Herald of Darkness: Difference between revisions

"Herald of Darkness"
"Herald of Darkness"
Single by Old Gods of Asgard; ft Alan Wake; & Mr Door
from the album Rebirth: Greatest Hits
Released	October 27, 2023
Length	14:12 (single); 30:07 (complete edit); Determinant (ingame)
Label	Insomniac
BPM	156
Key	F
Old Gods of Asgard; ft Alan Wake; & Mr Door singles chronology

VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 08:59, 24 April 2025

Anger's Remorse

Track 6

Anger's Remorse

Herald of Darkness

Track 7 on Rebirth: Greatest Hits

Take Control

Track 8

Take Control

Herald of Darkness by Old Gods of Asgard (Poets of the Fall) is a dynamic track featured in the 2023 Remedy Entertainment game Alan Wake II. The song features guest vocals by Matthew Porretta as Alan Wake and David Harewood as Mr Door.

Ingame, Marko Saaresto appears as Odin Anderson, Markus Kaarlonen as Tor Anderson, Olli Tukiainen as Bob Balder, Ilkka Villi as Alan Wake, David Harewood as Mr Door, Sam Lake as the actor portraying Alex Casey and extras as The Taken. A 14:12 arrangement of the track was later released as a single with a music video taken from the game. Herald of Darkness was included as the seventh track on Old Gods of Asgard's 2023 debut album Rebirth: Greatest Hits. Due to fan interest, a "complete" edit of the track clocking in at over 30 minutes in length was also released alongside an instrumental mix.

Building on the dynamic music concept used for Take Control in Control (also within the Remedy Connected Universe), the track plays in multiple segments throughout the chapter Initiation 4: We Sing. Each segment starts as a completely different genre but then returns to the chorus. The song is a strange blend of Broadway musical and glam metal. It also includes a large amount of extra connecting audio to ensure that the experience flows smoothly - however long the chapter takes you to complete as a player. Like other OGoA tracks, the lyrics are diegetic, giving insight on the game's plot and some call-backs to the original Alan Wake.

In-game Events

The sequence in which the track plays is introduced by David Harewood's "Mr Door" as turning Herald of Darkness by OGoA into a reflection on Alan's life in musical form. The OGoA (played in live action by the founding trio of Poets of the Fall) had a brief cameo earlier in the game as the show band on Mr Door's chat show.

The track includes vocals by David Harewood and Matthew Porretta (the voice of Alan Wake) and throughout the sequence the player passes by video screens showing David Harewood (Mr Door), Ilka Villi (Alan Wake's appearance), Marko Saaresto (Odin Anderson), Markus Kaarlonen (Tor Anderson), Olli Tukiainen (Bob Balder), Sam Lake (Alex Casey) and the Taken - guiding the player through the maze, dancing and generally being bombastic.

Around halfway through the track, the sequence turns into a combat encounter. If the player stops at a sign saying "Wait here for solo", they will have to face off against a heavy wave of Taken while Olli/Balder shreds on a screen above. After the sequence has concluded, the track can be replayed in an arranged form on the Radio. Ahti the Janitor can also be seen humming the track shortly afterwards.

Lyrics

(Door) From what I've gathered, you grew up nice and sheltered
With momma's pretty stories and your own made up furies
(Wake) And momma gave me a magic clicker
Well yes, I think it's true and fair to say

(Odin) C'mon in and listen
Lost words you've been missing
Of the fire you're bearing
The eye of the darkness, your light

(Door) So you were drawn to stories early on?
(Wake) My dreams would light up my imagination
(Door) And you had nightmares night and day?
(Wake) Yeah, but with the clicker I chased those frights away
(Door) Who knew?
(Wake) So true!

(Odin) So here is the clue
Of hope to remember
Visions they come true
Obeying the light switch too

Show me the Champion of Light
I'll show you the Herald of Darkness
Lost in a never ending night
Diving deep to the surface

(Door) And all your stories of crime and chilliing thrillers
Of hardboiled killers became bestsellers

(and the award goes to... Alan Wake!)

