BAND – TÝR
ALBUM – HEL
LABEL – METAL BLADE RECORDS
RELEASE DATE – 3/8/19
BAND MEMBERS –
Heri Joensen – vocals & guitar
Attila Vörös – guitar
Gunnar “Gunz” H. Thomsen – bass
Tadeusz Rieckmann – drums
WEB SITE – OFFICIAL TYR WEB SITE
FACEBOOK – OFFICIAL TYR FACEBOOK PAGE
REVIEWED BY – JOHN ERIGO

First of all, shout out to METAL BLADE RECORDS for getting us this album in advance, thanks! This is my introduction to “Folk Metal” as TÝR find a way to mix traditional metal music, with folklore – tales of Vikings, and Mythology. The band hails from the Faroe Islands, one of the Nordic Countries. HEL is their 8th studio album. After giving their album a few spins I find it interesting that their influences have given them the ability to craft a unique style and sound and that’s a rare thing these days. There are even a few songs that do not have English lyrics, but it all works!

There is solid musician ship throughout the album, and like I said a unique sound. You can tell TÝR has been around for a while, and they have mastered their craft well. There are a few songs where the lyrics almost sound like chants, like the song “Ragnars Kvæði”. The vocals are sort of chanted over what sounds like war drums, creating a Viking vibe. Some quick research shows RANGAR was a Viking leader/legend, and the second word means “poem”, so obviously the non English lyrics are about this Warrior figure. So that war drum and chant is spot on! Who said metalheads can’t be educated?! LOL!

You don’t have to be a Viking to enjoy this album! LOL! There are plenty of traditional metal elements to keep your ears at attention, and even though there are a few songs where the lyrics are not in English, it doesn’t matter. Music is music, and metal is METAL! Enjoy this album by some metal veterans and crank it the fuck up!!!!! here’s the track listing for the album —

01. Gates Of Hel
02. All Heroes Fall
03. Ragnars Kvæði
04. Garmr
05. Sunset Shore
06. Downhill Drunk
07. Empire Of The North
08. Far From The Worries Of The World
09. King Of Time
10. Fire And Flame
11. Against The Gods
12. Songs Of War
13. Alvur Kongur

I’ll leave you with one more song/video —- you can really hear the mixes of the old Viking music styles weaved into the metal patterns that make this band unique –