Tyr | The Lay of Thrym
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
The Lay of Thrym is the sixth album from the modern day Vikings in Tyr. The Faroe Islanders have been quite visible of late, with a steady stream of albums, various pagan-themed tours and even an appearance at the ProgPower USA festival. Instead of taking it easy, Tyr jumped right back in with another offering of progressively-inclined folk metal.
You can tell right from the start, with the catchy “Flames of the Free,” that the band is going for a somewhat more accessible sound (in other words: catchier, but less progressive) with this album. Tyr sounds a lot less like Borknagar/Vintersorg and a lot more like Falconer this time around, with an almost power metal approach. That’s in keeping with the whole folk metal sound, and Tyr does it really well. The melodic anthems “Take Your Tyrant” and “Hall of Freedom” are made for singing and stomping along. The songs sung in their native language also stand out, as they just seem more authentic somehow. Another highlight, especially in light of recent events, is the thought-provoking “Shadow of the Swastika,” which reaffirms the band’s anti-racism stance. The epic title track closes the album in style, with a rousing tale of Viking glory that’s sure to have you raising your glass (or tankard of ale).
The Lay of Thrym is a totally enjoyable album, and one that will no doubt please the majority of Tyr’s ever-growing fanbase. There is no real sense that the band is moving forward or really challenging themselves this time around, and progressive metal fans probably won’t be as pleased with it, but that’s easy to forgive when the results are so much fun to listen to.
Edition Notes – The limited edition version of The Lay of Thrym comes in a digipack and features two bonus cover songs, Black Sabbath’s “I” and Rainbow’s “Stargazer,” which makes for a fitting tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio.
Genre: Folk Metal
Band:
Gunnar Thomsen (b)
Terji Skibenaes (g)
Kari Streymoy (d)
Heri Joensen (g) (v)
Track Listing:
1. Flames of the Free
2. Shadow of the Swastika
3. Take Your Tyrant
4. Evening Star
5. Hall of Freedom
6. Fields of the Fallen
7. Konning Hans
8. Ellindur Bondi a Jadri
9. Nine Worlds of Lore
10. The Lay of Thrym
Label: Napalm
Website: www.tyr.fo/
Hardrock Haven rating: 7.75/10