Týr is a band from the Faroe Islands which plays a combination of heavy metal and folk music, with strong progressive metal elements. Their subject matter revolves almost entirely around old Nordic lore, mythology, and history. They signed a worldwide deal with Austria's Napalm Records in early 2006, while signed to the Faroese record label Tutl. They performed at the Ragnarök Festival in 2007 and 2008.

History

Týr formed in January 1998. Heri Joensen met his old bandmate, Kári Streymoy, at a party in Copenhagen, Denmark. Joensen suggested to Streymoy that they should meet up and jam. Streymoy initially declined, but later took him up on his offer.

They were soon joined by another former bandmate, bassplayer Gunnar H. Thomsen, making the duo a trio. They began making music which was heavily inspired by Norse mythology, Faroese traditional music, and heavy metal music in general. According to the band's frontman Heri Joensen, Týr's "musical mission is to break down the walls that are erected between all the kinds of metal that have arisen over the years. Power, doom, black, progressive, gothic, Viking, folk, ethnic and epic metal. Walls and labels do nothing but fill people with prejudice."

The name of the band comes from Týr, a Norse god. Before Týr, Joensen and Thomsen formed their first band, at the age of seventeen. They called themselves Cruiser. Streymoy also played with them for a short while. They later changed their name to Wolfgang. Although neither band released any albums, Wolfgang, who are still active, recorded an undisclosed amount of songs that, according to Joensen are "pretty much ready to release."

Týr was a part of the Paganfest tour in Europe and the US in 2008, with Ensiferum headlining. Other bands on the tour included Eluveitie, Turisas in the US, and Moonsorrow and Korpiklaani joined them on the European part of the tour.

Comments (0)

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form