Napalm Records

Profession of the Christian Faith or Decapitation. This was the choice given by Sigmundur to his Faroese Viking compatriot Trondur i Gotu. And so it was that in 999 A.D., the Christianization of the small, scenic, yet striking Feroyaland began, slowly but surely, casting a veil of oblivion over the ancient Scandinavian gods and only leaving the relics of forgotten hedinistic dogma buried deep within the Christian ritual. Or so it was believed…

Exactly 999 years later, a small group fondly remembering the archaic gods and rites came together to form the only Faroese Folk Metal band, TýR.

A thousand years ago, our people believed in gods such as Torur, Odin, and Loki, explains band mastermind Heri Joensen. Another was named Týr.
The one-armed God of War - the bravest of all - became the eponym of the nordic quartet. Yet Joensen is no war monger in disguise and points out that Týr (also known as the God of Justice) is also revered for first seeking the avenues of diplomacy- an attribute that does not take away from this God Of Wars drive.

The bands musical direction followed an unrelenting campaign of tempestuous perseverance. After six years of innumerable gigs (Iceland, Denmark, Russia, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Finland, Russia, Germany, and of course, the Faroe Islands) and several domestic television apperances, Eric the Red became the island’s best-selling album, coming to the attention of Napalm Records, the Austrian label that finally made the album available worldwide.

Eric the Red followed the style dictated by the old religion. Almost every song is based on Faroese or Nordic lore, and is revetted in the garb of the Folk Metal genre. Its approach unmistakably creates a very true Viking Metal. Tracks with such sonorous and powerful titles as Regin Smidur (Regin, the Blacksmith), Styrisvolurin (The Tiller), or Olavur Riddararos (Olaf, Knight of the Rose), all reminiscent of other disparate, yet genre specific, bands like Otyg, Glittertind, Ensiferum, Moonsorrow, old Vintersorg, and last but not least Solstices doom/folk cult album New Dark Age, are catchy reminders of the good ol days of the Viking era.

In 2006, TYR once again entered the Studio with engineer Jacob Hansen to record their new album. Ragnarok was also mixed by Jacob Hansen, produced by TYR, mastered by Lehnert Kjeldsen at Mastertouch in Copenhagen, and features the band stronger than ever before. Hymns of nordic Folk and pounding Metal summon the ghosts of TYR’s ancestors. Scandinavian mythology, Viking warriors, and heroic battles become the lyrical backdrop that accompany powerful Viking choruses, traditional melodies, and timeless Heavy Metal. TYR have refined their trademark sound in their latest work, Ragnarok. Technically brilliant and 100 percent authentic, Ragnarok emerges as a masterpiece within the true Viking Metal genre!

Festival appearances throughout Europe and continued touring followed untill TYR enjoyed their biggest live triumph ever at the very over-crowded Wet Stage in Wacken.

In 2008, Tyr returns to deliver Land. Traditional Faroese lyrics mark tracks such as Gatu Rima, Fipan Fagra and Lokka Tattur, and Gandkvaedii Trondar, which is a poem by J.H.O. Djurhuus about the Faroese chieftain Trondur, who fought against the dying of the old beliefs and for the independence of the Faroes. Sinklars Vísa is a Norwegian traditional song based on the true story of Scottish mercenaries killed when trying to disturbe the peace in Norway.

While most lyrics contain traditional stories about the Norse pantheon and the Viking age, some topics are more earthbound: Ocean explores the reasons why Scandinavians sailed westwards to the Faroes, a question that to this day remains unanswered by historians and archeologists alike. And Valkyrjan tackles the unheroic side of war, reflecting on the feelings of futility men face on the battlefield.

Musically Land guards the essence of that most sacred to TYR: Heroic Viking Metal, highly influenced by Scandinavian traditionals and combined with contemporary Metal. Joensens unique songwriting style and the band’s impressive musical skills create an experience that reaches new heights with every listen.

Land hits the streets on 30 May and will be available as regular jewel case edition and a limited edition deluxe digipack including a bonus DVD of the very memorable gig at Wacken Open Air.

Line-up:
Heri Joensen - Vocals, Guitars
Terji Skibnaes - Guitars
Gunnar H. Thomsen - Bass
Kari Streymoy - Drums