Tyr – Land

Releasedate: 30-05-2008; Label: Napalm Records
By: Elvira Visser

To understand what Týr is about you should know a little history. “In 999 A.D. The Christianization of the small Faeroe Islands began casting a veil of oblivion over the ancient Scandinavian gods leaving only buried relics. 999 years later the metal band Týr was founded, remembering the ancient gods and rites or their past.” This is also a strong trade mark of Týr. In contrast with most other bands in the same genre they use traditional melodies and lyrics in their songs.

Their third album, “Ragnarock”, was a concept album. This showed that Týr is a real folk metal band, but much discussed. Because Týr does not sound like the mainstream folk metal band. With their new CD “Land” they delivered another album that is diverse and different from other bands in their genre. It is their strength to sing and write music with a real past. Three songs on the CD are about the migration of the Vikings from Norway to the surrounding islands including Faeroe Islands. For example “Ocean” explores the reasons why Scandinavians set sail to the Faeroe Islands. “Gandkvædi Tróndar” is a poem by J.H.O Djurhuus about the a Faroese chieftain, who fought for the independence of the Faeroe’s. The chosen CD name “Land” has a link to the independence movement from the Faeroe Islands.

One thing that Týr does well is the many-voiced melodies to create this old folkish atmosphere. The drums might not be that metal but in this way adds more to the atmosphere. It is this that makes the sound of Týr unique. Using old melodies and singing a part of the song in their native Faroese itdelete “it” adds to the epic feeling. No wonder that the subjects of the tracks are about the Faeroe’s independence, Vikings and the Nordic lore.

What amazes me is that they are able to write songs lasting over ten minutes. On this album there are two of these that pass that ten minute barrier, but you will not get bored. Or at least I did not. It is very hard to pick my favourite song of the album, each song has a certain something that I seem to like. It has some faster and some slower songs, some with choirs and some a capella melodies. I think the track “Sinklars Visa” has a very strong intro and turns into this catchy track with a a great guitar solo. “Lokka Táttur” is one of those tracks where you hear the great skills of the musicians.

On the bonus CD they added a new recording of “Hail to the Hammer”. The reason for this is that people seem to like this song live and the band was not content with the quality it has on the “How Far to Asgaard” album.

If you would like to read what Heri Joensen tells about this album you can read our interview done earlier this year, where he explains more about this new album “Land”;