SIG:AR:TYR The Stranger

Tracklist:
1. At The Gates 05:00
2. The Stranger 04:55
3. Against The Grail 05:32
4. Orion Awaits 09:07
5. Tears For Baldur 02:09
6. Beyond The Dying Sun 03:01

Release Date: 2003

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When one thinks of Norse Mythology, Canada is probably one of the last locations that will come to mind. But after hearing Sailing The Seas Of Fate an epic ambient/acoustic/folk/metal album by the Canadian band SIG:ARTYR, and now their EP The Stranger, Canada cannot help but pop into my head at the mention of Norse Mythology.

Unlike Sailing The Seas Of Fate, The Stranger features no metal parts whatsoever. It consist only of acoustic guitar and Daemonskald’s voice. For those who enjoyed the acoustic melodies of Sailing…, this album holds many more wonders.

Lyrically the album is focused around a short story written by Daemonskald himself. (For those interested the story can be accessed via this link: [url] http://www.sigartyr.com/stranger.htm[/url]) It tells the story of a mercenary that feels like he has been emptied of his soul and emotions by his trade and is contemplating suicide. But then a mysterious, nameless stranger comes along and, through his enigmatic speeches, convinces the young warrior not to jump into the rushing river beneath him. The story takes an eery end when the young man sees his lifeless body lying further down the river.
All lyrics are delivered with a soft spoken voice that mixes in with the acoustic guitar to create the bands signature, unique, atmospheric sound.

Other than the voice and a few windy sounds, acoustic guitar is the only thing heard on this album. Soft strumming or chord progressions usually start off the songs and are repeated a few times (but not to the point of getting boring) and create the relaxing, ambient mood of the album. After a few repetitions the lead acoustic guitar starts playing and weaves itself around the rhythm guitar to create intricate, melodic and even beautiful sounds that you can get lost in for the whole length of the EP.
A few fast picked acoustic solos are also present throughout the album. They do a good job to add variety and further demonstrate Daemonskald’s guitar talents. But, sometimes they are played so fast that some notes get lost in a kind of “acoustic blur”. Luckily, this doesn’t happen too often on the album and the solos are usually very enjoyable.

If you enjoy beautiful acoustic guitar, then look no further. The Stranger is a beautifully crafted EP full of intricate guitar work, ambient vocals and mystical lyrics. Daemonskald is an ingenious Canadian composer that will hopefully one day be more known in the world of music.