AUTUMN 

As we are in this part of the year, I like to think about it more now.  It is my favourite time of year I enjoy the low sun and the light of this time of year, looking out over the heather it looks like a giant crumble stretched out before me rich colour golden browns on a vast and rugged landscape, I find it all inspiring from a song writing perspective although the muse is not upon me at the moment.  I am the sort of writer who needs ideas floating around my head for a few days before I can create stories, I cannot force ideas there has to be something there to start with,  I have one writer who said that this is a ruff Quote "the reason for writers block is that writers do not want to right anything bad" or words to that effect, and I have to agree.  Not that I am the best of writers but the process of writing lyrics is a nice thing to do and if I have ideas the autumn is a great time of year to do so.   I do like to play and record this time of the year.  There is something special about Autumn and recording especially with Folk Black Metal, the whole atmosphere I  feel is very good. My songs are coming along well at the moment I went through a bad patch of being in the woods but have come out playing much better,  The picture below has inspired some of my songs.  From and environmental point of view although I will in time to include more Troll Tales from this area

ORN TROLL

This tells the story of Orn who was the troll wife of Uffwggsar, she came from The Raasvoarsberg Mountains.  She was very striking in her look tall with long brown hair, she had deep green eyes.  She was betrothed to Uffwggsar during a time of great conflict between the witches of the far western reaches of the mountains, Orn was not involved in battle her skills lied in spells and magicks.  She could produce strong intoxicating draughts and was very powerful with these gifts that she had procured over time,  she is around six hundred and fifty.  These spells have been used in battle between the folk of Midvaard,  this leaving them in a deep trance for a long time.  While the troll`s take down buildings to hinder Guthwyn and is men, she lives in Moorsfest with Uffwggsar in a cavernous dwelling below a massive Sitka.

UFFWGGSAR

This is one of the forest troll`s who accompanied Glorsorn on his many battles against Midvaard, He is one of the elder troll`s in these tales Uffwggsar.  Lived on the western edge of the great forest Moorsfest, he was very strong and fearsome and fought in many battles over hundreds of years.  He is aged roughly at about nine hundred, He had long flaming red hair like the setting sun.  With him at all times he carried two immense hammers that were made by the great blacksmith Grimmodhrtroll, in the cavernous mountain smithies.  He was tall with a long snout and tail and piercing dark brown eyes, as well as fighting alongside Glorsorn he lead many campaigns himself.  Some from minor skirmishes to major battles fought on the plains south of The Raasvoarsberg mountains,  when not in war he lives in relative seclusion, occasionally meets with other troll`s and Glorsorn for seasonal festivals.  He hunts with great skill and is an excellent archer as well,  he lives with Orn his troll wife.  Who comes from the far north east range of Raasvoarsberg.

The setting sun and the snowy trees, help reflect the images in the stories that I am trying to tell.

Troll`s playing guitars

I would like to talk about the whole thing of playing Folk Black Metal, when I am playing my songs I become the character MgtrolL in developing my vocals and to playing my bass.  I find that I must be completely focused on the music and lyrics, so that I am MgtrolL the music is trying to describe something otherworldly.  So getting the right pitch for performing must be right, it takes quite a lot to sing and play like this!  The world is one of fiction so it is good to let go and be absorbed in the story telling, massive old forests, and ancient lands and troll`s.  It takes a long time to get the music to a level that I am happy with.  As dexterity when playing his hindered by my clumsiness, so I have to really work at this constantly.  Being dyslexic is part of it  when playing even though the song structure is very simplistic it still takes time to get it right.  Also editing songs and music to make sure it is of a quality that I am happy with.



The whole thing with troll`s I find this such a excellent form of subject matter for discussion, it is great to write about such things.  I like the process of creating this world with its fantastical characters,creating the geography and the landscape to make it all more believable.  I am still in the process of working on this.  Which is good as it is an evolving process that I shall work over time, other character and story lines will appear Which will in turn help write new songs and music.

THE TROLL THAT JOURNEYED THROUGH TIME

A long long time ago lived a troll right on the edge of the great forest Moorsfest; it looked out northwards to the mountain range Raasvoarsberg.  Off in the distance the mountains had a mysterious blue look to them ominous but also beautiful, the troll’s name was Snø troll as he was born in the depths of winter long ago.  It is believed roughly eight hundred years ago, from what tales of these regions could tell.  He dwelt underneath roots of vast pines that shot up into the sky, his home was cavernous with many rooms he was a fairly big troll so he needed the room.  He preferred his own company and did not like the interference of others especially people!  Snø troll would wander deep into the forest hunting wild boar and other creatures and spend time talking to the trees as he went about his business, he had long black matted hair a large snout. And large pointy ears of which he had great hearing. Massive hands that he had used to make his home, and a long tail that was furry too, he wore a rough woollen cloak of dark colours and a long woven tunic with intricate designs with runes written into them about times of old.

