Ragnarok [Limited Edition, Import]

Tyr are viking metal but with more of a progressive stance than many of their peers,there is little in the way of folk laden influences here,what you get is a more metal driven album with nordic legend and mythology and this album is a story in itself with a progression of battle and nationality peering through.
Of the 16 tracks on show here,seven of them are instrumentals and with the exception of album opener they are all short and dont give the album a real edge but chart the development and mood of the battle one would imagine,that then leaves nine tracks of heart stomping metal with drive and passion.
The band are from the faroe islands and the songs are sung in english and faroese,vocalist and guitarist heri sings with a clean vocal style but has a haunting and commanding tone,the songs are mid tempo in style and are extreemely catchy,the band develop their songs and have plenty of ideas and acres of melody,the band like to harmonise at times giving an almost choir like sound but thats only due to the fact that the rest of the band are clearly very good singers as well,the album is littered with cracking,uplifting tracks that will stay in your memory for a long time,a job more than well done.

This album is the best Týr album so far. The sound is great and the songs even better. I think this album is heavier, more powerfull and more progressive than on the other albums. For guitar-people this album has great guitar solo's and has some exelent tight ass heavy riffing. This album is a must-have for viking metal fans, or just metal fans

First off, the album cover is breathtaking, and immediatley draws you to the cd, being a viking and nordic maniac, i jumped at it. i hada always wondered what tyr were like, and boy am i glad i went out and bought this CD!.

on first listen to this cd, a few songs stood out as being quite good indeed, but in truth nothing really came out and jumped at me. But as the proud owner of near 400 metal cds, i know that sometimes bands have a sound where its not so instantly recognisable, they dont immediatley come accross as one of those catchy new wave viking power bands.

Admittedly those bands might sound better on the first listen but after that you realise that they are nothing more than souless songs with lyrics without much meaning, and good music added to it, but with little thought for originality or qulality.

Tyr is SO much more, after the first listen you begin to notice many new things, and you become accustomed to their very unique progressive epic edge. the music has so many layers, so much emotion and feeling. They havent sat back and tried to make some easily edible power metal album (cough, hammerfall anyone?), but instead they have forged an atmospheric, original, musically fantastic work here. The songs make you think, they make you envisige what they are about, they have so many little added instruments here and there, and the musicianship is so tight.

The melodies are so haunting and beautiful in their execution, the singers voice is unique and pure, his words pronounced and spoken with true conviction and belief. needless to say, after this CD i am a fan, BIG time.

you must give this CD a few listens, but "Tyr-Ragnarok" is a masterpiece, which combines viking lyrics, folk elements, prog metal, kick ass metal and a unique voice with haunting and beautiful melodies. this is just breathtaking, i reccomend it to any viking metal fan whos a little tired of the easily accessible types, like amon amarth (who are still fantastic, dont get me wrong). or any fan of early nightwish or symphony x, also fans of music like falconer, but as long as you are ready for a unique oceanborn progressivy folky sound.

They use many melodies from their native faroese culture, which i find beautiful, and so unique. They then combine it with irish influences (see the bonus track "valkyries flight", which i am addicted to. being irish myself i have come to appreciate it so much. this is no naive standard folk metal here, this is educated, perfectly orchestrated, and very well thought out masterwork, as unique as it is beautiful.

From the opening track you know whats coming, the song entitled "the beginning" is one of the best on the CD, a beautiful charging instrumental switches moods as often as it does surprise you with its fills. this track is a keeper. The acoustic intro is fantastic. Its one of the few tracks that you will instantly like. its still one of my favourites. when the double kicks and solo kick in, you know its gonna be an awesome cd.

"the hammer of thor" is somewhat strange, and at first listen you might not like it so much, the singers voice will take some getting used to. but with listens it grows on you to the point where its among the best. The melodies and hooks are very strange, and not what youd expect.

"envy" is a relatively short acoustic piece, its some sort of a prequel to brother's bane, which i will come to in a minute. Its very tranquil, yet it makes you think, whats next?.... this cd does that better than any ive listened to in a long time.

"Brother's bane" is a classic, this is among my favourite tracks on the cd, the verse sways with a majesty... the musicianship is tight, the time changes are frequent and thoughtful. The chorus, to me, is one of the most chilling and sad but yet fantastic choruses of 2006. i love it... i cant describe, it evokes a visual, this track is simply masterful.

"the burning" starts with more insightful acoustic guitar, which after listening to this CD, i have come to expect and appreciate from Tyr. The song has some nice time changes and a soaring lead part which fits it very well. once again no singing, but the track has a very nice flow to it.

