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Review:
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The band's name conjures up images of hairy Scotsmen
with nothing under their kilts tossing their cabers, but
in fact they come from Scotland’s old enemy Norway far further
to the north. The links are far closer than you might think,
Norway held parts of Scotland throughout the early medieval
period culminating in the Battle Of Largs (SW of Glasgow)
in 1263 that ended in a score draw that favoured the Scots
(Norway needed a win to qualify for Euro 1264), and the
Norwegians retained control of the Orkney Islands until
1471, the famous Viking festival Up Helly Aa is still held
there. This is their third album, the last released in 2005,
but their first with a female singer leading the notorious
Highland charge. Although Norway is not noted for its power
metal, musically you have to draw comparisons with early
Nightwish from across the border in Finland, with an injection
of Iron Maiden and Power Quest. The suitably massive sound
hits you like a force 10 gale blowing in off the North Sea,
it's a good job that bóidheach Trine Elise Johansen possesses
a pair of mighty rock lungs with crystal clear diction so
that you can hear her over the tempest, she also has a perfectly
glorious operatic voice as well, they have certainly found
a top class singer. They open with the nuclear powered rocker
'Holocauster Ride', then comes a couple of claymore wielding
anthems 'Limitation of Life' and 'Highland Temptation' (about
Sharon den Adel enticing you up the Trossachs..........only
joking).***
The next pair head into Nightwish territory, the awesome
'Sleeping Sun' esque 'Without You' with Trine in superb
operatic mode, and the immense symphonic title track 'Twist
of Faith' (live video on Female Voices blog). It's back
to full gallop with the more folk metallish 'Far Cry From
Freedom' which hurtles along faster than Bonny Prince Charlie
being chased by the English with his kilt on fire, followed
by the terrific powerful shuffle 'Earthbound Spirit' and
the outstanding power ballad 'Diary of the Dying'. The last
two are the thundering epic 'Blood of the Innocent' and
a cover of the Heart ballad belter 'Alone' which showcases
Trine's voice. One of the great joys of this album is the
variety and moments of subtlety achieved within a consistent
style and sound which elevates them above the plethora of
bands who plough a single furrow. This means that I must
admit that am rather impressed and pleasantly surprised
by this release, I was expecting a one dimensional metal
band and got something far more interesting. You get a good
value 55 minutes of music that's well worth delving into
your sporran for, so highland fling to their clan gathering
at http://www.highlandglory.com/
, a braveheart 8.75 out of 10.
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