International band “A HERO FOR THE WORLD” from Sweden and the Philippines released December 11th 2020 their first ever compilation album, spanning from their first single “Eternal Shadows” in 2012 to their latest song “Freedom” written for this record.

The compilation runs for the length of a double CD, features 30 tracks, the songs 1-29 music/lyrics written by band leader Jacob Kaasgaard and the last epic track “Jupiter and Mars” co-written with Gustav Holst.


“Supernova Prophecy - Ultimate Power” is named after the bands’ 2018 single “Supernova”; in which the lyrics ominously describe an unknown destructive force known as “the Corona”. See the 2018 lyric video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1DLTHaY2vM


“The band has worked on a trilogy called “From West to East” for quite some time. The first in the series, “Frontier Vigilante”, a Western-themed original album was released in 2017. 2019 saw the release of “Space Ranger”. 2020 was supposed to be the release year of the third and final part of the trilogy, in which the story takes us back to Asia, where also the band started its journey back in 2012. The music and lyrics were already done for this third record and the songs were in pre-production already in early spring 2020. However, with current events and as foreshadowed in the song “Supernova”, the lyrics would seem to close to reality at this point and needs to be reworked. Instead we decided to release this epic compilation album which has all the best power metal and rock anthems from the band’s first decade and 3 new songs recorded this year as well“ - Jacob




Supernova Prophecy - Ultimate Power


On Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/0QL6bdXNXQbJdbDRmR2sqp?si=qKljI6CQT2mD0bNnXG6YVg


On Apple music:

music.apple.com/us/album/supernova-prophecy-ultimate-power/1542417701


High-resolution downloads on Bandcamp:

aherofortheworld.bandcamp.com/album/supernova-prophecy-ultimate-power

Track List with commentary:



1.


Freedom 04:24

A song about Freedom, the most important thing to never take for granted. Inspired by the several months lockdown endured during 2020.



2.


Supernova 04:11

In the 2018 single “Supernova”; the lyrics ominously describe an unknown destructive force known as “the Corona” that will cause the darkness of the universe; and it was the main antagonist of the “West to East”-trilogy album. This song’s lyrics also caused the delay of the third part in the trilogy. Watch the lyric video from 2018 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1DLTHaY2vM



3.


Eternal Shadows 05:24

The first single of the band, released in 2012, remains one of the bands more well known songs with nearly half a million views on Youtube for the songs video.



4.


Fighting on the Front Line 04:51

A song written in 2020, it’s a tribute to our doctors, nurses and first responders and more, fighting on the front lines around the world, everyday, during these hard times.



5.


A Hero Returns 04:45

“This song is based on the “A Hero For The Main Theme” first heard on the debut album on the epic song “One Hope Of Light” and on the 2013 EP “On Fire”. It served as the opener of the “Frontier Vigilante” album, marking the comeback of “the hero”. The melody was written already back in 2007, arranged for symphonic orchestra, for a UK low-budget super-hero movie project that never saw the light of day. In 2012 the theme was revived and set to lyrics, which eventually also named the band. “A Hero Returns” was the first time the signature theme song is played in an upbeat tempo. The breakdown starting at around 2:30 is the most fun I’ve ever had singing. It starts low, and I sing the same melody in 4 different octaves. I wanted the vocal takes on this album to sound “live”, so I tried as much as possible to only record 1 or 2 takes for each segment.”



6.


We Are Forever 04:18

The opening song of the debut album. It’s an anthem about the invincible feeling of youth, indestructible force and the ability to fight fire just with more fire! Musically this is exemplified by the key change at the end of the song, like we do so often in high energy songs, raise the energy level towards the end and push the vocals to the highest limit of range and power.



7.


Save the World From Fire 03:34

The band recorded this song back in 2013 and commented: “The band is based in Cebu, Philippines. All members luckily survived both the 7.2 Earthquake & the Typhoon Yolanda (HAIYAN) in October & November 2013 that struck the islands. It was one of the strongest storms to ever struck land. Many people died, and thousands are unfortunately still in despair without the basic necessities.”



8.


Outlaw in the Wild West (Power Version) 07:24

“On a several months extended trip to the USA back in 2014 I got a surprising interest in country music. During a stay in Nashville, Tennessee I wrote numerous songs inspired by the awesome musicians there. “Outlaw in the Wild West” is one of those songs, written in one night, inspired by a band performing at “Robert’s Western World” in Nashville. To me the lyrics are like a simple motto in life.

“Like an Outlaw in the Wild West

Livin’ Free Never Care ‘bout the rest

I will ride the speed of light

Through the desert and the night

Like an Outlaw in the Wild Wild West“


Musically, this song features some guest session musicians, for example on Banjo/Ganjo and Pedal Steel Guitar. I wanted this song to sound like it would have on a live recording, hence the jammed repeats in the end. I sang it like I would live, raw, mostly in one take. The verses are very similar to those of “Gold of Klondike”, reminding you that this was a concept album; the songs are “stand-alone” as well as working together, not unlike the type of song-writing often used in musicals and movies with certain leitmotif’s re-occurring when it suits the story. Further, the lyrics on the bridge (“Tried and Sentenced for heresy, Wanted Dead or Alive, Yet many had died”) are a flash-back to the 2013 debut album’s “A Quest For The Brave”.



