It's been a while since you posted your comment but I was hoping you might follow up. I am a little confused on the history of the Vikings - I admit that I am no expert. I was unaware that Ragnarok came before the age of man, I figured the age of gods and man might be contemporaneous, but as I said - I am no expert. At first I kind of associated this song with the titanomachy of the Greeks, only because I am unfamiliar with such legends among the Viking-folk. I must admit, though, the similarities are striking - perhaps there might even be a similar legend among these different cultures?
I thought that Ragnarok might still be to come, I know that only a couple of gods are alleged to survive the strife of that battle, and the mighty Odin, as well as many of the other well-known gods - Heimdallr, Thor, Tyr, Loki, etc. are to die in this battle. To think that the Vikings figured them for dead already is an awful thought. However, given the ending of this song, it certainly seems like the world in which we live today. Surely man has claimed his place as king of this world and we're far past claiming "these shining blades of steel".
In any case, I agree wholeheartedly about the acoustic accompaniments to this song, they are simply beautiful. I'm always surprised to start playing this song - a song from a band like Bathory with the blackest of metal roots - and hear striking acoustics for the first minute or two (plus the interlude), it's very pleasant. What I really love about this song is the ending, the conjecture that man will conquer other worlds and become the new gods of the sky. I've mentioned it previously in other comments, but the thing that I love about ancient religions is that the distinction between man and god was almost nil. It truly speaks to our modern age, much more so than any god of Christians or Muslims or Jews, I believe. Man has claimed his place as ruler of the world and it has never been more obvious than in the time we live in. In any case, this song always gives me food for thought, and a great background ambiance to consider the nature of man and myself in this universe in which we live. This is certainly one of my favorite pieces off of Twilight of the Gods, along with the titular song.
It is a shame that the man who brought us such poetic, thoughtful metal (of all things!!!) is now gone. We can only hope that he is enjoying the benefits to which he is surely entitled in whatever afterlife there may be.
Hello Chard121,
It's been a while since you posted your comment but I was hoping you might follow up. I am a little confused on the history of the Vikings - I admit that I am no expert. I was unaware that Ragnarok came before the age of man, I figured the age of gods and man might be contemporaneous, but as I said - I am no expert. At first I kind of associated this song with the titanomachy of the Greeks, only because I am unfamiliar with such legends among the Viking-folk. I must admit, though, the similarities are striking - perhaps there might even be a similar legend among these different cultures?
I thought that Ragnarok might still be to come, I know that only a couple of gods are alleged to survive the strife of that battle, and the mighty Odin, as well as many of the other well-known gods - Heimdallr, Thor, Tyr, Loki, etc. are to die in this battle. To think that the Vikings figured them for dead already is an awful thought. However, given the ending of this song, it certainly seems like the world in which we live today. Surely man has claimed his place as king of this world and we're far past claiming "these shining blades of steel".
In any case, I agree wholeheartedly about the acoustic accompaniments to this song, they are simply beautiful. I'm always surprised to start playing this song - a song from a band like Bathory with the blackest of metal roots - and hear striking acoustics for the first minute or two (plus the interlude), it's very pleasant. What I really love about this song is the ending, the conjecture that man will conquer other worlds and become the new gods of the sky. I've mentioned it previously in other comments, but the thing that I love about ancient religions is that the distinction between man and god was almost nil. It truly speaks to our modern age, much more so than any god of Christians or Muslims or Jews, I believe. Man has claimed his place as ruler of the world and it has never been more obvious than in the time we live in. In any case, this song always gives me food for thought, and a great background ambiance to consider the nature of man and myself in this universe in which we live. This is certainly one of my favorite pieces off of Twilight of the Gods, along with the titular song.
It is a shame that the man who brought us such poetic, thoughtful metal (of all things!!!) is now gone. We can only hope that he is enjoying the benefits to which he is surely entitled in whatever afterlife there may be.
Hail to the hordes.