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Rating: Deus lo vult...
"Knights of the Cross" was the seventh creation by the Grave Digger, one of the most notable German heavy metal bands, led by the rough vocalist Chris Boltendahl. The album was first released in 1998 and still stands as the second act of the medieval trilogy, begun with "Tunes of War". After putting to music the struggle for Scotland's independence against England, and before Boltendahl was inspired to praise the legendary King Arthur, the band decided to present the audience with this concept about the Templar knights
From a musical standpoint, the album confirms the style of the previous "Tunes of War" even though the sounds have slightly changed: the guitars are clearer, and the keyboards, now more present, create a harmonious backdrop of mystical, gentle, ethereal tones. The acoustic guitars also play an important role (central in several parts of the record), providing moments of intense peace and melancholy. The musical translation of all this is "Keeper of the Holy Grail", an arcane ballad (which tells of the mystery surrounding the sacred chalice of Christ), adorned with an unusual central instrumental where organ and keyboards tune an air that touches the borders of sacred music. Naturally, there are also purely metallic moments, like the gallop "Inquisition", supported by an evocative bridge and a spectacular weave of voices in the refrain. Mention should also be made of the warlike title track, the swift "Monks of War", and the epic "Lionheart" (focusing on the figure of Richard the Lionheart). We also have some transitional episodes like the power song "Over the Seas", the fiery (and completely out of place) "Fanatic Assassins", and finally "Baphomet", a weak hard rock episode. The album, however, concludes with "The Battle of Bannockburn" (introduced by a bagpipe solo), a track where lyrics and music reference the immortal "Tunes of War".
A mature, powerful, instinctive album, perhaps a bit too straightforward, but after all, what other characteristics should heavy metal have if seen in its rawest form?
2014 Anno Domini.
Federico "Dragonstar" Passarella
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Monks of War (03:38)
Knights of the Cross
Winners of the battle
The Christians rule the Holy land
In the East they settle Hugo de Payens
A frenchman and duke
Promises the King of Jerusalem
To escort the piligrim route
We are the monks
Protectors of God
A legend is born
Worship the Lord
Monks of war
Killers in the East
Monks of war
Killers or priests
The Order explands
Thousands prepare
To wearing the cross in red
To holy Warfare
The poor and the rich
Kings and queens
Giving money giving gold
Hugo de Payens means
Pope and priests
Patronize the Order
And they regard them
As heroes of this time
05 Fanatic Assassins (03:40)
[1] I'm the old man of the mountains
leader of Muslim warriors
I hand them the revelating pipe
Then they know the after-life
Wherever I order suicide
You will sacrifice
Jump, jump off the wall
Allah will receive you all
Fanatic assassins
Fanatic assassins
[2] You are my war machines
Your minds painted blood-red
I'll wash your souls so white
Invincible in any fight
06 Lionheart (04:33)
[1] Fiery red curls cover his shoulder
He's the ruler, no one is bolder
His steel - blue eyes won't show no fear
Reflecting the suffering of war so clear
A knight, a leader, wearing England's crown
Richard the Lionheart wants to put the Moslems down
He sets the sail, heading Outremer
Defending the name he bears
A man like a Lion
With a generous heart
For his sake thousands die
Lionheart - England's Pride
Lionheart
Almighty king
Freedom you'll bring
Lionheart
Spread your wings
King of the kings
[2] King Philipp at his side and many knights
Overcome the Islam, souls painted white
He executes all prisoners, without regret
Corpses cover the ground as the sun sets
[3] Akkon has fallen into Richard's hands
Still war on his mind, moving to France
In one fatal moment came the end of his quest
Breathing his last with an arrow in his chest
08 Inquisition (03:47)
a bloody friday october 13th
inquisition takes its course
king philipp's armed force
templars are blamed for conjuration
they are said to be heretics
and coursed by the catholics
because they didn't save jerusalem
Chorus:
are you the one
who's into blasphemy
you better run
escape from agony
are you the one
believing in baphomet
make your confession
and you will be free
seeking the hidden treasures
the pope is taking measures
persecution spreads all over europe
09 Baphomet (04:12)
[1] In the dark of the night
Behind the walls
They say that we worship an idol
Behind the walls
A devil in disguise
An unholy cat
But it's a secret
We keep until we are dead
We all believe in Baphomet
We believe in what we see
Your disciples,
Belong to thee
[2] Building up our strength
Behind the walls
They accuse us of a bloody sacrilege
Behind the walls
We would never betray
The one we adore
Yours are our lives
We sacrifice it in war
10 Over the Sea (03:51)
[1] The Order's end is near
Templars flee filled with fear
Heretics, homosexuals and magicians
To be exterminated by the inquisition
The order of Pope and King
Lets them leave behind everything
The fleet is ready, ready to sail
No one knows its destination
Gathering all the victims
Victims of persecution
In quest of a better world without hate without deadly peril
Over the sea
And far, far away
Over the sea
Into the night they flee
[2] Many Templars succeeded to escape from the Christian hate
They found their peace in Scotland
Since Robert the Bruce was banned
When he stabbed Comyn in a church
Giving the Order shelter in the Highlands
12 The Battle of Bannockburn (06:40)
The wind lashes in our faces
the English found our traces
on moss-covered land
Scotland we defend
At Sterling Bridge we try to last
but we fail to stand fast
blood mingles with pouring rain
writing tales of pain
Help, else we will perish
help, else we will vanish
look Heaven's sign
look ship's graceful lines
White knights appear
silhouetted against the dark
in the battle of Bannockburn
the table turns
Few knights appear
but masters of the fight
in the battle of Bannockburn
the table turns
They draw their glaming swords
two knights, one horse
how they swing their flail
ending the bloody tale
Just like a bad dream
English disappear in fog
finally victory
highlanders' victory
Help, else we will perish
help, else we will vanish
look Heaven's sign
look ship's graceful lines
White knights appear
silhouetted against the dark
in the battle of Bannockburn
the table turns
Few knights appear
but masters of the fight
in the battle of Bannockburn
the table turns
Help, else we will perish
help, else we will vanish
look Heaven's sign
look ship's graceful lines
White knights appear
silhouetted against the dark
in the battle of Bannockburn
the table turns
Few knights appear
but masters of the fight
in the battle of Bannockburn
the table turns
White knights appear
silhouetted against the dark
in the battle of Bannockburn
the table turns
Few knights appear
but masters of the fight
in the battle of Bannockburn
the table turns
White knights appear
silhouetted against the dark
in the battle of Bannockburn
the table turns
Few knights appear
but masters of the fight
in the battle of Bannockburn
the table turns
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Other reviews
By Harlan
An album that studies one of the bloodiest chapters in history, played excellently without ever falling into the ridiculous.
I recommend this album to all people who love classic metal, don’t be too scared by Boltendahl’s voice if you are used to cleaner voices of course, and to all the history lovers, like me.
