Among Beggars and Thieves is the sixth album by the Swedish

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 power metal

Power metal

Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...

 band Falconer

Falconer (band)

Falconer is a Swedish power metal band from Mjölby, formed in 1999. Founded by the former guitarist of Mithotyn, Stefan Weinerhall. Falconer carry on many of the traditions set by Weinerhall's previous band and play a style of power metal that utilises folk instrumentation and melody to create a...

, released on September 2, 2008 through Metal Blade Records

Metal Blade Records

Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...

. A heavier album than Northwind

Northwind (album)

Northwind is the fifth album by Swedish power metal band Falconer, the first to feature returning vocalist Mathias Blad since Chapters from a Vale Forlorn.-Track listing:#"Northwind" - 4:15#"Waltz With The Dead" - 3:49#"Spirit Of The Hawk" - 3:39...

, it tells the tale of the hardships of medieval Sweden. Some of the songs seem heavily inspired by actual historical events. For example, the song "Man of the Hour" apparently deals with the fate of the Swedish 17th century warship Kronan

Kronan (ship)

Kronan, also called Stora Kronan, was a Swedish warship that was the flagship of the Swedish navy in the Baltic Sea in the 1670s. When built, she was one of the largest seagoing vessels in the world. The construction of Kronan lasted 1668–72, delayed on account of difficulties with financing and...

, the lyrics of "Mountain Men" bear a strong resemblance to the Engelbrekt rebellion

Engelbrekt rebellion

The Engelbrekt rebellion was a rebellion in 1434-1436 led by Swedish nobleman Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson against Eric of Pomerania, the king of the Kalmar Union...

, and "Boiling Led" appears to be about the assassination of Sverker I of Sweden

Sverker I of Sweden

Sverker I or Sverker the Elder was King of Sweden from about 1130 till his death.-Biography:Sverker was a mighty landowner from Östergötland...

.

Track listing

1. "Field of Sorrow" – 5:35
2. "Man of the Hour" – 3:56
3. "A Beggar Hero" – 2:08
4. "Vargaskall" (Wolf Barks) – 4:19
5. "Carnival of Disgust" – 4:04
6. "Mountain Men" – 4:39
7. "Viddernas Man" – 3:43
8. "Pale Light of Silver Moon" – 4:05
9. "Boiling Led" – 4:58
10. "Dark Ages"*
11. "Skula, Skorpa, Skalk" – 3:51
12. "Dreams and Pyres" – 7:50
13. "Vi Sålde Våra Hemman"* (We Sold Our Homesteads)

• bonus tracks on the limitied edition only. Also includes the video for 'Carnival of Disgust'.

External links

"Carnival of Disgust" music video

"Man of the Hour" download