Tyr - Ragnarok

Tyr hail from the Faeroes, an obscure chain of islands in the North Atlantic known mostly for sheep. After a few years of playing the islands and occasionally Denmark and other parts of Western Europe, Tyr signed a worldwide record deal with Napalm Records, who earlier this year re-released Tyr’s second album Eric the Red. Ragnarok is the band’s third album and may be their breakthrough, as it improves both their musicianship and songwriting while continuing their unique sound that was already in evidence on earlier releases.

I may have underrated Eric the Red when I originally reviewed it, possibly because it’s lilting, upbeat tone was different from what I usually review. Ragnarok is similar, and on first listen, didn’t leave a big impression. But this album has grown on me, until at this point, I’m blown away when listening to it. There are hints of other folk-influenced metal bands, as well as Dream Theater and Iron Maiden. The ingredients of this band’s sound are not unique – power metal, progressive metal, folk metal, Viking metal – but the way Tyr put it together is entirely their own. The clean, uptempo but vaguely melancholic Tyr sound is presented in what seems to be a concept album. There are 16 tracks – eight full songs connected by instrumental interludes (and one pure Viking chant). They all flow together extremely well but stand out enough individually to keep the album song-focused. This is one of those instances where technical musicianship and memorable songwriting come together well enough to please the prog audience and the rest of the world.

I remember first reading Norse myths way back in grade school (and I read a few Mighty Thor comic books as well). I wouldn’t have thought that well into adulthood so much of my favorite music would be based on Vikings, but bands like Tyr seem to draw an endless well of inspiration from the sounds of a thousand years ago. This could be a surprising addition to my favorite albums of the year, and I recommend any fans of the several genres mentioned, especially folk, power and progressive metal give it a chance.