Tyr is one of those bands that be classified as Viking metal in its
truest form. Hailing from the Faroe Islands, they released one of the
better albums in recent memory in Eric the Red. So what does a band do as
a follow up? Release another great album, which Tyr does with their
latest release Ragnarok.
Do not make comparisons between Tyr and other Viking metal bands
because Tyr does not rely on black metal vocals or harsh riffs. Rather, they
combine elements of Norwegian and Faroese folk music with traditional
heavy metal to tell the story contained within the 16-track album.
According to Norse Mythology, Ragnarok is the battle at the end of the
world between the Norse Gods. The tracks are actually divided into
sections, with most of them having an instrumental introduction. On the
actual songs, the listener can feel a sense of being in the middle of a
viking camp as the warriors prepare for the day. What sets Ragnarok apart
from Eric the Red is that instead of focusing on one man's journey,
Ragnarok's concept is based on the idea that even though the fates of the
Gods are known in advance, they choose to fight until the end. Tyr's
music reflects that ideal without dumbing down the sound in order to
gain new fans. The music and the concept go hand in hand, which helps to
authenticate the experience even more. One thing to note is that the
opening and closing tracks sound about the same, which also reflects the
rebirth experienced after Ragnarok takes place. Those who follow Norse
mythology will not find too many mistakes in either the music or the
concepts presented on the album.
Unlike bands such as Enslaved and Amon Amarth, Tyr does not rely much
on elements of black metal to enhance their sound. That should not mean
that they are any less talented, as they manage to effectively combine
traditional Norwegian folk music and metal. For many, the expectations
for Tyr may have been high after Eric the Red. After listening to
Ragnarok, I would say those expectations have been met, if not exceeded.