Snø troll had seen many changes in his long life down in the valley at a place called Midvaard, were the men of the south stayed.  Things for the most part had been harmonious mainly because the people were not aware of his existence, the odd man or woman had been scared to death by the troll’s bark on occasion but that was about it.  However what saddened him the most was all the trees that had been cut down to build the village of Midvaard.  Its ominous stave church that appeared to dominate the landscape and its dreaded ringing bells that chimed out each day, and all the small houses that made up the settlement.  These trees had been known to Snø troll age old trees with gnarly bark and fathomless roots lost forever to build mans church, when the troll felt exceptionally melancholic about this he would wander further into the forest.  To think deeply about the misgivings of the folk of Midvaard, and talk to the trees about all the needless loss this took him a long time as these discussions went back a long way almost out of memory.  Not for the Sitka spruce or the Oak or for that matter the troll, nearby was a large lake of deep green looking water overhanging on its shore were many trees.  The water was deep and cool many creatures lived here and some known to Snø troll, it was tranquil and peaceful here no people he would on occasion meet other troll’s and debate the problem of the men folk.  The troll’s had not forgot the time before the people arrived and how peaceful it had been, there had been uprisings the troll’s had stormed Midvaard to rid the valley and forest of men folk.  This had not been fruitful as the people still stayed, they would sit quietly and remember the old times when it was their world alone.  Looking up into the night sky and gaze at the stars with a deep pendulous blue and not have to engage in nocturnal attacks and being pushed further into the forest, and in winter look at the alluring Northern Lights. The wonder of this magical site all the forest dwellers would look up awe struck with the display of the haunting green lights above. This could still be done of course but with the knowledge that folk were around, they also hunted in the forest taking more than they needed.  They were greedy and loud!  Although some of them never made it back to their village, as the troll’s and the trees would trick them so that they would get hopelessly lost.  One particular day two brothers met a grizzly end arrogant they were and eager for hunting, they made so much noise it was surprise that they caught anything.  Their names were Odd & Tulla they praised themselves on how clever they were in their hunting prowess and would boast about their escapades, this particular day they had caught more than their share of things.  Greedy men they were, loud and boisterous laughing and joking as they went.  It was just before dawn and Snø troll had been hunting himself and seeing old troll friends of his, he walked along a well-worn track that he knew.  He could here Odd & Tulla long before he saw them, around a large tree stood the men frozen to the spot.  The troll loomed over them his eyes penetrated into them, the troll stood over them Odd & Tulla speechless their bragging had dissipated and looked fearful horror struck they dropped their catch and ran howling Snø troll let out a large chuckle to himself frightening people was fun!  This was a little strange as a lot of men that the troll had encountered were often confrontational, and would try and goad the troll but he was to smart and wise for such foolishness. He was surprised by their actions he had seen these two men before causing an awful disturbance were ever they went.   So off he went back to his home, there was a warm glow still in the hearth a golden orange, he put a couple more logs on the fire and retreated to his chamber and bed which was carved out of the roots of the trees.  There were runes scribed into them telling stories of long ago with the wandering soothsayer Laarg, whom he had known for ages and ages. Laarg would come threw at least once a year and spend time with the troll, and inform him of all the goings on in the mountains of Raasvoarsberg.  Grimmodhr Troll was a fierce troll he had the knowledge of metallurgy and made hammers and swords, an known for his skill in this lore.  His furnaces burned bright in his cave under the great mountains, he had mined deep into the very depths of the earth.  His hammers and swords were beautiful and splendid and held in high regard among the folk of this age-old land, of trolls and goblins and wizards.   Snø troll knew him but slept on in a deep sleep and dreamt of older times before the people came, when he could just here the sounds of the forest and the birds singing on the plain all in harmony with nature.  Long before the felling of ancient trees and diminishing the forest boundaries, it was a constant battle between men and the trolls of the forest.  He awoke at dusk the forest was settling down and its nocturnal creatures were beginning to stir, and he could see the setting sun away in the west a melting orange sphere.  Into a deepening Neptune sky.  Owls could be heard overhead, in the highest trees as darkness was upon the woods.  A light wind stirred the trees blowing gently, with the quick passing of time everything became gloomy and blackened and shapes blurred.  Our troll surfaced and still a little puzzled by the reaction of Odd and Tulla, it was not their usual behaviour.  So Snø Troll began to descend further in a long walk to the falls and the hear The Fossegrimen play his haunting laments on the violin, the troll could listen for hours as he played it would help him think.  Pondering among his many thoughts he knew something was going on, so he pondered on this for hours.   As the violin played on and the murk from the waters permeated around, as time went on battles between the men and trolls and other woodland creatures.  Over long periods of time more of the forest was destroyed by the folk of Midvaard and other areas that became populated, the age-old forest was heavily denuded and its inhabitants were forced back further in to what remained of Moorsfest.  Some of the trolls and goblins went to the mountains, owls and other birds all fled as the ancient trees were torn down.  A bereft time and our troll remaining saddened by what he saw over hundreds of years, of persecution and war now well over a millennia later here he still dwells.  Looking down on the modern town of Midvaard, with its streetlights and cars and noise and still the stave church with its steep spire.  An Snøtroll retreat back to his home ever changing by mans interference.  All the stories were gradually being forgotten, our troll remembered them.  The melancholy that now filled him was overwhelming, and his home always moving and gradually growing more still with time.  Still upon dark nights in midwinter gazing at the Aurora Borealis, its flowing light of wonderful colours majestically haunting above.  However the desire for Snøtroll to plunder the town of Midvaard were sadly gone, he would go by quietly on his way along the dwindling forest path.

