Review TYR ‘Battle Ballads’

There are different kinds of ballads. There are the soft and often cheesy love songs being a tearjerker for people. Besides that, ballads also have a history, and the term goes back to Middle Age with ballads often being a narrative set that is strengthened by music. The latter is the interpretation of ‘ballad’ when it comes to the newest release of Tyr.

The progressive folk metal band and especially their leader Heri Joensen was thrilled by the cooperation with the Symphony Orchestra of the Faroe Islands, resulting in a live album called ‘A Night at the Nordic House’. The influence of this collaboration is what impacts ‘Battle Ballads’ as the album come with a full-body sound and a full orchestration. It gives ‘Battle Ballads’ an extra push and a strong density which clearly shows a development step.

If anyone still has the idea of facing an album that is sweet and soft, it is the opener ‘Hammered’ that clearly states the opposite. The first song on the new album is an anthemic metal track that shines metallic, bright as the blade of the sword in the sunlight.

What can’t be missed on such an album are dragons and of course, they spit fire. ‘Dragons Never Die’ is the blistering title of an anthemic folk metal track which features all trademarks the genre has in its toolkit. Maybe it’s not the most innovative song but it entertains from start to finish in a terrific way.

A kind of different approach is what ‘Row’ represents. No doubt, melodies are an important element also when it comes to this song, but the vibe is darker. Some neo-classic influences are part of ‘Vælkomnir Føtyingar’ which finds a continuation on ‘Hangman’ while the melancholic and epic ‘Torkils Døtur’ reflects the Nordic roots of Tyr. The song is a touching ode to loss and with gains extra intensity by the baritone vocals. With gaining power throughout the song is a versatile highlight in the album.

Tyr don’t stand still and move on with ‘Battle Ballads’. The songs on their newest release are reflecting the Viking and folk roots as well as the band adding new twists to their sound. The result is an album that blossoms right away and features an entertaining factor that lasts for much longer than just one single spin on your record player.