Tyr is going strong
Óli Gneisti | Reykjavik, Iceland | 12/14/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Eric the Red is the second album from Tyr.The album is a beautiful mix of heavy metal versions of traditional songs (Danish, Faroese and Irish) and the bands own compositions. The first song is The Edge which tells the story of a man's battle with his own conscience and his decision to take his own life to repent for his crimes. The Edge might be the best song of the album but there are so many great songs that it is hard to decide. Regin Smidur, Ramund hin Unge, Dreams and Alive are also tracks that could ensure Tyr a place among the best, a place which they deserve.Heavy metal hasn't seen a band like this for many a year and the album Eric the Red is worth every penny. Also check out How far to Asgaard by Tyr."
Buy it. It rocketh muchly!!
A Shieldmaid | 12/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I listen with great glee and pride to everything from the "Cantigas de Santa Maria" to the Sex Pistols--and 'Eric the Red' has been in my CD player since the first day I tore the cellophane off the jewel case the disk came in.
The structure and arrangement of the originals are disarming in their originality and beauty, without losing a drop of their power. The traditionals are performed and arranged with a skilled ear to wed what is best about traditional and crunchy contemporary musics. The lead guitar lines are performed with a skill and expertise not often heard in contemporary metal that enhances, rather than restrains, the wild energy with which they are performed. And the vocals are brilliant--snarly and growly and whiskey-voiced as Hel, but with astonshing range and clarity.
If you're looking for grandiose, ponderous, 3-power-chord, brain-dead metal fare, search elsewhere. But if you're up for riding breathless over auditory terrain where thunder walks and sharp cliffs sing as they fall away beneath your feet--with eloquent growling sea-wolves as your tour guides--buy this CD. Seriously.
"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1