Lyrics

Here are some more songs from my previous project, but have used two of the songs as they fit the subject matter with which is being sung about.  The first song The Wandering Soothsayer of Outlandish Boots, is a precursor to Laarg`s character.  This song was recorded but never released.


THE WANDERING SOOTHSAYER OF OUTLANDISH BOOTS

 


Through many lands and long ago,he tarried seeking knowledge of the earth below his feet.  What strange wonders did it hold?  His tale begins from legends long ago, wandering his quest unfolds.


Upon the mountains to seek wisdom of nature, speaking with and listening of their ancient place snow covered giant ogres.  Steeped in mystery they are keepers of this dark wonder.

Further on he strolled to the forests, many discussions with archaic trees.  An eerie atmosphere in the forest, moss leaves and creatures.  He worked many unfathomable magicks, he learned from the trees.  Which taught him, always listening understanding their true majestic might. Preserving their legacy.

Always wondering deeper searching, his face always in thought a long gray beard long silver hair.  woven robes that covered him he would sit entwined with his surroundings, green dark brown and shades of black.  Alluring and mysterious, he wrote these old secrets on scrolls of parchment.  with his understanding of nature and what its meaning is he alone holds the key, the learned friend of the forest, mountains and trolls, and bears and rivers this stewardship betrothed to him.



THE SORROW OF THE ANCIENT FOREST

Enshrined in mystery, the forest old and grim.  Solid as the earth that holds it in its ancient place.  Oak trees covered this land gnarled ripped and old, rooted menacing grim and proud.  Praised in antiquity when nomadic tribes roamed free living amongst this dense forest.


Holding sagas of yore, upon nightfall the moon emblazoned upon the blackened sky.  The trees illuminated in majestic wonder, stark pure and real but what secrets belie?

But aeons since this esoteric magical time humanity has turned its back on the forest.  It stands bereft and its secrets lost, the trees turn to misanthropy and hatred to mankind. Silent they are, a malevolent force black the time has come into darkness

WARRIORS OF A BLACKENED LAND OF YORE

They ride into the valley on horses from a distant land, the warriors hold on the crest of a hill.  Black clouds hang grim like crows in this dark density of aggression.  The rainfalls from the death like sky upon them, the war horns are sounded they charge forth.

Their enemy waits stood still like stone tyrants, with swords and shields.  The first strikes are made in the blackness of harsh aggression, swords clack the roar of battle.  As the warriors grip on its enemy tightens, blood flows like a sea of misery.  In the valley as the battle goes on dissecting their foe, which has plagued the warriors for aeons.

The aftermath of warfare leaves blood strewn carcasses they are triumphant, the mountains are silent witnesses to this battle they look on in silence knowing they have risen above their torment and can reign their lands evermore.

The meaning of my name Megrimmtroll

I cam up with the name Megrimmtroll when forming this current project, Megrim is a type of fish.  There are also legends of sea trolls, so I thought this was a good idea Grimm with extra M  comes from my old name Grimmodhr which means Grim Moor from another story that I wrote,  set in the distant past but is not included in any of the songs here.  I was going to use Megrimmwitch However I feel more trolllish and that is were my interests lie in folkloric trolls so I went for Megrimmtroll which I think sounds much better,after all I am a troll  The lyrics are all set in the past.  In a magical world of fantastical creatures, it is trying to capture something from the past as if uncovering something from an excavation.  All my songs are written in a Metal context with that imagery in mind but at the same time I am trying to convey a form of folk tales with a history, between these characters that I have created.

Thank you MgtrolL Autumn Equinox 23rd September 2011