Have you ever seen a dog walking down the street or sidewalk… sideways? Their general bearing is in a straight line, but their bodies are sort of sideways. It’s always funny to see. They seem both whimsical and confused. Keep this visual in mind as we go forward.
I’ve been a big fan of Tyr since first hearing 2009’s By the Light of the Northern Star, their fifth of nine studio albums. That album marked a sea-change in how the band structured their songs and albums. They have always embraced their Faroe Islands’ traditional music and have tried to incorporate interesting time signatures and song structure into their very unique form of Viking/pagan/power/ metal. Band founder, vocalist and guitarist Heri Joensen makes a point of saying Tyr transcends or “breaks down the walls” between the different genres. It shows in their music.
That approach gives them a sound I simply have never been able to pin down. I’m not a musician so I’m not equipped to describe what they’re doing: they’re not really progressive, so I’d think of phrases like “structured discord,” but even that doesn’t work. I’ve always imagined their metal coming at me sort of… sideways. And that’s when I think of those dogs.
I could never get traction with their first four albums because I think they were trying too hard to have a distinct Faroese sound. The result for me, outside of a few standout songs, was that their metal wasn’t coming at me sideways, rather it wasn’t coming my way at all. The dog was walking backwards.
Battle Ballads is an album that finds a band in the full bloom of their talent and sound. For 15 years now they’ve embraced their signature: jaunty power metal anthems, mid-tempo bangers, and Viking language ballads that all tell tales of warriors, glory, gods, legends and myths.
Hammered pulls the listener in immediately. Joensen and Hans Hammer start off with beautifully melodic guitar work while drummer Tadeusz Rieckmann double basses you into a frenzy. The melodic songwriting coupled with the riffs and pounding are masterful.
Unwandered is classic jaunty Tyr. You definitely feel like you’re on a boat, but dancing on the boat. Tyr have this ability to put into the mind’s eye a scene based on how the song is written, completely apart from the lyrics. Wonderful skill! This is a fast-paced energetic tune that makes you feel like journeying somewhere.
The fast-paced melodic sense of ancient places and things continues with Dragons Never Die. Joensen has a very distinct voice and he uses it very well to catch you with his vocal hooks.
Row has to be one of the top-5 Tyr songs of all time. It perfectly encapsulates everything great about the band: Their mastery of heavy metal, their ability to create emotion with songwriting, melody and plaintive, emotive vocals, and how they paint a picture in your mind of what’s going on. I keep coming back to the word jaunty, and that’s what this song is; it’s a jaunty heavy metal sea shanty.
Torkils Dotur is an actual ballad. This slows things down quite a bit. I suppose that’s okay. I don’t typically like to slow down, but then again slowing down makes the other songs stand out more when things pick up. They are singing in their native tongue. It’s a pretty enough ballad, but not their best. I do appreciate their loyalty to their native land and traditions.
Vaelkomnir Foroyingar – Now we’re playing metal again. It’s a very good, typical Tyr tune, but once again we’re singing in a traditional language. I don’t mind a band throwing in a native-tongue song here and there, but when selling to a broad, global audience I’m of the opinion that a band should stick to the lingua franca as much as possible, casting the widest net. We are rewarded with some beautiful guitar solos and Joensen’s quasi-gravelly vocals work well in his native tongue.
Hangman is an example of Tyr coming at us sideways. They change time, tempo and structure in such a masterful way that it doesn’t come across at progressive and annoying (to those of us who balk at progressive music!) at all. The jaunty elements are back. You feel like moving as they are galloping along.
Oh! Oh, this is my style. This is the Tyr I well and truly love. Speed, crazy good guitar work, melody and hooks. Axes tells the story of a battle, what else? The song is so good and catchy that you imagine yourself running into battle. In reality we would all be soiling ourselves. Unless, of course, the mighty Tyr were leading us into the fray. Blood and brains!
Battle Ballad is another example of Tyr’s unique approach. This one might not be coming at you sideways… maybe diagonal. It’s nothing earth-shaking, but typically good power metal with a Tyr twist.
Causa Latronum Normannorum – I would have sworn Joensen said something about Smeagol at some point! I don’t know, because we’re finishing up with a final Faroese language tune. It’s a good enough tune. There is enough good guitar work and double bass to keep us all happy and the songwriting is beautiful.
It just occurred to me: I believe this is the first review where I never referenced another band as a comparison or an influence. That’s a testament to Tyr: They have certainly carved a special place in our beloved Metal Realm. Battle Ballads continue their 15-year run of excellent and unique metal. I need more time with Battle Ballads to see where it sits among the Tyr pantheon. The album starts out especially good with the first four songs, and then meanders a bit, but I still can recommend it heartily to all fans of the band and genre.
Scott’s Score – 8.5/10
TÝR:
Heri Joensen – vocal, guitar
Hans Hammer – guitar
Gunnar Helmer “Gunz” Thomsen – bass
Tadeusz “Tad” Rieckmann – drums
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