Metal Reviews

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Can't wait to listen to this one, although you've made me a bit cautious, now. I don't mind if they go a bit faster and more energetic but I don't need a folk/viking version of Sonata Arctica... I hope it's at least as good to me as the earlier albums.

Where did my Tyr reviewing mantle go?

As the Tyr expert on MR, what's your opinion on the album Alex?

I have not heard it yet. I am buying all of the Tyr albums, except the first two the band themselves sent me waaaay back in the days when no one knew them at all. And the release date is a couple of days from now, so I have not even placed my orders yet. Will let you know when I get it. Oh, and expert I am not, but yes they are a very quality band, and an unusual one too.

Heh, sorry man! Next one is definitely yours

Really looking forward to this one. I love singing along and not knowing what the hell I'm saying. Haha.

[quote="Esiel"] I don't need a folk/viking version of Sonata Arctica... quote]

Oh, it's really not like that; they always had an element of that rapid power metal sound and it has just been ramped up here. You certainly wouldn't get the two bands confused

So rio, let's say I didn't like Land but loved Ragnarok, will I like this one ? And I definitely like the idea of a more up-tempo Tyr.

Well, it's closer in sound to Land than Ragnarok, I would say. But yeah, it's definitely faster than Land.

Didn't you say you'd been listening non-stop to Hold the Heathen Hammer High in the upcoming albums of 2009 thread? The rest of the album continues in that mode, really.

Well I thought since it's the opening track they'd put a faster one to pull in the listeners. But if you say the rest of the album follows Hold the Heathen Hammer High then that's good news for me. I noticed there are no epic 10 min. tracks here. Land had two and I find them distracting and a chore to listen. Also, this is their shortest album by almost 20 minutes. The prospects for a good album are increasing.

Funny how you consider Land a more straightforward and simple album. To me that was their most complex and the one I had most trouble getting into.

Yeah, I mean there are epic and complex songs on Land but there's less of the time changes, and I find a lot of the melodies to be more "catchy" than on Ragnarok.

Yeah, the album is generally in the vein of Hold the Heathen..., although that's definitely the best track on it.

Gonna give this one a listen, I enjoy Land. Thanks for the review.

This sounds like a band worth checking out. Where's the perfect place to start? I think I'm gonna have to go with the debut, and "work" my way up. I heard lots of good stuff about these guys but somehow I never really bothered. But when you said (Rio) that this was the most Power Metal sounding effort yet, you kina talked me into it.

It's probably a good idea to start at the beginning and work through. The albums all offer different things, really.

I'd say start with Eric the Red, then branch out in How Far to Asgaard and Ragnarok at about the same time, finish things off with Land. I am yet to hear the latest, so no comment there, especially if you are a power metal lover.

Alright, thanks.

Eric the Red is definitely the place to start. Awesome album.

Just FYI, when you hear The Wild Rover, you WILL get the sudden urge to get a drink and singalong, so you might want to have one handy.

Got my digipack with a pair of bonus tracks and have had a couple of listens. The review is definitely right on. This is an album full of anthems, easy to get into, and catchy as hell. It almost feels that the band had to do one like that, to get it out of their system, and my bold prediction - it will increase their mass appeal, now that power metal kids will be lining up to listen to this. The guy I work with was always ho-hum on Tyr, but he likes power metal and I know he will like it a lot. It also feels that the band was energized for it, buoyant, almost exuberant, so the album came out this way. I certainly hope, however, that this will not be all Tyr will ever do from here on out, as all of this energy ate up completely the rhythmic quirks and twists all Tyr songs/album heretofore were full of. I personally need that. Also, from all of this double bass barrage, Heri's voice is not as manly as usual. He needs the openness in music to come through powerfully. And that whoa-whoa on Northern Gate is ridiculous, yes. Fav songs - Hold the Heathen Hammer High, By the Sword in My Hand, title track. Good album if you are just beginning with Tyr, or lean towards power metal away from epic folk progressive sound.

Yeah, like you I hope that they return to a more complex sound in future. This album is a lot of fun, but just not as interesting as some of their previous records.