"Saxon Shore" tells the story of the first wave of Anglo-Saxons to come to Britain as conquerors. The Saxon Shore was an area in southeast Britain originally fortified and manned to defend against Germanic raiders (referred to collectively as Saxons by the Romans). In time, the Romans recruited some of these same peoples to serve as soldiers, offering them settlement in this area in exchange for military service. These peoples eventually turned on the British, conquering them instead of fighting for them, carving out their own kingdoms that would eventually become England.
While the song is written from the perspective of the Anglo-Saxons, the lyrics are mainly based on the version of the story first recorded by the British monk Gildas in his 6th Century work The Ruin and Conquest of Britain, which is largely unfavorable of the Anglo-Saxons. The end of the song includes a quote from Gildas' work, from a letter the Roman inhabitants of Britain sent to the Emperor requesting aid against the Saxons. The Emperors rejection of these pleas for aid are seen as the end of Roman rule in Britain and the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
lyrics
These Romans are too soft and slow
To save their own damn homes
We Germans gladly fight for them
For land and food and gold
Gaels and Picts and Celtic scum
They fall upon our spears
Blood and sweat will earn long halls
For men who know no fear
Saxon Shore, new lands call
Through the German sea we row, to the west Britannia
Saxon Shore, by battle claimed
With our spears we bought this land, and by spears ours it remains
Angles, Saxons, Jutes and more
Hit shores with shields in hand
A linden wall painted with gore
Will earn us our own lands
But while we fight these cowards hide
From axes and long knives
These Romans are so fucking weak
We’ll take their homes and wives
Saxon Shore, new lands call
Through the German sea we row, to the west Britannia
Saxon Shore, by battle claimed
With our spears we bought this land, and by spears ours it remains
We don’t even need to ask
For Woden’s aid these days
These helpless little Christian whelps
Can’t even wield a blade
Every day we gain more ground
Each day more Britons fall
Soon this whole land will be ours
For now the Saxon Shore
credits
from Saxon Shore [Single],
track released June 20, 2016
Tim Regan - guitar/vocals
Nick Schneider - violin/vocals
Mike Wilson - bass/vocals
Jon Lyon - keys
David Spencer - drums
Daniel Tidwell - guitar
Mark Williams - violin
Recorded at Spartan Sound Studios, Spring 2016.
Mixed and mastered by Daniel Tidwell
ISENMOR is dual-violin-fronted Gewyrdelic Folc Metal. Combining elements of folk metal greats ENSIFERUM, HEIDEVOLK, ELUVEITIE, FALKENBACH, and TÝR, ISENMOR fuses the heart of the Old World with the spirit of those who sought out new shores.
I can't say more than what's already been said about this -- but if you want to hear a band imitate Summoning but with its own energy and ferocity, you cannot go wrong here. Awesome work and I hope to hear more! baboonsandmoons
The album as a whole is great, but the title track is phenomenal--one of the best melodic metal songs I've ever heard. 和美's ethereal voice is the perfect complement to vvildr's growling vocals and masterful instrumentation. More, please! Malcolm McCrimmon