You know that feeling? You’ve spent the long dark northern winter caulking ship boards, salting pork and fish, polishing your hauberk and practicing with your sword every day. Then the time comes. You gather your horde and rush to your longship, only to find a bunch of confused looking Austrians in it wondering where the engine is. You don’t? Well if you were a member of Amon Amarth and had just unearthed a copy of Battle Metal new boys Heathen Foray’s debut album ‘The Passage’, you’d be feeling something similar. ‘The Passage’ is identical in sound to Johan Hegg and co pre-‘Twilight of the Thunder God’ but somehow lacking that authenticity which makes the originals so compelling.
The opening track ‘Fading Tree’ is pure Amon Amarth from the characteristic opening twin lead riff, which is then followed by an equally familiar Odin-referencing breakdown and Hegg-esque vocal. This track is immediately followed by ‘Northstar’. The title is reminiscent of Tyr, who are about to release ‘By The Light Of The Northern Star’. The song itself is another well written Amon Amarth copy, but with an errant harpsichord nudging it uncomfortably into Alestorm territory.
‘Winterking’ is more original, drawing on the German musical tradition of the Erl King. In Jurgen Bruder and Bernd Zahn Heathen Foray have two solid lead players, who are happy to let fly with that Euro widdle-diddle also beloved of the likes of Herman Li of Dragonforce and Emppu Vuorinen of Nightwish. ‘Winterking’ also has a strong chorus, which is rendered useless as a singalong in truly orthodox style by vocalist Robert Schroll’s Hegg-style grunted/growled vocal. What Heathen Foray haven’t noticed is that Amon Amarth deliver their melodies via the guitars rather than the larynx-tearing vocals. However as Amon Amarth only really got that right on ‘Twilight Of The Thunder God’ - which was released while Heathen Foray were still in the studio - they can be forgiven for having missed it. The rest of ‘Winterking’ breaks down into a part which sounds like, well you can probably guess who.
If judged on its own merits, ‘The Passage’ has plenty to offer. ‘Chants’ features more of the Dragonforce mega-widdle. ‘Dragon’s Eyes’ has a particularly good (albeit purloined) twin lead introduction followed by some startling solos. While much of the album is entirely derivative ‘Wolkenbruch’ is sung in German. This, along with ‘Winterking’ provides tantalising hints of an original direction. Despite the swords and chainmail fare on offer, few of Heathen Foray’s lyrics nail them down to a specific locale or people. After all what do the German-speaking countries - which produced Siegfried, Fafnir and Brunnhilde, the Rhinemaidens and Nibelungs, Stukas, the Teutonic Knights and the Wend, Charlemagne, the Irminsul and our own dear ancestors, those mighty sea pirates the Saxons - have to offer lyrically for a Battle Metal band?
Heathen Foray, as represented by ‘The Passage’ are typical of the current crop of heathen Battle Metal bands springing up across the Northlands. They are competent enough, but are in ‘copy’ mode and show no inclination to bring something new to the raiding party. Just as they need to find their voice musically, the look needs work. Resplendent in matching black wife beaters like the highly disciplined Austrian trailer trash they may be (but still for some reason brandishing swords) they evidently haven’t the nerve to put the Tyr-style chainmail on yet. Well you’d look pretty silly wearing armour on stage at a Battle Metal show wouldn’t you?
Despite these presumably temporary shortcomings, Heathen Foray are finding it an ideal time to be Vikings. Black Bards’ most recent signings are set to conquer at increasingly popular gatherings of hairy heathens like the Black Troll and Northern Lights festivals in Germany and Scandinavia amongst others. If they are not the finished article yet, this early exposure could give them time to metamorphose into the elite Teutonic warriors their obvious song-writing ability and musical skills could allow them to become. In the meantime if you like Amon Amarth and you just can’t wait for the follow-up to ‘Twilight Of The Thunder God’ this album will keep you happy on those long dark winter nights while you wait for Hegg and crew to set sail once more.
http://www.heathenforay.com
http://www.myspace.com/heathenforaymetal