(Wake) It was all too much, I had to get away

(Odin) The story's the end all
A piece of true fiction
Made meaningless in
The face of creation

(Door) But there is more to it that meets the eye
(Wake) I never meant for it to ruin my life that way
(Door) Would you say you lived a jaded lie?
(Wake) Dark shades could never save the day
(Door) So sad
(Wake) But true!

(Odin) Fighting the nightmares
Torch and a light switch
A gift or a curse
A reality made of dreams

Show me the Champion of Light
I'll show you the Herald of Darkness
Lost in a never ending night
Diving deep to the surface

He could write a new story
Like Tom Zane before him
And maybe they'd be happy once again
Just one shot, one more chance
for him to save their marriage
away from the city
a romantic getaway

Still he's the torch bearer
And it couldn't be much clearer
A war needs its warrior, true and right
But the darkness within him
Held her hostage
Had seen her drowning
Would have save her from the darkness of the lake

Show me the Champion of Light
I'll show you the Herald of Darkness
Lost in a never ending night
Diving deep to the surface

(Wake) Such a Dark Place, am I trapped in here?
Is this real? I cannot remember
There was a manuscript, it held a key
A viscious cycle I must not surrender to
Echo scenes to seek out
Again and again
Until I figure it out
To bring this song to its end?

Can you help me out?
To bring this song to its end
I must bring this song to its end
Bring this song to its end

(Odin) Show me the Champion of Light
I'll show you the Herald of Darkness
Lost in a never ending night
Diving deep to the surface