9.


We Are Not Alone (In The Universe) 05:02

One of the lead tracks from the “Space Ranger”-album. Listen to the bridge in the middle, it references the song “Eternal Shadows” in a flashback.



10.


Let It Go 05:33

A mid-tempo rocker with epic drums and guitars, listen to the key-change towards the end and the high screams.



11.


The Orville 05:59

A Power Metal tribute to Seth Macfarlane. It’s a bit meta, the song is about traveling in space onboard the Orville spacecraft while singing the song “We are forever”.



12.


Gold Of Klondike (Power Version) 05:30

“Gold of Klondike” started the “Frontier Vigilante”-albums’ epic journey in the Wild West. This song takes place in America sometime around the 1850’s. It’s a story of pioneers braving the frontier in hope of a better life, of striking gold in the West. The music is inspired by symphonic Western movie soundtracks, complete with an epic choir in the breakdown, and a wild saloon piano solo.



13.


The Other Side (Power Version) 05:16

One of the first songs Jacob wrote, it’s an eternal anthem of freedom.



14.


Winter Is Coming 04:06

This is the title track from the bands’ first Holiday Rock Opera released back in 2013.



15.


Heaven's Eyes 07:26

"STORMBRINGER" the Austrian Heavyzine wrote in March 2013 about this song: "Really good I like the seven-minute "Heaven's Eyes", which could be on no less than one of the older HELLOWEEN albums and still impresses with an outstanding orchestral outro."



16.


Tomorrowland 05:10

Inspired by a movie with George Clooney and the modern museum in Valencia, this song soared on the “Space Ranger”-album.



17.


End Of Time 04:50

“MY GLOBAL MIND" wrote about this song: "It only gets better with "End Of Time", the fastest and most epic song on the album, pretty much a power metal classic in the making, with an excellent opening riff, awesome keyboards during the verses, and even some great symphonic elements throughout, while the chorus is even more upbeat and simply unforgettable than on any of the other songs. I feel the last three songs flow together perfectly."



18.


The Avenger 04:46

"A energetic power metal song; starting off with popcorn keyboards and light growls, this is a fun power metal song about misguided confidence, revenge and Synth solos."



19.


A Quest For The Brave 03:32

A mid-tempo song from the debut album that leads in to the important album closer “One hope of light” on that album.



20.


DIe (If You Stand In My Way) 04:48

A song for the enemy, both a warning and a promise.



21.


Into The Fire (Power Version) 06:24

This song is a mash-up of past and future songs. Notably, the verses are from “Sacred Land at Heaven’s End”, which is a 10-minute track from the next West To East installment. The bridges and solos are flashbacks to “Die If you stand in my way” from the 2013 EP “On Fire” and “We are forever” from the 2013 debut album. The choruses are unique to this song. It connects the old with the future.



22.


I Own The Universe 04:32

One of the singles from the “Space Ranger”-album.



23.


Somewhere out There 06:10

Both musically and lyrically this is a finale; and a departure from Part 1 segueing into the Part 2 (to be released hopefully in 2018). “The Hero” and his crew continue the quest on this Earth, towards the East. Somewhere out there… he will be back.



24.


Champion (Power Version) 05:04

Originally this song was dedicated to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Released back in 2016 it was the first single from the band after a three-year long silence. Here in its speed power metal song, there is also an original rock version and an acoustic version of this song.



25.


Oceania 05:09

“The Median Man blog” wrote about this song: ““Oceania,” is a lighter number, allowing the vocals to shine through as the piano lays the bass work, before building into an absolute monster.”



26.


The Place Where Oceans Meet 05:45

During a three-month quarantine on a ship, Jacob wrote this song during the pandemic about the feelings of home and freedom. Notably, some instrumental parts on this song is recognized from the band’s main theme melody that recurs in some songs here and there.



27.


One Hope Of Light (Edit Version) 10:01

The epic closing track of the debut album, the verses and chorus is based on the main theme melody of the band. The outro that keeps going for over five minutes has some emotional vocals from Louie and some of Jacob’s most raw vocal performances ever.



28.


Free Forever 05:10

The epic ballad with the flute. We’ve gotten a few messages from people that have played this song at their wedding, and some that wants to have it played at their funeral. We’re glad that the song hit the right emotional chord with those people, and it deserved a spot on this compilation.



29.


See You In Another Life 05:54

Another song about the afterlife, this one a bit more sad, or bitter-sweet. Written way back when the TV show “Lost” was on air. The song’s title was one of the main characters catchphrase of sorts.



30.


Jupiter And Mars 12:49

The most epic song by the band so far. It was a song that was hard to record. Co-written by Gustav Holst, the classical composer, the symphony orchestra mixed with the power metal parts was our attempt at creating an astral sound fitting the concept of the planets and the ending to the chapter of the “Space Ranger”-album. Towards the later half of the track, you can hear for one more time the main theme of the band return in a different tempo, slower than usual, marks the last return for this time of the unnamed “Hero”.