I am stoked to share with you today: TÝR "Best Of - The Napalm Years", highlighting the much acclaimed, impressive back catalogue Faroese folk metal band Týr has released with powerhouse label Napalm Records between 2006 and 2011.
Týr, who formed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1998, belongs to one of the most successful acts hailing from the Nordic island, their powerful and unique music is a blend of several heavy metal styles and enthralling melodies from Nordic folklore, history, and mythology. The band signed to Napalm Records in 2006, and released four albums as well as two reissues with the Austrian record company. Featuring tracks from iconic albums that are "How Far to Asgaard" (2002), "Eric The Reed" (2003), the ground-breaking "Ragnarok" from 2006, "Land" (2008), the epic "By the lightning of the Northern Star" (2009) to their final Napalm release, "The Lay of Thrym" in 2011, "Best Of - The Napalm Years" celebrates the glory of Týr in an inspiring, distinctive era in all its facettes and forms. This is a must-have Best Of, one that belongs into every well-sorted folk, heavy and viking metal record collection!
I must be honest, I only discovered them recently and absolutely adore the new tracks, so I was curious about the old ones. Reviewing them without having no clue about their past …
Hail to the Hammer (Land, 2008) is the first track and sounds all in all for a folk metal track pretty soft. I miss a bit strong backings during the chorus, yet I can hear the potential of the song.
Regin Smidur (Eric The Reed, 2003) starts with a real folk sound. It’s also sang in their mother tongue (according to me, but I’m not a specialist, so don’t shoot me for making an error in this). It’s always nice to hear folk sang in a strange language (like Metsatöll, Skalmöld, Warduna, Korpiklaani, …). The language reminds me slightly of Estonian. I can hear also that this song influenced some bands that came later on (Skalmöld for example).
Ramund Hin Unge (Eric The Reed, 2003) has a nice rocking sound with excellent lead guitar and a sweet tone in the vocals.
Hold the Heathen Hammer High (By the lightning of the Northern Star, 2009) is an excellent track that should still be played on stage, just the lead guitar part takes a bit too much time. I adore the vocals and the tempo (the break is nice as it makes it possible to relaunch the track afterwards).
By the Sword in my Hand(By the lightning of the Northern Star, 2009) is a typical folk metal title track and has it all to make it.
Tróndur í Gøtu(By the lightning of the Northern Star, 2009) starts with a catchy chorus and makes the drums hammer whilst the guitars are rambling.
Northern Gate(By the lightning of the Northern Star, 2009) has catchy tones and sounds really nice (written to be performed on stage and warm up the crowd).
The Wild Rover (Eric The Reed, 2003) is a classic song in my ears and has been covered by some bands over the years. It’s a nice sing a long song and is surely the must play on stage track!
Ormurin Langi a (How Far to Asgaard, 2002) goes back to the folk sound with melodic vocals (almost a capella).
Sinklars Visa (Land, 2008) starts a capella and gets swiftly followed by the guitars and drums.
Ragnarok (Ragnarok, 2006) is a nice track that reminds me a bit of Blind Guardian. It’s clear why this track is so popular: it has the power, the right tempo, excellent guitar play, great vocals and a hard hitting drummer!
Shadow of the Swastika (The Lay of Thrym, 2011) needs as track title a disclaimer: The band has been accused of promoting Nazi ideologies through their use of runes and other imagery appropriated by Nazis. The band responded to these accusations with the song "Shadow of the Swastika" on the album Lay of Thrym (2011), which in the assessment of Karl Spracklen, "attacks the far-right for appropriating...heathen symbols and images associated with pre-Christian northern Europe". Even so, scholars have, in the words of Catherine Hoad and Samuel Whiting, suggested that "through imagining the Viking as an ancestral, genetic category, the 'common past' of the Nordic people is constructed as a self-identity apart from other people" in the work of Týr. Likewise, Spracklen finds that "the themes in Týr's songs celebrate pagan identity, Viking identity and the hegemonic masculinity of the Viking warrior combined with the modern-day heavy metal anthem of being an individual". Next to the disclaimer I can tell it’s an excellent track and off course, now that you know: the song is all about the message!
Evening Star (The Lay of Thrym, 2011) can be classified as a power ballad: it’s sweet and nice with a tempo that goes up and down without heating up too much.
They close the best of with: Flames of the Free (The Lay of Thrym, 2011). This song sound snice, has a good tempo. It’s not the most catchy song, but it has the potential for it (in the more modern sound you’ll hear what I mean).
Well I’m happy I caught up and as I’m always honest: I prefer the newer sound. I now also hear how much bands could have been influenced by them. But hey this is not my specialisation (it’s the backside of having a wide taste). It will also be a nice thing for the newer fans to discover a bit more their past!
