2009’s By the Light of the Northern Star was a huge transition for Týr, the only band I know of from the Faroe Islands. No more slow, plodding, progressive folk metal. The band became a bit more aggressive, a bit faster… a bit more in keeping with the folk metal standard. It was still distinctly and undeniably Tyr; I can only fairly describe it as a change for the worse if I preface that it’s still better than most else out there. But for better or worse, it was something more like “heavy folk metal” than “progressive folk metal.” To sum up The Lay of Thrym in a nutshell, it takes the band’s new approach and improves on it.

In which case, you might say it’s pretty damn good. The opening track, Flames of the Free is just deliciously catchy, and, unlike Hold the Heathen Hammer High, it’s not so redundant that a dozen plays will demote it from enjoyable to obnoxious. Such a track does exist, unfortunately, in the form of Take Your Tyrant, but it is conveniently further in and thus easily skipped when it begins to wear on you. It is also followed by my favorite song on the album, Evening Star:

Which is a kind of unlikely contender. I mean, if you read these articles you have an idea of what I listen to by now. I’m not exactly into rock ballads. Tyr have always been their best at slower tempos though, in my opinion, and here they pulled off something completely captivating. I think it might be the most beautiful song they’ve written, and it is well placed to ease off of Take Your Tyrant.

The next track I want to highlight is the album’s second: Shadow of the Swastika. For a band as popular as Tyr (at least by folk metal standards), it’s a really ballsy inclusion. The song is a reaction to ignorant accusations that Tyr are racist for their Norse-centric lyrics and imagery. (The band’s logo includes an ancient runic symbol at one time employed by the Nazi party.) It simultaneously denounces anyone who thinks the modern generation should feel guilty about crimes committed 70 years ago and anyone who attempts to justify those crimes.

That might seem like common sense, but it’s something difficult to state. The critics who labeled Tyr racist in the first place are likely to interpret this song as saying “It’s time to get over the Holocaust” and have a field day, but obviously that’s not what Tyr are getting at, and I think they did an excellent job of making their case to anyone willing to hear it. The song is significant because they make no apologies. They aren’t saying “Please try to see that we aren’t racist,” they’re saying it should be obvious that they aren’t racist, and if you thought otherwise fuck off. Maybe some people will find it immature–will think that such accusations don’t deserve a response in the first place. But having made the choice to tackle a touchy subject, Tyr did it right.

You who think the hue of your hide means you are to blame, and your father’s misdeeds are his son’s to carry in shame: Not mine, I’ll take no part. You can shove the sins of the your father where no light may pass, and kiss my Scandinavian ass.

Pages of the past, how long will they last? A lie lost in the legacy of fools left us this parody unsurpassed. Pages of the past, how long will they last? The shadow of the Swastika by fools’ fears now for far too long has been cast.

I will leave you with the fifth track, Hall of Freedom. The album seems to stack its catchiest or otherwise most noticeable songs early on, with the final five requiring a bit more attention to hit home, thus I’ve only discussed and sampled the first half of The Lay of Thrym here. Regardless, it is a solid product nearly to the end (I could live without the bonus cover songs). My final verdict on The Lay of Thrym: It’s a big step up from By the Light of the Northern Star, which was a pretty decent album itself. Don’t expect the vibe of say, Eric the Red or Land on here, but it’s still no disappointment. To fans and newcomers alike I highly recommend it.