Eric the Red - Dark Publications

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Similar Items:

•	Ragnarok
•	How Far to Asgaard
•	Land (CD/DVD)
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•	The Varangian Way

Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
The Faroe Islands' lone metal band, TYR have also produced the island's best-selling album, now finally available domestically. Few Viking metal bands can compare to TYR's classy style: stirring choruses, catchy melodies, lyrics sung in Faroese (a derivative of Old Norse) and triumphant guitar harmonies. Influenced by tradition and free of kitsch, TYR usher in a new era of sophistication!

Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Essential release for any metal collection March 26, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I can't say enough good things about this album. I think I listened to it at least once or twice every day for the first 4 months or so that I owned it. It still gets played at least once a week more than 8 months later. This is one of those CDs that you feel like purchasing multiple copies of, just in case one is damaged somewhere down the road. With "Eric the Red," Tyr has crafted an album that will appeal not only to fans of viking and folk metal, but to metal in general. Listeners who may be turned off by the harsh vocals found in many metal bands these days can rest assured that there's nary a scream or growl to be heard on this release. What you get are ten outstanding tracks ranging from an excellent and very fun rendition of the traditional folk song "The Wild Rover," to the absolutely stunning "The Edge"--my vote for one of the best metal songs EVER. I love the way the band has incorporated both English and Faeroese lyrics into this song and the absolutely seemless manner in which it is carried out. Other songs are sung almost entirely in English or the bands native Faeroese. Tyr has two other releases that I'm aware of ("Ragnarok" and "How Far To Aasgard") and while both are excellent, neither can hold a candle to "Eric the Red." A mandatory purchase for anyone interested in the viking/folk metal genres, and an essential one for anyone else who cares about metal music in general.

5 out of 5 stars

New Norse Gods? April 12, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

First I must say that Tyr's "Eric the Red" and Opeth's "Morningrise" are imo, the absolute 2 best Metal albums ever created. In this genre of Viking Metal, the only other band that tops Tyr is Enslaved. On this, their second album Tyr demonstrate brilliant songwriting and instrumental skill. They are making this genre incredible. There are so many metal bands out there, and I've listened to hundreds. But, Tyr are way ahead of every one of them. These kinds of albums come along maybe once every 10 yrs. Their latest "Ragnarok is also a great slab of Metal. You must check this band out, Pronto!!!!!!!!!!

4 out of 5 stars

Solid folk metal February 1, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I generally have mixed feelings about folk metal. On the one hand, I appreciate the melancholic and dark folk-tinged metal stylings of Primordial, Drudkh, or even Agalloch. I also like the more energetic folky metal of old Amorphis. But the boppy polka metal of Finntroll and others leaves me cold. Tyr, however, while being closer to Finntroll than Primordial, are not only listenable but enjoyable. First of all, it's fun that half their lyrics are in Faeroese. Second, I like that their song structures are a bit more complex than your standard folk metal band. And third, I like the sung vocald and solid musicianship. Sure, the CD gets a little same-y after a while, but it does contain some great songs (the first track especially is addictive) and is a worthwhile purchase for anybody into this subgenre of metal.

5 out of 5 stars

The All-Father Smiles Upon This Album! February 6, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I first discovered TYR upon watching the music video for 'Regin Smiur' (track 2) and I was instantly hooked. TYR is possibly the finest in Viking/folk metal out there, as they not only deliver excellent musicianship and beautiful melodies with crushing metal riffs, but they aren't below mixing jazz and classical elements into their music (examples: 'Eric the Red', intro to 'Rainbow Warrior').

TYR is a refreshing change from the tradition of European bands who sing exclusively in English - some of the songs are Faeroese, with one in Danish. Keeping in mind their heritage, TYR has updated some old folk songs ('Ramund Hin Unge', 'The Wild Rover', 'Styrisvolurin') and given them a progressive metal makeover, so to speak. If Dream Theater wore chainmail and drank mead, they would probably turn into TYR. 'Eric the Red' has a good measure of time signature changes, odd meters, and instrumental technicality, but nothing that detracts from its base in Viking lore. It's definitely a hard-hitting metal album, so prepare to be rocked!

'Eric the Red' is definitely a change from 'How Far to Asgaard' in that the songs on 'EtR' have a much faster pace, and the overall sound quality is greatly improved. There's no single outstanding track, as each one has parts that really stand out. This album is a must-buy for anyone who loves metal, Scandinavian lore, or just an album with a sense of adventure.

5 out of 5 stars

Tyr are the norse gods that decided to stay on earth and make music. October 21, 2008
This band...wow...just WOW! I only recently found them and having religiously played every album except the newest, "Land"(only because I haven't bought it yet ;p ) they are now amongst one of my favirote metal groups, which include the not-so-unformidable ranks of Opeth, Dream Theater, Dark Tranquillity, Into Eternity and many more.

When you think viking metal you would probably tend to think it more of a joke than a real, viable artform. Many great bands have helped create the genre including but not limited to Amon Amarth, Enslaved, Thyrfing, and so on. Folk metal such as Finntroll is much newer, but is also somewhat like viking metal, although admittedly less full of grog and merth.

Tyr are so hard to describe but I think the best description I've read is something like Progressive acts like Dream Theater meets viking metal akin to Enslaved. This music is technically brilliant and full of things both basic and vistuoso. Time signatures seem to mean nothign at times and, much to their credit, it doesn't hurt the catchiness of the music. The vocal melodies are pure magic. They are catchy, well performed, clear, and full of inventiveness when it comes to viking/folk metal. There are no growls done, which is a first, and the only vocalist I can think to use in comparison is Vintersorg. Vintersorg however is much more dissonant and less melodic than the vocalist of Tyr. Tyr's melodies are triumphant and make you feel the heroic nature of the vikings the music is about so often, but not in the typical way viking metal does it. All I can say is that you have to hear it to understand how unique it is. The lyrical content is also worthwhile and not as basic as the sword-and-axe formula used by bands like Amon Amarth.

The guitar riffs are easily some of the best I've heard in recent metal and certainly THE BEST in the viking metal genre. These guys cook and can write majestic tunes that are nordic in theme, but compltelly diverse in the way they progress, never using the same 5-6 chords or notes most viking metal stick to. It's VERY progressive in nature, which is why I love it so damn much. The leads really give you an idea of what this guy can do as well. He is nearly as understated as the drummer, but purposefully as to not drown out the course of the music. The drumming is perfectly done and he is quite skilled but, again, understated because he does is required for the song, not what will win him best drummers honors worldwide. It's easy to hear though that he knows what he is doing and does so with ease.

Eric the Red itself may just be their best album to date, but thats not saying much really since all four of their full lengths deserve high praise for ingenuity.

If your into prog, melodic death, folk metal, viking metal, or all of the above then just get this cd already and please pass the word on to a friend so we can get Tyr enough fans to get them to come stateside. Hail to the gods of nordic metal!

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