A Night at the Nordic House

A Night at the Nordic House is the first official live album by Faroese folk metal pioneers Týr and it's a very special release indeed. The album was recorded right before the pandemic at the Nordic House in Tórshavn with the Choir and Symphonic Orchestra of the Faroe Islands. The concert features two short instrumental tracks and sixteen regular songs for a total length of eighty-six minutes. This record has been released digitally, on vinyl as well as on CD and Blu-ray, offering options for every taste.

The band's epic songs work splendidly with the choir and orchestra. While many other bands experimenting with symphonic music tend to overload their songs and fail to cooperate in a balanced, imaginative and structured manner, the Faroese band has obviously put a lot of heart, time and thought into this splendid project. The sound is dynamic, organic and rich as it's a pleasure listening to this album and watching the numerous musicians and singers involved as well as the enthusiastic crowd in front of them.

Opening anthem ''Gates of Hell'' is one of the band's greatest songs ever written and this dynamic tune gets even more epic with the involvement of cinematic symphonic arrangements and dramatic choirs sending shivers down the spine. This song becomes more thoughtful in its calmer moments, more uplifting in its melodious sections and more intense in its thunderous extreme metal parts. We have a winner right from the start as this anthem starts the concert on the highest possible note.

Another song that stands out is heroic anthem ''Turið Torkilsdóttir'' with its majestic choirs opening the song with grace and concluding the track with elegance. In between, the five Faroese metal musicians offer a perfect mixture of powerful heavy metal and uplifting power metal without any stereotypes. You can't help but having a big smile upon your face when listening to this inspiring song about the influential woman from Norway who has left her mark upon the Faroe Islands a millennium ago.

The same has to be said about powerful ''By the Sword in My Hand'', a genuine heavy metal epic with intense lyrics that evoke so many ideas, images and thoughts upon your mind. The Faroese musicians and singers succeed in creating a dramatic, intense and majestic atmosphere that pioneers such as Manowar have not managed to evoke for three decades and counting by now. It's amusing, impressive and surprising to witness elderly ladies singing about decimating and decapitating enemies in this fine tune as well.

At the end of the day, Týr's A Night at the Nordic House is a release that should appeal to fans of folk metal, heavy metal, power metal and symphonic metal alike. Anyone interested in Faroese culture in particular and Scandinavian history in general can't get around this output either. This album is highly recommended to fans of old date who have been anticipating such a magnificent live record for a long time. A Night at the Nordic House is also a wonderful introduction to the greatest band of the Faroese Islands with a diversified setlist covering all phases of the band. To be honest, I can't think of anyone who shouldn't listen to and watch this amazing show. Make sure to purchase this release, pour yourself a few glasses of hot mead and enjoy this stunning concert with a dear friend on a cold autumn or winter night.