A well-kept secret for millions of years, the Faroe Islands stood alone in the heart of the North Atlantic, northwest of Scotland and halfway between Iceland and Norway. While the first settlers may have been Irish monks, the true Faroese legacy begins about a hundred years later with the Norwegian colonization that continued to develop throughout the Viking Age, making the 18-island archipelago a central part of the Viking culture.

Today, the Faroese continue to nurture the past exploits of their Viking heritage, and TÝR is no exception.

Viking culture, heritage and way-of-thinking affects life in the Faeroes to a certain degree. We are very modernized, but we build on very old traditions and on the past, not re-live it. — Heri Joensen

Taking their name from the one-armed God of War, the bravest of all, and making their way past the hardships associated with coming from a relatively obscure part of the world, the Nordic quartet finally managed to grab the attention of Napalm Records, launching TÝR's worldwide campaign with the re-release of Eric the Red in 2006, followed by Ragnarok in 2007.

Since the signing with Napalm Records things have gone upwards very quickly and I hope they will continue to do so. We firmly believe that if we put all our effort into it we will end at the top of Metal and with Napalm Records the chances of success have increased considerably. — Heri Joensen

With the unprecedented success of Eric the Red and Ragnarok, TÝR has become the band to catch on tour. And while the masses were gathering at the Austrian Kaltenbach festival to do just that, TÝR snuck out to give the fans in the small community of Oberaich a short preview of what would await festival goers a day later.

Being on tour is hard work, but it is also the best part of being in a band. — Heri Joensen

Setting the tone with a fitting intro, TÝR took to the stage to launch their Viking Metal escapade with "The Edge". With the first sounds of "Regin Smidur", the crowd went wild, moving effortlessly to the chanting classic. The band's talent, professionalism, and irrevocable presence added to the unforgettable live experience. The beginning chords of "Hail to the Hammer" met with the approval of both already established and newly-won fans, who instinctively raised their fists in the air in tribute and approval of TÝR's efforts.

When it comes to songwriting, the main influences are Faeroese and Scandinavian folk, a bit of classical music and all kinds of progressive music. Our sound is inspired by British metal from the seventies and eighties, and progressive metal of today. — Heri Joensen

Due to contractual limitations placed by Kaltenbach's organizers, TÝR was only allowed to play a 20-minute set. After a classic rendition of "Raimung Hin Unge", the four musicians left the stage unwillingly and were forced to ignore the relentless cries for more from the unsatiated crowd. While their performance was a short one, it was one that the concert goers of this small Austrian town will not soon forget.

We are surprised at every gig as to how many people know us and our songs. It's always more than we expect. — Heri Joensen

Catch TÝR live during this summer's festival season and/or on their "Viking Warrior Raid" Headliner Tour with Black Messiah & Odroerir throughout Germany, in Austria, Poland, and Switzerland. For more details and up-to-date information, visit our tour date section regularly!