Scythia/For The Bear/2012 CD Review

  Scythia  are  a  band  from  Canada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  with  a  musical  styles   that  I  would  describe  as  being  folk  metal  with  some  melodic  death  and  black  metal  influences  and this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2012  album  "For  The  Bear".

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats,  while  the  oboe  brings  a  folk  music  sound  to  the  music,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  folk  metal  riffs  that  utilize  some  melodic  death  and black  metal  influences  in  the  heavier  side  of  the  riffing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding   pagan  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  finger  picking  and  full  chords  to  bring  a  medieval  sound  to  the  music.

  Vocals  are  mostly  clean  singing  folk  metal   singing  that  has  a  power  metal  feeling  to  it  at  times  as  well  as  some  more  aggressive  parts  as  well  as  some  shouts  in  addition  there  is  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  being  utilized  on  one  song,  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  and  Russian  Paganism,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  and  heavy  sound  for  being a  self  released  recording  and  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  recording  from  Scythia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sailor's  Accolade"  and  "For  The  Bear".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG63ssJR1as 

Scythia/Of Exile/2011 CD Review

Scythia are a band from Canada that has their previous album reviewed in this zine that plays a musical style that I would describe as being folk metal mixed with melodic black/death metal and this is a review of their self released 2011 album "OF Exile".

Drums range from slow to mid paced drumming with not much in the way of fast playing or blast beats, while the folk instruments and synths give the music a folk music feel added in with touches of psychedelia, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they sound very powerful.

Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid paced folk metal riffing that is very melodic at times and does not have the melodic black.death metal influences like the previous recording, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding heavy metal guitar leads, as for the acoustic guitars they use finger picking and fell chords to bring a very dark medieval folk music feel to the music.

Vocals are all clean singing folk metal vocals with some occasional female vocals mixed in with some whispers and spoken word passages in addition the screams and growls from the previous recording don't make much of an appearance on this recording except for a couple of songs, while the lyrics touch on fantasy and mythology, as for the production it has a very heavy and professional sound to it.

In my opinion while I still preferred their first album I still feel this is a good album from Scythia and if you are a fan of this band, you will not be disappointed. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Spirit Of The Quest" "Voice Of The Sword" "For The King" and "Dies Irae II". RECOMMENDED BUY.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yKgWHAv4E8

Scythia/Of War/2010 CD Review

  Scythia are a band from Vancouver B.C, Canada that plays folk metal mixed with melodic black/death metal and this a review of their self released 2010 album "Of War".

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats being used at times, while the folk instruments and keyboards bring a very dark and medieval feel to the music, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they sound very powerful.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast folk metal riffs that have some melodic black/death metal influences, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding folk metal guitar solos, as for the classical and acoustic guitars when they are utilized they use finger picking to bring a dark and medieval feel to the music.

Vocals range from clean singing male and female vocals mixed in with some heavy shouts, growls, screams and spoken word passages, while the lyrics cover Medieval folklore and warfare, as for the production it has a very powerful and professional sound for being a self released album.

In my opinion Scythia are a very good folk metal band and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Fierce Riders Of Scythia" "Elegy" and "Adamantium". RECOMMENDED BUY.

ScythiaFolkMetal.com