LEAVES' EYES vocalist Liv Kristine has checked in with another look at the songs on the band's new album, Meredead,specifically the bonus track 'Sorhleod':

"Dear Fans & Friends,

Here’s my Song of Sorrow, my first song written and sung completely in Old English. I remember the first time I heard Thorsten's instrumental demo version of it: I was filled with great joy, and I got goosebumps! If I may say so, this is probably my favorite piece of music on Meredead. I just felt that this song required Old-English lyrics, moreover, I feel like I can almost sense the movements of the waves in the chorus' rhythm.

The perspective in 'Sorhleod' is seen from a man's point of view. Thematically, it has a certain connection to the title track Meredead, in which the terrible fate of the men, dead by the sea, is seen from a female point of view. In 'Sorhleod' the man explains the harsh and dangerous life, stuck on a drakkar, in ice-cold, raging winter weather, on sea, i.e. a hopeless situation, even for a tough, experienced Viking. As you probably have read, a Viking didn't stop sailing until he found land. Retreat and return to home was out of the question; that's how Leif Eiriksson ended up discovering America (Vinland), missing out on Greenland due to misty weather. In 'Sorhleod', the drakkar is still lost on the open sea, and the men fear, that they might not survive. We don't know if his prayers to Mary will be heard, though.

His prayers to Mary is of essential importance: historically, the 'action' in my poem takes place after 1000 AD, as Norway was gradually Christianized in a process starting at approximately 1000 AD by Christian missionaries (which was substantially finished by 1150 AD).

That was your history lesson for today :-)"

Go to this location for the lyrics to 'Sorhleod' and the translation-

Leaves' Eyes released Meredead on April 22nd in Germany, Austria and Switzerland via Napalm Records. The album is available exclusively as limited edition Mediabook CD including bonus track and bonus DVD Live At The Metal Female Voices Festival 2010, strictly limited edition Deluxe Box Set and regular jewel case.

Meredead was produced by Alexander Krull at Mastersound Studio and features the following tracklisting:

'Spirits’ Masquerade'

'Étaín'

'Velvet Heart'

'Kråkevisa'

'To France'

'Meredead'

'Sigrlinn'

'Mine Tåror er ei Grimme'

'Empty Horizon'

'Veritas'

'Nystev'

'Tell-Tale Eyes'

'Sorhleod' (Bonus Track)

Bonus DVD - Live at Metal Female Voices Festival 2010

Tracklisting:

'Njord'

'My Destiny'

'Ragnarok'

'Elegy'

'Frøya's Theme'