Týr

Týr is a Viking Metal band from the Faroe Islands. Its music can be described as a blend of viking, folk and significant progressive structures. The band incorporate many folk elements and melodies in their songs, spiced up by the musical inclusion of the island’s native folk structure. Their songs include many rhythm changes and complex time signatures. I have chosen to review Týr because I have a great interest in music. Týr has been one of my first experiences in this genre (Viking metal). I also have a great interest in Norse Mythology and Scandinavian history and culture. I shall discuss both the band and historical aspects surrounding Týr.

Týr is the god of one on one combat (the duel), victory and heroic glory in Norse mythology, portrayed as a one-handed man. In the late Icelandic Eddas, he is portrayed, alternately, as the son of Odin (Prose Edda) or of Hymir (Poetic Edda), while the origins of his name and his possible relationship to Tuisto suggest he was once considered the father of the gods and head of the pantheon. Tuesday is in fact "Tyr's Day." This is because the Anglo-Saxons at that time pronounced Tyr's name as "Tiw" thus giving his name to the 2nd day of the week.

Viking metal is a term referred to metal bands with dramatic emphasis on Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the Viking Age. It is closely related with terms of pagan metal and epic black metal. Viking metal bands are usually sort of black metal and/or folk metal sound, characterised by galloping pace, keyboard-rich anthemic sound and bleakness.

The project began in January 1998. Heri Joensen met his old bandmate, Kári Streymoy, at a party in Copenhagen, Denmark. Joensen suggested to Streymoy that they should meet up and jam. Streymoy initially declined, but later took him up on his offer. They were soon joined by another former bandmate, bassplayer Gunnar H. Thomsen, making the duo a trio. Singer Pól Arni Holm and guitarist Jón Joensen (Heri Joensen’s brother) were part of the band while they recorded How Far to Asgaard but left soon after its release.

Terji Skibenæs joined after Jón Joensen had left the band. Allan Streymoy (Kári Streymoy’s brother) took over singing duties for a brief time during which they released the single “Ólavur Riddararós”. After Allan left Heri Joensen took over the vocals. It was this line up which recorded Eric the Red. Skibenæs left the band for a while after the release of Eric the Red. The band played as a trio for some time.

I enjoy listening to Týr, their music is genuine and original. They have a created a sound that is truly distinctive, they fill their music with emotion, which is hard to achieve. I believe music is completely subjective; one forms their own opinions regarding such material. Týr brings out strong feelings that other groups or genres are unable to. I believe the islands native folk structure is what gives this band true depth and a sense of purpose.  They aren’t pretending to be something they are not, they are sticking to their ‘roots’, I have a great deal of respect for that.  In fact they are even reinforcing their traditions and paying tribute to the past.

Týr's "musical mission is to break down the walls that are erected between all the kinds of metal that have arisen over the years. Power-, doom-, black-, progressive-, gothic-, Viking-, folk-, ethnic- and epic metal. Walls and labels do nothing but fill people with prejudice.

Portal (video game)

I have chosen to review the highly renowned video game –Portal. I have done so because Portal is a very unique and original (Portal has been acclaimed as one of the most original games in 2007 despite being comparatively short in length.) Although there have be countless reviews and discussions regarding Portal, I will only be discussing my experiences and opinions.

There are I believe in essence several key factors that make this game such a success. Valve has put immense amounts of time and research into this game in order to achieve these qualities. The story is obvious the most important as everything else revolves around that and the game dynamics.

Portal is a single-player first-person action/puzzle video game developed by Valve Corporation. The game consists primarily of a series of puzzles that must be solved by teleporting the player's character and other simple objects using the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device (dubbed the "Portal Gun" or "ASHPD"), the portal gun can create an inter-spatial portal between flat planes. The player character is challenged by an AI named "GLaDOS" to complete each puzzle in the "Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center" using the Portal Gun with the promise of receiving cake when all the puzzles are completed. The unusual physics allowed by the portal gun are the emphasis of this game.

The game features two characters: the silent player-controlled protagonist named Chell, and GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System), a computer artificial intelligence that monitors and directs the player. In the English version GLaDOS is voiced by Ellen McLain. The only background information presented about Chell is given by GLaDOS; the credibility of these facts, such as Chell being adopted and having no friends, is dubious as GLaDOS is a liar by her own admission.

The things that makes Portal such a great game in my opinion are; The storyline, the great voice acting, incredibly complex coding, the humor and aesthetic feel and mood of the game as it progresses. The song (Still Alive) that GLaDOS sings at the end of the end was a good reward. The replayability of the game is priceless.

Unternehmen Walküre

Valkyrie is a 2008 historical thriller film set in Nazi Germany during World War II. I have chosen to review this film due to my interest in history and the history surrounding World War II in particular. I feel that Valkyrie is a very intense and emotional thriller which is able to capture and shape the audience’s emotions according to how the director had planned. This makes Valkyrie successful because it allows the audience to feel as though they are a part of that time period, even for but a brief moment.

Valkyrie was directed by Bryan Singer, the film stars Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg who is one of the key plotters. Bill Nighy, Eddie Izzard, Terrence Stamp and Tom Wilkinson are also among the group of key plotters.  Cruise’s casting had caused controversy among German politicians and members of von Stauffenberg’s family because of the actor’s practice of scientology, which is considered a totalitarian organization in the country. However German newspapers and filmmakers supported the film in order to spread awareness of von Stauffenberg’s plot. Parts of the film were shot in Berlin’s historic Bendlerblock.

Valkyrie is special for another reason; it is based on real history. Real people, real Germans sacrificed their lives in order to try and stop Hitler’s regime.  I feel it is very important that the people of Germany have been given such an opportunity to show the world that not every German stood behind Adolf Hitler during those times, and that many Germans did not want him to lead their country towards complete destruction.  

However I do feel that there are certain elements lacking in this film that could have been different. I feel that the actors chosen to play the roles of the German soldiers should have been played by Germans and not English speaking actors from America. The film should have been entirely in German with English subtitles. This would have enhanced the authenticity of the film and made it appear so much more realistic. I much acknowledge just how brilliant the portrayal of Nazi Germany was, the uniforms, makeup and filming location all made the film rather credible.