(((July)))

July hasn't been a great month for album releases so most of my top songs are old material that I have only just got into. However we have heard some new stuff from Slipknot which puts us in high hopes for the album, A new Metallica track surfaced and had fans affirmed that the new album is better than St.Anger. Bloc party also released a new track from there forthcoming album which was met with mixed opinions and Late Of The Pier had Heartbeat, a track of the debut album leaked which has made he wait even harder because the track is outstanding.

Anyway here are my top 12 tracks from July:

1.The Blood Brothers - Set Fire To The Face On Fire

2.Slipknot - Psychosocial

3.Bolt Action Five - Tree Friend Tree Foe

4.Late Of The Pier - Heartbeat

5.Bloc Party - Mercury

6.Patrick Wolf - Tristan

7.Errors - Cutlery Draw

8.Metallica - Ecstasy Of Gold

9.Trash Fashion - Why Cant We Be Friends

10.Producers With Computers - Put Your Hood Up

11.Turisas - Rasputin

12.Polarbear - Jessica

A mixed month ranging from marauding metal to spoken word tracks and electro.

Below is my Three favourite tunes from the month, Enjoy.

Late Of The Pier - Heartbeat.mp3

Bloc Party - Mercury.mp3

Metallica - Ecstasy Of Gold.mp3

Turisas - The Varangian Way

When first hearing of Turisas in an old copy of Metal Hammer I immediately scorned them for trying trying to bring such instruments as the accordion into a metal band, This tallied up with there strange viking appearance threw me right off.
But when hearing their cover of "Rasputin" on a compilation CD recently it got me intrigued, They sounded so full and new I just had to give the album a listen.

"The Varangian Way" is Turisas' 2nd album to date and If I do say myself a breath of fresh air for the metal scene. Violins and guitars working in harmony to create something I have come to call folk metal.

The album opens with the symphonic "To Holmgard & Beyond" which incorporates everything from the accordion to what sounds like half an orchestra. Very few songs that try to make you feel or visualize something ever work but To Holmgard & Beyond really does make you think your standing on a hill in some far flung European country with your fellow vikings preparing for war, It sends a proud shiver down your spine. The next track opens with the accordion and I instantly thought " This is to much bring back the metal" but I didn't have to wait long as little before 20 seconds later the guitars pound in only aided by the perfectly placed double bass pedals.

Unfortunately "Rasputin" is on the deluxe edition of "The Varangian Way" but nonetheless this album can only be described as a front runner on new European heavy metal, Folk metal has been tried before by the likes of Skyclad but Turisas have opened it up to a whole group of people.

Turisas - To holmgard And beyond.mp3
Buy The Varangian Way

8/10