Artist: Amon Amarth Title: “Wrath Of The Norsemen” Label: Metal Blade Records Release Date: 5/30/2006 Genre: Viking Metal/Death Metal Rating: 8.5/10
There are many bands who claim to be Vikings and there are also many who hold the spirit of their ancestors high but I have to admit that none pull this off as effectively as Amon Amarth. The group has been part of the Metal Blade Records family for 10 years and this DVD package is the perfect celebration of this relationship. It is the kind of DVD that is not only perfect for existing fans but the type that manages to win over a novice or unaware fan. I can say this with truth in my heart as I was one of the unaware. Amon Amarth had recently been on tour with Children Of Bodom and in the states the fans got to see them support their release of “Fate Of Norns” which is a sword-worthy epic of Metal. While the group were only able to do a little more than a handful of songs you could tell by their presence and their crowd approval that there was much more to this group than most openers had to them. This DVD gives you 7.5 hours of concert footage to absorb and it should be more than enough to help you feel the same way. The three DVD’s are not only lengthy but also loaded with 5 full concert appearances of the group from over the past few years. DVD1 is the longest of the concert features and was filmed in Cologne in 2005. This show itself runs 22 songs and has a behind the scenes “making of” featurette to enjoy as well. I admit liking the whole package but this DVD won me over as the best of the lot and worth the admission price so to speak. The band sounds tight and energetic and very, very heavy; they also prove their Viking status by having a full battle during one of the songs with swords and shields a plenty. Given the dramatic lighting used through the show I am surprised they were able to pull this off so effectively and not find themselves hurt. Continue reading “Wrath Of The Norsemen” by Amon Amarth→
Artist: Various Artists Title: “The Realm Of Napalm Records” Label: Napalm Records Release Date: 10/24/2006 Genre: Gothic, Folk, Viking Metal Rating: 5/5
If you are a fan of Gothic, Viking, Folk or Atmospheric Metal in general and you don’t know about Napalm Records then you are truly missing out. The label has been putting bands like this on the map for the past couple of years and it seems as though everything I hear from their artist roster is an enjoyable display of the wondrous differences one can have happen in Metal music. This DVD/CD release is a cornucopia of those acts and you as the viewer get video films as well as live performance footage of what they offer you. It’s as much a fun thing to watch as it is a learning experience about bands that you would not have readily available to you in most areas or unless you knew exactly where to look for it. On the DVD you get 19 promotional videos and of the lot, I most enjoyed Leaves’ Eyes, Korpiklaani and Tyr. Leaves’ Eyes is one of the label’s main artists so they also get an enjoyable special feature elsewhere on the DVD where you find them in studio and take a Winters Walk with singer Liv Kristine. It makes this something that a Leaves’ Eyes fan will enjoy very much since there is a batch of extra footage on the band that they might not find anywhere else. Tyr is an interesting group from the Faroe Islands while Korpiklaani shows the world that even a flute or accordion player can find their way into a Metal group as they deliver some of the most rousing Folk Metal you will hear in a long time. If you enjoy Finntroll, then you will also appreciate Korpiklaani. Continue reading “The Realm Of Napalm Records” by Various Artists→
Artist: Tyr Title: “Eric The Red” Label: Napalm Records Release Date: 4/25/2006 Genre: Viking Metal/Melodic Rating: 8/10
“Eric The Red” by Tyr was originally released in 2003, and surprisingly enough the world at large would be unaware of what this band offered until Napalm Records signed them and re-issued the album. It’s a treat for Metal fans that lean a little more toward the Folk Metal sound but this band in particular is labeled as being “Viking Metal”. Yes, another musical genre has surfaced on us but it is truly in accordance to what you will hear on the release. The band hails from the Faroe Islands located outside of Norway and as a result the music shows a strong ethnic influence. As a matter of fact a good part of the album is sung in their native Faroese. Like most people I was new to the sounds that Tyr offered but I have to say that I really enjoyed the album more than I did not. There is a great level of musicianship displayed across the release and the songs are primarily foot stomping, fist raising rockers. Those who are enjoying the offerings of bands like Korpiklaani and Falkenbach will best be served by paying a little more attention to Tyr. These bands are also Napalm Records artists. Since Tyr is a Viking Metal band they are best enjoyed with horns filled to the top with ale or perhaps a highly raised sword. There is a lot of cool riffs here which make the records very interesting from statrt to finish. However there is a sad aspect in being a band like this especially if you become a fan and are located in the US. There is such a limited ability to tour on ones own and a band like Tyr needs to get on a solid bill with established heavies. Maybe Arch Enemy or perhaps Hypocrisy can do something; each one is interesting in their own right and would prove for a great and dynamic show. It’s either that or be brought over with a couple of similar bands and tour as some sort of package deal. You readers can probably make something like this happen if you send enough emails to the proper record company tour press folks or websites. Continue reading “Eric The Red” by Tyr→
