesday, October 31.
Throughout their career, Sword sold in excess of 180,000 albums.
On February 17, 2011 it was announced that Sword had reunited and were rehearsing for live shows to come.
The band is currently working on the material for their new album.
Freya
Sword Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vision of the sibyl has foretold
Armies gather on the battle-plain
All will fall and earth will die in flame
Here on the battle-plain
We will die in flame
Choosing warriors among the dead
Twilight written in the runes of crones
Freya weeps upon her golden throne
Upon her golden throne
We wait for her alone
Call us unto your hall
Take us into your thrall
The battle rages, bit they fight in vain
When all is done it must begin again
The opening lines of the song "Freya" by Sword paint an ominous picture of an impending battle, with a sword of fire and an axe of cold, exactly as foretold by the Sibyl, the prophetess in Norse mythology. As armies converge on the battlefield, it becomes clear that this is not just any war, but a cataclysmic event which will bring about the end of the world. The repetition of the eerie line "All will fall and earth will die in flame" emphasizes the gravity of the situation.
As the chaos unfolds, a figure appears above the fray - Falcon, the divine bird who soars over the battlefield collecting the souls of the bravest warriors who have fallen in battle. The reference to twilight in the song's bridge, "Twilight written in the runes of crones," invokes the ancient Norse practice of using runes to predict the future, with crones (wise old women) interpreting the markings. The imagery here suggests that this battle was long prophesized and inescapable.
Finally, the chorus introduces the song's namesake, Freya, the goddess of love, fertility, war, and death, who weeps on her golden throne as the world crumbles beneath her. The final verses of the song resound with a mournful plea for the goddess to summon the warriors to her hall and into her thrall, implying a desire to be saved from the destruction wrought by the battle.
Overall, the lyrics of "Freya" are an evocative portrayal of a future apocalypse, with references to warrior culture and Norse mythology. The combination of dark, foreboding lyrics and driving guitar riffs creates a sense of urgency and despair, underscoring the song's powerful message.
Line by Line Meaning
A Sword of fire and an axe of cold
The sibyl has prophesized the use of fiery swords and cold axes in an upcoming battle
Vision of the sibyl has foretold
The sibyl has had a vision of the upcoming battle and its outcome
Armies gather on the battle-plain
Two armies are assembling on a battlefield
All will fall and earth will die in flame
The battle will result in catastrophic destruction and many deaths
Here on the battle-plain
The artist is currently on the battlefield
We will die in flame
The singer predicts their own demise in the upcoming battle
In Falcon's feathers soaring overhead
A falcon is flying above the battlefield
Choosing warriors among the dead
The falcon is selecting who will be taken to the afterlife
Twilight written in the runes of crones
The ancient symbols of witches predict the end of the world
Freya weeps upon her golden throne
The goddess Freya is grieving for the warriors who will die in the battle
Upon her golden throne
Freya is seated on a throne made of gold
We wait for her alone
The artist and others are waiting for Freya to intervene in the battle
Call us unto your hall
The singer is asking Freya to take them to the afterlife
Take us into your thrall
The singer is willing to be a dedicated follower of Freya
The battle rages, but they fight in vain
The fighting is fierce but ultimately pointless
When all is done it must begin again
After the battle, there will be another one in the future
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHN D CRONISE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arpegio88
Listening to music as a guitar player, you hear many great riffs over time and tend to think to yourself "damn I wish I wrote that one"; and this is one of 'em.
@brandonbuboire1402
Lol no doubt, its a badass song to learn but u gatta be right badass to MAKE savage song decades ago
@jamesbenford1992
But like... which riff? XD
@nickboelhouwer8375
yeah so true im like that with almost any epic song i find im like arghh why didnt i think of this xD
@mikepappas2281
The opening riffage and the second piece made me think the exact same. Sooooooo fucking heavy!!!
@codyburris181
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@hyperdrive282
"How many amazing riffs do you want in this song?"
"Yes"
@R.I.P-Geno-Cultshit
When I was 15 there was no possible way that anyone could convince me that this wasn't the heaviest song ever written.
@2003.grievous
15 year old you isn't wrong
@fasulimac92
Ear Dethklok