Hello guys. Sorry I have been quiet but things got busy. So far, I got my things to deal with. Busy working on chapters. BNW is posted for a chapter, busy working on Stories Told but I think that is going to follow BNW's route.
24K words take a good while. So guys, I have to ask for patience. As for the other fics, Afraid to Shoot Strangers, I am busy on some more ideas for that one and for En Route to a better life. Yeah, I hope to get a bit more drive for that one. Especially with The Grad Stud on break.
About this one. Last year, I posted something similar. When your parents visit the Westhoek, you get a drive for this. And with my favorite teachers who got us an album about the first World War, you can't help but get in the mood for this sort of thing.
November eleventh. A hundred and one years ago. What was so fucking great about this war?
Ichika and Kizuna turned to Mattheus who had been working on his computer. Joel sat in his lap while the boys wondered a bit.
"Hey, Mattheus?" Kizuna asked and unplugging his ears, Mattheus looked at him.
"Yeah?"
"That music you listen to. What sort of music is that?" The guy asked. Sure, he could guess by the shirts that the older guy wore but still, he liked to know more about it.
"Metal. I listen to a lot of different bands. One that is my favorite one is Sabaton. They come from Sweden and besides metal band, they're also the best history teachers you can ask for." The guy answered and Ichika perked up of it.
"History teachers? Why?" With a wry grin, Joel turned to the two who would be corrupted by the heavy guitars and great keyboard.
"That's Ichika, besides their first album, they sing songs about history. Mostly World War Two but also other things. Their lyrics go about that stuff. Making it easy to digest stuff." Joel said and Kizuna worked up a smile.
"Did they make songs about Japan."
"They sure did. They made songs how you guys got your ass kicked in World War Two by the United States in the form of Midway and Nuclear Attack." Joel said without the slightest apologetic tone.
"They also sing a song about the Samurai. Shiroyama." Mattheus hastily added hoping that they boys wouldn't kill Joel.
"Their last album is about the Great War. Fitting the time of year." The boys glared away from Joel and turned to the older guy.
"Great War?" Kizuna asked and Mattheus stood up. Underneath his sweater, there was a shirt that had those words. WHAT'S SO FUCKING GREAT ABOUT IT?
"World War One. Latest album and one hell of a hit. They did songs about World War One before but not the whole album. You guys want to listen." Mattheus answered and they weren't sure. Then again, they heard some bits and it didn't sound bad to them.
Mattheus hoped they wouldn't tear Joel a new one when they were done. Cause that would be bad.
"You got any links with your country, Mattheus? Sing songs about Belgium?"
The Hunter mulled over his words.
"Well, they sang a song about the Chasseur Ardennais. An infantry unit from Belgium who kept the Wehrmacht at bay for about three weeks with just forty men. They also made songs about Passchendaele. Two actually. The Price of a Mile from The Art of War and Great War from their last album. Last summer however Joakim, the lead singer told something about our countries."
Kizuna raised an eyebrow. "He did."
"Yep. Kizuna, what year did the Battle of Shiroyama take place?" Mattheus asked and he was sure to hear the right answer.
"24th of September, 1877? Why?"
"Count up forty years, you end up in 1917. That's when the battle of Passchendaele took place. Horrible mess. 500 000 men died for six miles of mud. Kizuna, don't slaughter us like that." Mattheus told him and Kizuna had to gulp.
History like that wasn't taught in schools and the reason why Mattheus called history teachers would be clear.
When he pressed the button, they were hit by a choir singing and the guitar riffs came out strong as Mattheus shook his head on the tone. A keyboard joined them and Ichika admitted. It packed some punch.
Eventually, the guitars settled and a drum was begin to hear clearly.
A baritone voice, not what the two boys expected was begin to sing.
Where dead men lies, I'm paralyzed, my brother's eyes are gone
And he shall be buried here, nameless marks his grave
Mother home, get a telegram and shed a tear of grief
Mud and blood, in foreign land, trying to understand
Their mouths had dropped open. This was certainly more mature stuff than the boys usually listened to. Both didn't have a style or something. They just listened to whatever was on the radio or idols their friends had found cute.
Mattheus on the other hand sang with the lyrics. He knew the song by heart and Sabaton knew how to make catchy tunes.
A drum set in and the Hunter smirked as the music picked up the pace.
Where is this greatness I've been told?
This is the lies that we've been sold
Is this a worthy sacrifice?
The tone was something none of the boys got but it was asking a person who was responsible for this.
Great war, and I cannot take more
Great tour, I keep on marching on
I play the great score, there will be no encore
Great war, the war to end all wars
From the class, the girls turned to the music that Mattheus played. They weren't sure about it but it was clear that it was very different from their pick.
After all, in this day and age, singing songs about history that men did wasn't something that was seen as just.
Then the voice shut up and the drums played with the choir signing.
I'm standing here, I'm full of fear, with bodies at my feet
Over there in the other trench, bullets wear my name
Lead ahead as the captain said and show them no remorse
Who am I to understand what have I become?
Mattheus grinned as Chifuyu walked in. While he got a glare, she didn't told him to shut it down. And Joel could have sworn the lips of his teachers moved along.
Sabaton was pretty big when you found them but they didn't appear on mainstream stuff so they had to be found somewhere else.
I do my duties, pay the price
I'll do the worthy sacrifice
I know my deeds are not in vain
From there on, the lyrics came with and Mattheus tapped his hands on the desk.
Great war, and I cannot take more
Great tour, I keep on marching on
I play the great score, there will be no encore
Great war, the war to end all wars
The lyrics were something and indeed, the music was catchy as hell. Not only that but the whole way it worked. It wasn't something either Kizuna or Ichika would pick but it was clear that they began to see why Mattheus liked.
Then the lyrics came again.
And feet by feet
We pay the price of a mile here
Though men are falling, we see heroes rise
We face the heat
As we are fighting until the dawn
So follow me and we will write our own history
"So what do you guys think?" Mattheus asked as the boys smirked. The guitar solo set in and the music was played.
It wasn't just the lines. Their guitars played in overdrive as they heard the drums.
"We now see what you mean. It's not what I thought of a metal band. You seen them often?" Mattheus nodded.
"Next time, I'll take you guys along." But with that, they set it off.
Class had begun and Chifuyu was sure that the corruption set in was a nice add.
She and Reiri couldn't understand for the love of God why Kerlongsj liked the music but with a few visits, the Brunhilde understood.
History has to be remembered. And if you could do it like that, it was wildly accessible to a lot of people.
In Belgium.
Kerlongsj Orlejov laid his head back as the music played. It was sure a good thing to listen to. With that, they could remember what happened all those years ago.
The Internet could proven to be a good place.
He just wished that Azalof was alive to see those guys live one day.
And the man wished that one day he could take his family to a concert of those guys.
Great war, and I cannot take more
Great tour, I keep on marching on
I play the great score, there will be no encore
Great war, the war to end all wars
And with that, Kerlongsj Orlejov looked up. They had to remember the fallen from that War.
I have an unorthodox way of what the British would call Remembrance Day. At my place, we call it Wapenstilstand or silence of the arms.
Did it last year as it is something to worth remembering. And with Sabaton, and their last album. How could I resist of doing this?
In the words of last year.
The war to end all wars, huh?
What a sick joke that is.
Saluut.