Say what you will about Tyr, their sound is unmistakable. This band could quite easily release an album containing black metal covers of 60’s chart hits and still make it their own. I came in on this band late with the re-release of their debut album ‘Eric The Red’ which had me absolutely stunned and has remained a firm favourite ever since. They have since released two further albums, neither of which have been able to match their debut. Try as I did to like Ragnarok, I couldn’t quite get my head around it and it felt rather like the band was treading water. They doggy-paddled their way out of their stagnancy with Land, which rekindled a certain modicum of faith in them and here we are just under a year on and it seems they are determined to make it back to the longboat and plough onward.
Should I be concerned that they have brought a new one out so soon? Often the best albums are those which bands take their time with, not taking every so-so idea they have with them into the studio in an effort to thrash out an album on an annual basis. Then again, it could be a sign of the band being hit with a sudden burst of inspiration so strong it just didn’t feel right to tinker with. What certainly strikes me about this album is that it seems the band have gone for a more lively and fast-paced sound that previous efforts, and to me it seems to be a push in the right direction. The album kicks in with ‘Hold The Heathen Hammer High;’ a typical Tyr song title if ever there was one. That aforementioned unmistakable Tyr sound is again present here in the progressive melodies and the tremendously exotic atmosphere, though instantly it strikes with more of a bang with the pounding drums and thrashed up riffage.
‘By The Sword In My Hand’ is a particular highlight on the album with its iron plated riff, a simplistic chorus rhyme and the kind of melody that really works its way under your skin. This is one I can surely imagine a pissed up festival crowd, armed with plastic swords and blow up hammers-of-Thor, singing and swaying along to and is possibly their strongest number since ‘Hail To The Hammer.’ ‘Ride’ doesn’t so much ride as it does skip along with a lively jig. A couple of tempo changes later we arrive with a Celtic jig that sounds out through the misty Highlands, that has me bouncing about in a way that would usually be reserved for the more playful chaps in Korpiklaani.
There is another great sing along chorus to the rather epic ‘Northern Gate’ which veers from a slow paced, melodic chorus into the verse which then races forth to the finish line in a Priest-like manner. The classic metal influence is far more prevalent on this album than on previous efforts with straightforward, heavy riffing that thrashes away and in the clattering drums on ‘Into The Storm’ while there is more than your recommended daily allowance of guitar solos sprinkled across the mix. This helps to give the album a more accessible sound that is far less hard work to get into than you might expect from this band. The enigmatic Faroese atmosphere still shrouds these nine tracks and puts a warm slant on the sound, while the thrashier elements show they are evolving. Can they pull it off live? Judging from experience, probably not, but the album is certainly worth your attention.
http://www.tyr.net/
http://www.myspace.com/tyr1
http://www.myspace.com/napalmrecords
