Band : Heathen Foray
Album title : Armored Bards
Label : Black Bards
Distributor : Sonic Rendezvous
Release date : 24/09/2010
Release : CD

Who thought pagan metal had reached its top in the metal scene will soon be proven wrong. Heathen Foray, the best-known pagan metal band from Austria, have just created another masterpiece within their genre. However, flutes nor keyboards are to be found on their new album, entitled Armored Bards. The use of fast guitars is primordial. With this concept, they might even outdo the success of their previous album, The Passage, which was considered one of the best pagan metal albums of 2009. But what makes them so sure of their success? Let’s go over the songs to find out.

Armored Bards opens with the title track. From the first note on, it becomes absolutely clear that melodic guitars and drums will take the lead on the entire album. Combined with some excellent grunting, this might indeed make us curious for more. Really, it’s got to be said: the band use the fast rhythm guitars in an excellent way and solo work is being used every ten seconds. The song is not about anything pagan at all. It’s more of an honour to their loyal fans and the support they’ve got these past years. A fantastic song to start off! "The Blight" is a true headbanger’s song. It’s easy to sing along (if you know how to grunt properly of course) and what’s most remarking about this song is the incredible virtuous guitar solo.
For a change, the band has a song with German lyrics as well. Again, in "Bifrost", we’re treated with some of the best guitar work we’ve heard in a while. The song offers a lot of variation and deals about the warriors’ honour and the powerful Germanic gods. Who still doubts whether or not Heathen Foray is a pagan band, will probably have to make up his mind after this song. "Ascension" is a very experimental song. It’s about the everlasting fight of night and day. This fight is realised through the heavy riffs and sometimes sad, slower parts. Not such a convincing song, but it reflects the theme perfectly. "Messenger of God" is just incredibly fast and technically well worked out. With this song, the band wants to criticize the abuse of the Church now and in the past. We’ve listened to half of the album now, so some sort of pause is welcome after all these fast riffs. "Endless Sorrow" takes care of this break. This calmer song could be considered to be a pagan ballad. "A Brother’s Tale" tells the story of two brothers who each claim the throne of a forsaken kingdom. Of course, once again, we’re in a huge battle in which guitar work of a high level is guaranteed. Of course, being an Austrian band, Heathen Foray can’t cast their own history aside. "Walls of Vienna" tells us something more about the invasion of the Turks in Vienna in 1683. The song opens in a very threatening way with some heavier guitars. During the rest of the song, we experience a slower pace in the music. The oriental influences are omnipresent and this song is most definitely a real treat for true headbangers! Of course, a pagan band wouldn’t be a pagan band if it didn’t involve any drinking. "Hopfen und Malz" is the second song on the album with German lyrics. This track will surely evoke dancing/moshing. With "Carthage’s End" we have already come to the last song of the album. This song tells the story of Hannibal who failed to defeat Rome. This is the perfect song to end the album. It shows everything the band stands for: variation, wonderful riffs and catchy melodies!

With Armored Bards, Heathen Foray have just given birth to a real treat not just for pagan metal fans, but for all metal heads who adore these fast riffs and various melodies!

80/100

Tim Tronckoe.