Track By Tracks: Reflection - The Battles I Have Won (2025)

1. Only the Swords Survive:

We like to kick off an album with an uptempo song, just like we did on the previous one, and we thought it worked well :)

This song tells the story of a warrior’s final moments before battle.

He knows death is likely, but the heat of the fight and his sense of duty are stronger.

He kneels, takes a breath, prays, looks up to the sky, and then across the battlefield…

But in the end, only the swords survive.

2. The Battles I Have Won:

The title track!

A mid-tempo, classic 90s-style song, perfect for our live setlist.

An old warrior looks back on a life of war and realizes… he survived.

His armor is shattered, his body tired, but he is wiser. He raises a glass and salutes those who fell by his blade.

He respects his enemies—they made him who he is.

"To kill, to destroy, but never to cry... To fight, to survive, and to reach the sky."

These lyrics by Giannis Tsakonas capture the heart of epic metal.

An emotional, powerful song.

3. Lord of the Wind:

4. Sirens’ Song:

These two tracks were "missing" from our Odyssey album back in 2003.

Back then, we used theatrical monologues to tell these chapters of Homer’s tale, but over the years, we started wondering: Did we make the right choice?

Over 20 years later, the gap is filled!

Lord of the Wind tells the story of Aeolus.

On their way home to Ithaca, Ulysses and his men carry a bag gifted by the god, full of wind.

But the crew, thinking it contains gold, opens it—and disaster strikes. The winds are unleashed.

This is a deeply emotional, melodic song—one of the album’s highlights.

Sirens’ Song follows the myth of the sirens—creatures with voices so enchanting they lead sailors to their doom.

Ulysses, though aware of the danger, wants to hear their song.

He has his men plug their ears with wax and tie him to the mast. As they row past, he begs them to release him, but they cannot hear him.

A classic epic doom metal track, full of drama and atmosphere—very much in our style.

5. Once Again – Crime in the Valley of Death:

A song in a style we’re not typically known for—U.S. metal.

It’s about the Tempi railway crime (not an accident) of February 28, 2023, where 57 people, mostly students in their 20s, were burned alive in a train collision.

Their families still seek justice—a rare thing these days, especially in a country like Greece, where the government is the mafia.

We believe that one day, their souls will reunite with their loved ones under the sun and restart life from the beginning.

This is an emotional piece, far from our usual mythological or sci-fi themes.

But we don’t care what anyone thinks—this had to be said.

Phivos from our label was incredibly supportive, and we included the song as a tribute to those families.

A deeply personal and powerful moment for us.

6. Celestial War:

A song in the veins of Warlord/Lordian Guard—enough said!

The lyrics describe the war in Heaven, as written in the Book of Revelation.

It’s another mid-tempo track—yes, we love mid-tempos!

In the middle section, we feature a bass solo based on a well-known traditional Greek folk rhythm.

7. March of the Argonauts:

The legendary quest for the Golden Fleece!

The lyrics are based on ancient texts attributed to Orpheus (among other versions).

A galloping, classic epic metal track with a powerful chorus—perfect for fists in the air!

8. Lady in the Water:

One of our personal favorites from the album.

A classic '90s-style U.S. metal track in the vein of Crimson Glory.

It tells the tale of a mysterious woman of the sea—a dark water dancer, mistress of the depths.

Memorable, melodic, and powerful.

Unfortunately, the story behind the lyrics is based on real events…

Some reviewers have called this the best song on the album.

9. City Walls of Malta – The Great Siege:

Somewhere between a hymn and a metal epic.

We think this is the perfect outro to the album.

The orchestrations are emotional and grand.

It recounts the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, when fewer than 1,000 Knights of St.

John and 8,000 Maltese troops, under Grand Master Jean de la Valette, defended the island against 65,000 Ottoman invaders.

A favorite of mine—I'm passionate about Malta and its history.