Týr

[Xir0n]

Who has heard this band? I think they're fucking amazing. I really love their cover of The Wild Rover. I sang that song many years back as a wee choir boy.

http://www.myspace.com/tyr1

They're playing at Paganfest 2008 soon. I can't wait.

[CFH]

Paganfest 2008 :rolleyes :D

Who thought of this ingenious name for a festival?

I hope that the bands who are playing won't look or sound as retarded as I have a feeling they will.

[Xir0n]

Look as retarded as you think, yes... Sound retarded, hardly! Ensiferum is actually probably the heaviest band I've ever heard. Their CD Iron is simply astonishing. If you ever get the chance listen to the song Slayer of Light (www.myspace.com/ensiferum) and I doubt you'll be disappointed. Tyr is a very unique band as well and one of the few bands out there that put 7-string guitars to good use. Turisas is kind of a meh band, but I love the song Sahti-Waari (http://www.myspace.com/turisasgreece). I don't remember the other band's name, but they were also kind of meh. They call themselves the "new wave of folk metal" so... bleh...

But it should be a good show, great tunes and people in funny outfits and lots of fun dancing! I swear, it's a lot more fun than you'd think.

[CFH]

Regarding the songs on Tyr's Myspace page, "The Hunt" shows that they can play and write songs well enough, but it could have been so much heavier, and "Hail to the Hammer" seems to drag on forever. "Regin Smiur" also drags, and once again is not nearly heavy enough. What's really disappointing about that song is that some good groove riffs come into play, but because they're either used for too long or not balanced out by more complex riffs, they become stale rather quickly. Then, "Wings of Time" begins in a promising fashion with a riff that's almost heavy enough, but unfortunately it's tossed aside rather quickly, and the song proceeds to drag from there. In closing, Tyr shows a lot of promise in terms of musicianship, and even songwriting occasionally, but they fail miserably at coming up with songs that are thoroughly interesting because they play the same tired patterns over and over, and have one of those dreaded sounds that's somewhat intense, but nearly intense enough.

With that said, I'm sure you understand by now that a million and one factors need to line up in order for a band, or even a song, to be great. In Tyr's case, those factors don't come anywhere close to lining up.


As for Ensiferum, their sound is quite heavy, the guitar playing and drumming is rather intricate and the guitarist(s) play cool melodies alongside the riffs every now and then. However, because there's next to no variation in the riffing, no crazy/complex riffs to offset the riffing that comes across as rather basic as it goes on, no real lead playing or no truly attention grabbing melodies, the song ends up not standing out the way it should have. Also, the vocals sound like a pale imitation of Shagrath and/or Alexi Laiho.

[Xir0n]

Ironically, Slayer of Light is the only song on that CD that is even remotely like that. Heh. The rest of the songs are mainly about catchy melodies. Iron and [url=http://www.myspace.com/ensiferumupload]Into Battle (http://www.myspace.com/officialensiferum) are my two favorite songs off of that CD.

And as for the vocals, I do agree with you, but then again, who listens to black metal for the vocals?

[CFH]

"Into Battle" contains some riffing variation, but only in terms of tempo. The guitarist(s) really need to learn how to write some riffs that go somewhere.

[CFH]

"Into Battle" contains some riffing variation, but only in terms of tempo. The guitarist(s) really need to learn how to write some riffs that go somewhere.

And this is coming from someone with a quote from "Sleepwalker" in his sig and a name based on Pantera? Seriously?

So my opinion is invalid because I like a song that's full of grooving, thrashing, intricate riffs and solos, and a band that put out four of the best metal albums of the 90's?

[CFH]

So my opinion is invalid because I like a song that's full of grooving, thrashing, intricate riffs and solos, and a band that put out four of the best metal albums of the 90's?

Actually, Megadeth put out 3 of those albums in the 80's.

Yes they did, and they're actually my three favorite albums of all-time. Good call.