Flúgva valkyrjur á val

Týr are an excellent band. I have been blasting their new album almost constantly the past few days. The way they blend old folk tunes with proggy metal and heavy metal (almost reminiscent of Metallica sometimes (only better)).

One thing I've noticed about Týr songs in general - or at least the ones specifically based on old Faroese songs and lays - is that the choruses tend to have seemingly unimportant lines in the focus. For example, in the song from their second album (Eric the Red), "Regin Smi∂ur," the chorus translates as follows:

Greyfell carried the gold from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold from the heath

Notice the line that is repeated. There is sword swinging and dragon defeating going on, but the part emphasized is Greyfell (who is not even the titular character of the song) carrying gold.

Then, on the new album (Land), the chorus of "Fípan Fagra":

Loud beats in hall
Soldiers ride forth
A maiden plays in goves* with the nobleman

This is a little more central to the story of the song as it is about the referred-to maiden. Still, the details seem a little off-topic.

But more to the point, the latter song is completely fantastic. It, along with "Ocean," "Sinklars Vísa," and "Valkyrjar" have been in heavy rotation on my iTunes and in my car. I leave you with the untranslated chorus from the gorgeously arranged "Fípan Fagra."

Há trummar í høll
Hermenn rí∂a fram
Jomfrú leikar í lundum vi∂ tann edilmann

*I don't know what this was supposed to be; the translations in the cd booklet are not the best.