Song: Guardians of Asgaard
Band: Amon Amarth
Album: Twilight Of The Thunder God
Release Year: 2008
Label: Metal Blade
Undaunted we continue with the third song that you decided should be part of our column this time! Hailing from Sweden, the mighty Amon Amarth tell us stories of gods and warriors in their own unique way, through their music that we have come to love so much. So we’ll talk about the great song “Guardians of Asgaard”. It’s a powerful metal song with a duration of 4 minutes and 23 seconds that is inspired by Norse mythology and specifically, as the title shows, by the Guardians of Asgaard.
This time we will take a journey by talking simultaneously about both the lyrics and the myth behind them, in an effort to make the many different elements of Norse mythology mentioned in said song more clear and understandable.
Amon Amarth here, speak of a group of brothers who serve as guardians of a sacred land where the gods reside. Their duty is to protect this kingdom “against all odds”. The guardians stand firm, defending their land against any threats. Their unwavering commitment is emphasized by the phrase “carved in stone”, which means destiny.
Of course, we are talking about Asgaard, which is one of the nine worlds described in Norse mythology. It is the heavenly home of the gods Aesir, ruled by Odin and his wife, Frigg. It’s a place of divine power, where warriors who die in battle are welcomed to Valhalla, Odin’s great hall where they feast and fight beside the gods when the time comes for Ragnarök.
Asgaard is guarded by various gods, including Thor and Heimdall. The latter in Norse mythology is the guardian of the gods. He resided at the entrance to Asgaard, where he guarded Bifröst, the rainbow bridge that serves as a gateway between Asgaard and Midgaard.
The “three evil giants”, coming from the south, are constantly attacking this land and the guardians have been fighting them for a thousand years (“a thousand times or even more”). They use “lies and fire” in their efforts to destroy Asgaard.
Speaking of symbolisms, we can say that the giants are a metaphor for external threats, perhaps other religions, that try to undermine the existence of Asgaard, that is, the Norse gods.
The eternal effort of the guardians to protect this land, refers to the difficulties faced by the Vikings to preserve their faith and homeland.
“Guardians of Asgaard” celebrates bravery, duty and the eternal struggle to protect the holy land. The song’s epic music and vivid imagery evoke the battles fought by these guardians. Amon Amarth themselves seem to identify with them as throughout the song they use the first person plural, implying that they are the infamous guardians of Asgaard!
The song “Guardians of Asgaard” is a testament to Amon Amarth’s ability to weave mythology into their music. They never fail to make listeners feel like they too are participating in the various stories told through their work. For those of you who haven’t heard of them, give them a chance to take you on an epic journey.
Related Link: AMON AMARTH – Official Page
Text: Izabela Paido
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