Hefnd [English translation]

Reached the mountaintop,

the earth is shaking under their feet.

The goal is yearned for;

he shows his eyes, and he laughs.

The skies are far and wide,

higher than the reach of our spears.

Höðr1, I pray to,

I receive the mistletoe of Loki, only he is near.

The race is on,

the weapons, they shine and glow.

From Gefjon2,

the armour is unusually dense, light as a feather.

This is a decisive moment;

it immediately starts to snow.

Under the ground,

every accursed spot trembles, every rock.

I run an axe down his dirty thick head,

leaving it buried under the snow.

Conceived in Niflheim3, you shall repay for all the deaths.

Tonight, the gods are following the path of the stars.

Thor, God of Thunder,

once, I swore thee my loyalty.

Thou art my god, effigy and support.

Hel4with wars is no match for thee.

Keep an eye on me well, as I’m running towards Hel,

where dangers are lurking in every corner.

Anything can happen, Baldr5is fighting now,

if it kills me, I’ll pass satisfied.

Baldr, you are killing me,

fought well, and Thor granted support.

A fool acts rashly towards the task,

now, I’m going through the gate of Niflheim.

All my oars are dying,

the Goddess of Fate6is scrawling on calfskin.

Black nights,

betraying my feet,

my hand is sore, as the water ripples.

I’m wounded, and you’re wounded,

wounded we’re now walking away.

In the middle of the world7,

memories

are rising in Ásatrú8.

I run an axe down his dirty thick head,

leaving it buried under the snow.

Conceived in Niflheim, you shall repay for all the deaths.

Tonight, the gods are following the path of the stars.

1. Höðr (modern Icelandic Höður) is the brother of Baldr in Germanic/Norse mythology. Tricked and guided by Loki, he shot the mistletoe arrow, which was to slay the otherwise invulnerable Baldr.2. Gefjon/Gefjun = a goddess associated with ploughing3. Niflheim ("Mist Home") = one of the Nine Worlds in Norse mythology, which overlaps with the notions of Niflhel and Hel, realms of death4. Hel = a realm of death from Norse mythology, which is presided over by a being with the same name that receives a portion of the dead.5. Baldr (also Balder, Baldur) = a Norse god6. Urðr/Urd7. mið- í garði = in Midgard, the world inhabited by humans8. Ásatrú (Heathenism) = pre-Christian pagan belief in the old Nordic gods and Norse mythology

• Artist:Skálmöld
• Album:Baldur