Every time I am provided material by a “Viking Metal” band, I can’t help but think of how hokey these sub-genres actually are. How does this vary from “Folk Metal”? What about “Pagan Metal”? “Celtic Metal”? The line is so blurred between a lot of these sub-genres that it further proves how dumb the need to put a label on something actually is. To boot, a lot of this doesn’t vary all that much from “Power Metal”!

This is the Austrian band’s 6th studio album. The musicianship on this album is outstanding, and is very much in line with what you’ve come to expect from any band that fits any of the sub-genres mentioned above. The album has everything you’d hope, anthemic choruses, battle inspired lyrics, polka like beats at times, plenty of double bass on other occasions, a plethora of arpeggios, some shredding, riffs any festival crowd will more than likely chant along to, etc.

Stand out tracks on the album include Flames of The Free, Shadow Of The Swastika, Take Your Tyrant, Fields Of Fallen and the closer/title track The Lay Of Thrym.

Although a lot bands have come out these past few years that offer this type of metal, Tyr is definitely ahead of the curb, and one of the only bands of this ilk that is worth more than a quick listen.

Rating: B

Other items covered include the writing and recording process of Over The Top, Talking Metal, Dave Meniketti, Robert Fleischman, Ace Frehley, Chad Bryan, Dimebag Darrell, Dusk, Earache Records, ECW, Iron Maiden, Jake E. Lee, Jason Becker, Jimmy Page, Jon Leon, Kerry King, Kill Em All, Killswitch Engage, Kirk Hammett, Korpiklani, Lamb Of God, Led Zepplin, Les Paul Studio, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marty Freidman, Metallica, Misfits, Motor City Pick Ups, Overloaded, Randy Rhodes, Regeneration, Slipknot, Steel Panther, Tyr, Viper Room, White Wizzard, Wyatt “Screamin Demon” Anderson, Yngwie Malsteen

Download MP3

Download From iTunes

The episode also features the following songs:

Quite Riot with Randy Rhodes – Look In Any Window

Pantera with Kerry King – God Damn Electric

Overloaded – President’s Day

White Wizzard – Megalondon

Badlands – The River

Behind my banter you will hear tracks from White Wizzard, Overloaded, Misfits, Slash’s Snake Pit

Other topics covered include:

Quiet Riot The Randy Rhodes Years, Dimebag Darrell, Kerry King, Rex, Vinnie Paul, Anthrax, Stomp 442, We’ve Come For You All, ECW, Slash’s Snake Pit, Jake E. Lee, Ray Gillen, Killswitch Engage, Lamb Of God, Randy Rhodes, Metallica, Kirk Hammett, Jimmy Page, Led Zepplin, Kill Em All, Regeneration, Iron Maiden, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malsteen, Jason Becker, Marty Freidman, Steel Panther, Motor City Pick Ups, Les Paul Studio, Tyr, Korpiklani, Wyatt “Screamin Demon” Anderson, Earache Records, Slipknot, Ace Frehley, Viper Room, Steel Panther, Dusk, Jon Leon, Chad Bryan, Slash