"the ride to hel" is a very progressive track, very cool intro, some nice heavy guitars here. His voice suits the song very much. once again soaring choruses are essential to tyr, and damn do they pull it off well.

Theres some great time changes here, i liked this track immediatley, very good track.

"Torsteins Kvaedi".... now, if you like pagan/viking folk metal, and cultured folk singing in general, you will fall in love with this track quicker than an emo to a fringe haircut. The vocals here are superb, no other way to describe them. the harmonies!, OOOH the harmonies. The song is heavily based on faroese traditional singing, with native lyrics. i love the flow of this song, it starts off quiet and thoughtful, then lumbers over you, pounding, then it evens out and you come to the realisation that its nothing short of fantastic. fans of turisas gang vocals will love this. the drums are basic, but effective. This song may well be my favourite, its sublime. the more i listen to it, the more it haunts me, the more i appreciate it.

"Grimur a Midalnesi" is a short atmospheric interlude, which has ambience of a mead drinking tavern where a few men would stamp their feet and sing old songs together, cool track, albeit short.

"Wings of Time" is a really awesome track, from the first note you know its awesome. The first vocals take the same line as the gang vocals in the previous interlude. The harmony is strong, and i am in love with the little acoustic breaks. the song then builds up slowly again, not showing itself to you fully. Then it builds up and the powerful vocals beckon with steady atmospheric drums. certainly one for the viking folk metal fans. the chorus rocks. and theres killer solos. without doubt one of the best songs here.

"the rage of the skullgaffer" is a malmsteen-esque dual soloing track with the two guitar players showing off their technical flair, they play fantastically together, harmonising and playing different lines and timeings. for a guitar player this is a feast, for a casual listener its nothing but w*nkery!..... great work though, but certainly one of the overall weaker tracks.

"the Hunt" starts with a kick ass riff, and you can help but say to yourself... here we go!, and headbang accordingly!. after this the song takes on a very unique feel, with very nightwish-oceanborn like timechanges. The pre chorus is awesome, and the chorus itself is laden with double kick, and is catchy yet powerful. Very solid track, with a slightly rhapsody like breakdown after the chorus, followed by more guitar w*ankery! hehe. solid track, some haunting melodies to boot.

"Victory" starts off with some atmospheric sound effects of horses galloping, followed by a cool little folky melody, which leads directly into the next track... not a song, simply an interlude.

"lord of lies" has a very finntroll riff at the start, very folky, very upbeat yet menacing. The verse here is among the best on the disc, i love the harmonic singing. More oceanborn time changes, and there pops the folky riff again!. if this song had a powerful chorus like some of the others on display here, it would be the best song... maybe. But the lack of a great chorus takes away from it. dont get me wrong, its a cool track, and very cool time changes.

"Gjallarhornid" is another ambient interlude, it keeps the album moving, while not providing anything worth of mention, it suits well.

"Ragnarok" starts with a chilling acoustic intro, and some fantastic singing, and harmonising here.... it sets the pace quite well, as the rest of the track unfolds to be probably the strongest on the disc, the vocal lines are sublime, everything seems to fit. When the heavy segment starts, it has a cool build up, followed by some awesome war drums, and soaring guitar solo that would make satriani smile. The song then continues, keeping the same melody, and by this point you will be saying to yourself, "what a bloody fantastic CD!", if you like this style of course. The harmonies and gang vocals are awesome. More soaring leads follow and conclude a simply great song. Some great drumming here, with such great little triplet touches.

"the end" is a thoughtful and beautiful acoustic album closer, its sad message is clear, but it serves as a great closer.

"Valkyries flight" is the first of the bonus tracks, and im glad to say that unlike 90% of bonus tracks on cds nowadays, these are actually good!. this song is very special to me, as i am irish the irish melodies touch me, and the song is rocking as hell!!... i love the soloing, and everything makes this a highly enjoyable instrumental track.

"Valhalla" has a very odd into, and very early nightwish-esque time changes, and the chorus is soaring and majestic, i love the harmonsing here... really cool. very good song with KILLER folk/celtic solos, some of the best on the whole cd, and i cant believe its a bonus track, it should be in the main CD, and a cool cd closer.

overall this cd is simply wonderful, but you will need at least 3 listens to fully appreciate it, im on my 15th listen, and it only gets better.

The album has its progressive moments, much like nightwish progressive, and hot horrible dream theater progressive. i myself am not a progressive fan, but this amount i can tolerate, especially with the folk elements and the norse style vocal harmonies.

personally i love this CD.

highly recommended, but not for the newbish average metal fan, it would probably be too much to comprehend!.

9.7/10... Read more ›