Today, internationally, Heidens Hart Records will release Garde’s debut album, Harbinger of Revenge and War. The album is streaming here: Garde – Harbinger of revenge and war (full official stream)
A bolt-from-the-blue debut, seemingly, Garde are the ultimate in bombastic, epic, and TRUE Viking metal. Indeed, with a moniker that’s a weapon of great power, Garde was, in fact, in the making for no less than 25 years. A massive work was forged with resilient warrior-fury, with especial attention given to details, culminating in a guaranteed-triumphant ending with the release of their full-length debut, Harbinger of Revenge and War.
Writing and recording for the album originally started in the year 2000 but was never finished…until now, 25 years later. Garde started as a side-project of Arjan (of Cultus, among many others), but the project was forgotten until the flame was reignited after inviting Dan Capp (Wolcensmen, Solstice, ex-Winterfylleth and Gràb) to contribute lead vocals, who did monumental work writing and recording the vocal melodies. Using the original 2002 recordings, nothing was changed to the song structures and riffs – yet many moons of restoring, mixing, and adding parts followed, and the result is immortalized in this album in which Garde take immense pride.
While „Viking metal“ has largely lost its original meaning in these days of Eurofest silliness, Garde stride forth across tundra both tangible and spiritual to restore the honor, valor, and pride central to the subgenre. Thusly aptly titled, Harbinger of Revenge and War is Viking Berserkr Metal for fans of Russia’s Scald, Mayhemic Truth, Norden, Mithotyn, the Netherlands‘ Countess, and of course the pioneering trilogy of Bathory. Raise your swords!
