For a band originally considered spoof metal, Viking Skull have proved surprisingly durable. Ten years and almost as many members on find the band on their fifth studio album. They have outlasted and surpassed the achievements of their unlamented alma mater Raging Speedhorn. From festival appearances to major press events, to collaborations with the likes of CKY, Viking Skull have prospered.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the rise of Viking Skull has coincided with the return and increasing momentum of the True Metal movement. However this is an increasingly uncomfortable fit for a band whose original premise, on their excellent ‘Chapter One’ debut EP, consisted of uncomplicated paeans to beer, weed, crazy truckers and the joys of ‘the wizard’s sleeve’.
The curse mentioned in the album title could be the increasing number and quality of sword-toting True Metal competitors. Despite Viking Skull’s pledge that they are “anti-scene”, ‘Cursed By The Sword’ appears to find theCorbyquintet in a ‘beat ‘em or join ‘em’ conundrum. Do they become a True Metal band with serious lyrics and sleekly crafted riffing? Or do they continue to plough their crass, crude whiskey-stained furrow? The answer seems to be – both! Or – neither!
On the evidence of ‘Cursed By The Sword’ that is a pity, making this an album of two halves. The first half – which finds the band in Grown Up Metal mode – is a revelation, proving that Viking Skull can deliver THE GOODS in ultimate Trad style. The second half is a reversion to type, with crass lyrics and song titles – although it should be stressed that overall the playing and songwriting is much better than on previous outings.
From the Grand Magus-ish opening chords of exuberant opener ‘Five Fingers of Steel’ it is evident that ‘Cursed By The Sword’ is a more ambitious effort than its predecessors. Despite boasting lyrical themes familiar from earlier albums, and unimproved vocals, it is a crunching show of intent. In particular the guitar work is immediately superior to earlier incarnations.
However it is with second track ‘This Is The End’ that Grown Up Skull really take off. An outstanding song, with a great hook, chorus and brilliant twin lead guitars, it has to be considered the band’s masterpiece to date. It will find favour with Metal fans everywhere.
‘Cursed By The Sword’ is an instrumental, Queensryche-ish in style with some clever rifferama. It leads into ‘Fire’ which starts with some more Grand Magus-isms before going on to sound like, well, a very much improved Viking Skull. ‘Pumped’ sounds a lot like ‘No Class’ by Motorhead, which is by no means a bad thing. Again it features some outstanding guitar work.
From this point the album retreats into crass lyrics, starting with ‘You Look Like I Need A Beer’ s, “You’re a grade A minger…”. It feels like a waste considering the consistently high standard of music. ‘Machine Gun Honey’ is reminiscent of ‘Schools Out’ and is decent enough with a great solo and some awesome riffage.
The witless lyrics on ‘My Bitch Talks Too Much’ feel dated and would make crybaby liberals cry if any could tear themselves away from Florence & The Machine long enough to check out Viking Skull. Who cares, but still not the band’s finest hour.
‘Second Left On Harris’ is a decent enough Rock N’Roll kickaround. However Viking Skull then bizarrely opted to conclude affairs with a lengthy Arab-ish Doom number. It feels like St.Vitus in the desert for a long, long seven minutes of nothing much. There probably isn’t enough going on with Roddy Stone’s vocals for adventures like this.
All in all ‘Cursed By The Sword’ is Viking Skull’s best album in musical terms. With great songs like ‘This Is The End’ they prove that they have the skills to be real contenders. However the quality is patchy, with terrific riffs and hooks wasted in songs with awful lyrics. There is little prospect that the vocals will improve to match the increasingly high standards set by the music, or by those accursed sword wielders.
Viking Skull maintain that they are a drinking band, its’ Rock n’Roll, and the reviewers don’t ‘get’ it – meaning that it sort of doesn’t matter about the crap bits. In fact Grown Up Skull are a lot fresher and more entertaining than Old Skull, and crass lyrics and poor vocals are the difference between someone buying this and the new Orange Goblin album. That’s true no matter HOW loud you turn it up.
Perhaps it’s ‘make your mind up’ time?
(6/10 Graham Cushway) Because it’s a fine line between clever and stupid.
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