It's not often that you come across a metal band from the tiny European nation of the Faeroe Islands. In fact
www.metal-archives.com lists a grand total of four bands hailing from that part of the world, one of whom are now split up.
But in spite of facing issues with lack of interest, label support and even just finding venues to play gigs, Faeroese band Týr have triumphed over adversity to make a mark on the worldwide Folk Metal explosion,
Releasing their first album in 2002, Týr have crafted a very distinctive, melodic yet highly technical style of Pagan/Folk metal over the course of their career. They are not the most accessible of the folk pack but you get the feeling that the band have been happy enough to plough their own progressive furrow rather than make music that follows the norm and gets audiences jigging.
In saying that, the bands fifth album
By The Light of the Northern Star marks a upping of the tempo and a slightly more straight ahead style. Don't get me wrong, they haven't started singing about getting drunk with the happy-clappy people of the forest or anything. Fighting with steel in the name of Odin is still very much the order of the day. But there is without doubt a lightening of the atmosphere on this release.
The production is beefed up a little from their earlier works and allows the faster paced songs to really hit home. The only complaint is that the bass is never really that noticeable. This is a shame as having seen the band live on several occasions its clear that Gunnar H. Thomsen is a rather fine bassist.
There are times when you listen to an album and wonder what on earth possessed a band to put a particular track up front as the opener. This is without doubt not one of them. You simply can't argue with the stomping, standard-bearing
Hold the Heathen Hammer High. Staring off at a regal march it soon develops into a frantic, thrashing number which contains some fantastic riffing from guitarist/vocalist Henri Joensen and Terji Skibenæs It's this highly tuneful direction that permeates the album and makes this release possibly the strongest of the bands career. The most pleasing thing it achieves this without sacrificing their more technical elements
In fact the second track
Tróndur í Gøtu is classic Týr, with the traditional Faeroes vocal harmonies melding perfectly with the heavy metal elements. If this album is your first experience of the band then this song will highlight what an extraordinary voice Henri possesses. While many folk bands tend towards a growling, lower range style of vocals, his are clear and soaring at all times.
His best performance on the album is on the grandiose
Turið Torkilsdóttir. It's a traditional Faeroes song which has been shaped into the bands own style. It's crashing drums and uplifting vocal melodies would not sound out of place being sung by an army on the way to battle (or in this day and age a crowd in a packed sports stadium). The lead work in this track in extremely well arranged and serves to highlight how talented the band are musically.
One of my favourite moments on the album is contained in
Into The Storms, the passion in Henri's voice as he sings
"Holding high the old ways" is indelible and will not fail to impress. The marketing release that accompanies the promo uses the word "majestic" and I can't find fault with that description.
There are two tracks in particular which will draw attention to how successful the bands update of their sound it. In the merciless
By The Sword In My Hand one can detect a hint of
Manowar in the riffs and the solo sounds like Ross the Boss or Karl Logan could have had a hand in writing it. But any outside influences are filtered fully through the bands own unique style. Plus you really cant knock a vivid line like
"I will decimate and decapitate those who question the sword in my hand". The other track which is slightly atypical for the band is
Ride, which is as direct as the one word title suggests. Its jaunty rhythms fit perfectly into the flow of the album and never sound forced, which is pleasing to hear in a day and age where these sort of jolly folk influences get thrown about willy-nilly by bands desperate for a band wagon to jump on.
All in all By The Light of The Northern Star is a fantastic release. It is without doubt the strongest of the bands albums which I have heard. If you are into the Folk scene and are searching for a band who are not afraid to pull in influences from a host of musical (not just metal) styles then Týr are the band you have been waiting for.
Written by
Stuart Sunday, August 2, 2009
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