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{Infobox song
 | name          = Herald of Darkness
-| cover         = HOD.jpg <!--just the file name-->
+| cover         = [[File:HOD.jpg|300px|class=pageimage]] <!--just the file name-->
 | alt           =
 | border	= yes
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 | length        = 14:12 (single)<br/>30:07 (complete edit)<br/>Determinant (ingame)
 | label         = [[Insomniac]]
+| BPM           = 156
+| key           = F
 | writer        = <!--for both music and lyrics-->
 | producer      =
@@ Line 26: / Line 28: @@
 Ingame, [[Marko Saaresto]] appears as [[Odin Anderson]], [[Markus Kaarlonen]] as [[Tor Anderson]], [[Olli Tukiainen]] as [[Bob Balder]], [[Ilkka Villi]] as Alan Wake, David Harewood as Mr Door, [[Sam Lake]] as the actor portraying Alex Casey and extras as The Taken. A 14:12 arrangement of the track was later released as a single with a music video taken from the game. Herald of Darkness was included as the seventh track on Old Gods of Asgard's 2023 debut album [[Rebirth: Greatest Hits]]. Due to fan interest, a "complete" edit of the track clocking in at over 30 minutes in length was also released alongside an instrumental mix.
-{{stub}}
+Building on the dynamic music concept used for [[Take Control]] in [[Control]] (also within the [[Remedy Connected Universe]]), the track plays in multiple segments throughout the chapter Initiation 4: We Sing. Each segment starts as a completely different genre but then returns to the chorus. The song is a strange blend of Broadway musical and glam metal. It also includes a large amount of extra connecting audio to ensure that the experience flows smoothly - however long the chapter takes you to complete as a player. Like other OGoA tracks, the lyrics are diegetic, giving insight on the game's plot and some call-backs to the original [[Alan Wake (game)|Alan Wake]].
+== In-game Events ==
+The sequence in which the track plays is introduced by David Harewood's "Mr Door" as turning Herald of Darkness by OGoA into a reflection on Alan's life in musical form. The OGoA (played in live action by the founding trio of Poets of the Fall) had a brief cameo earlier in the game as the show band on Mr Door's chat show.
+The track includes vocals by David Harewood and Matthew Porretta (the voice of Alan Wake) and throughout the sequence the player passes by video screens showing David Harewood (Mr Door), Ilka Villi (Alan Wake's appearance), Marko Saaresto (Odin Anderson), Markus Kaarlonen (Tor Anderson), Olli Tukiainen (Bob Balder), Sam Lake (Alex Casey) and the Taken - guiding the player through the maze, dancing and generally being bombastic.
+Around halfway through the track, the sequence turns into a combat encounter. If the player stops at a sign saying "Wait here for solo", they will have to face off against a heavy wave of Taken while Olli/Balder shreds on a screen above. After the sequence has concluded, the track can be replayed in an arranged form on the Radio. Ahti the Janitor can also be seen humming the track shortly afterwards.
+==Lyrics==
+<blockquote>
+(Door)
+From what I've gathered, you grew up nice and sheltered<br />
+With momma's pretty stories and your own made up furies<br />
+(Wake)
+And momma gave me a magic clicker<br />
+Well yes, I think it's true and fair to say<br />
+(Odin)
+C'mon in and listen<br />
+Lost words you've been missing<br />
+Of the fire you're bearing<br />
+The eye of the darkness, your light<br />
+(Door)
+So you were drawn to stories early on?<br />
+(Wake)
+My dreams would light up my imagination<br />
+(Door)
+And you had nightmares night and day?<br />
+(Wake)
+Yeah, but with the clicker I chased those frights away<br />
+(Door)
+Who knew?<br />
+(Wake)
+So true!<br />
+(Odin)
+So here is the clue<br />
+Of hope to remember<br />
+Visions they come true<br />
+Obeying the light switch too<br />
+Show me the Champion of Light<br />
+I'll show you the Herald of Darkness<br />
+Lost in a never ending night<br />
+Diving deep to the surface<br />
+(Door)
+And all your stories of crime and chilliing thrillers<br />
+Of hardboiled killers became bestsellers<br />
+(and the award goes to... Alan Wake!)<br />
+(Wake)
+It was all too much, I had to get away<br />
+(Odin)
+The story's the end all<br />
+A piece of true fiction<br />
+Made meaningless in<br />
+The face of creation<br />
+(Door)
+But there is more to it that meets the eye<br />
+(Wake)
+I never meant for it to ruin my life that way<br />
+(Door)
+Would you say you lived a jaded lie?<br />
+(Wake)
+Dark shades could never save the day<br />
+(Door)
+So sad<br />
+(Wake)
+But true!<br />
+(Odin)
+Fighting the nightmares<br />
+Torch and a light switch<br />
+A gift or a curse<br />
+A reality made of dreams<br />
+Show me the Champion of Light<br />
+I'll show you the Herald of Darkness<br />
+Lost in a never ending night<br />
+Diving deep to the surface<br />
+He could write a new story<br />
+Like Tom Zane before him<br />
+And maybe they'd be happy once again<br />
+Just one shot, one more chance<br />
+for him to save their marriage<br />
+away from the city<br />
+a romantic getaway<br />
+Still he's the torch bearer<br />
+And it couldn't be much clearer<br />
+A war needs its warrior, true and right<br />
+But the darkness within him<br />
+Held her hostage<br />
+Had seen her drowning<br />
+Would have save her from the darkness of the lake<br />
+Show me the Champion of Light<br />
+I'll show you the Herald of Darkness<br />
+Lost in a never ending night<br />
+Diving deep to the surface<br />
+(Wake)
+Such a Dark Place, am I trapped in here?<br />
+Is this real? I cannot remember<br />
+There was a manuscript, it held a key<br />
+A viscious cycle I must not surrender to<br />
+Echo scenes to seek out<br />
+Again and again<br />
+Until I figure it out<br />
+To bring this song to its end?<br />
+Can you help me out?<br />
+To bring this song to its end<br />
+I must bring this song to its end<br />
+Bring this song to its end<br />
+(Odin)
+Show me the Champion of Light<br />
+I'll show you the Herald of Darkness<br />
+Lost in a never ending night<br />
+Diving deep to the surface
+</blockquote>
 [[Category:Songs]]
 [[Category:Singles]]
-[[Category:Old Gods of Asgard]]
+[[Category:Old Gods of Asgard songs]]
 [[Category:Music videos]]