Skyclad are widely considered as the grandfathers of folk metal, more or less inventing it and then pushing it further to new heights. Together with Martin Walkyier’s incredibly witty lyrics that touched upon a lot of societal issues, the English band was/is one of a kind. Today Alex is taking a look at the Novocastrians’ illustrious discography and see how it ranks up, especially when looking at the change at the mic that brought a rarely seen rift into the band’s tapestry.
In the… All Together (2009)
The second album with Kevin Ridley on the mix is the lowest point of the Skyclad discography so far. While not being a bad album per se, it is still a far cry from what Skyclad once stood for and were capable of. Compared to A Semblance of Normality they display somewhat more energy and power and some songs do channel the “old” Skyclad spirit, however overall the album just falls flat and once more raises the question, if these albums would have fared better, if they had been released under a different name.
Tracks to check out: Still Small Beer, Which is Why
Forward into the Past (2017)
Ominously titled, Forward into the Past is the first Skyclad album with a Duncan Storr cover since Folkémon in 2000. Musically the album seems to be torn between what it wants to be. It displays some nice energy, “State of the Union Now” even almost has a punky vibe, and does feel more like a Skyclad album again, however it takes most of these elements and processes them on a lower level than before. Ridley’s vocals obviously still are a bone of contention and is likely one of the main factors separating old Skyclad from new Skyclad and with that many fans.
Tracks to check out: A Storyteller’s Moon (Intro), A Heavy Price to Pay, Words Fail Me
A Semblance of Normality (2004)
Step one after Martin Walkyier threw a lot of Skyclad fans for quite the loop. Kevin Ridley’s vastly different vocals, the quite dramatic reduction of folk and fiddle, of energy and heaviness, all of which one would think would sink the band to the bottom of the metallic ocean. However as strange as it may sound, A Semblance of Normality is a quite entertaining listen, if not really Skyclad. But like any of the other Ridley-era albums one can’t shake the feeling that the reception would have been far warmer, if it did not bear the Skyclad name on it.
Tracks to check out: A Good Day to Bury Bad News, Anotherdrinkingsong, The Song of Non-Involvement, Lightening the Load
Oui Avant-Garde A Chance (1996)
This is THE odd duck in the Skyclad discography. More folk rock than anything else, some originals, two cover versions, two remixes. So fans and critics still are not exactly sure, if Oui Avant-Garde A Chance should be considered an actual full-fledged album (similar to Therion’s A’Arab Zaraq Lucid Dreaming). So much depends on how you approach the album. If you see it as equal partner in the discography, then chances are that it is somewhat seen as a disappointment, seeing several of the trademarks watered down in a way. If, however, you view it as a glimpse into a different side of the band, more intimate if you want, then it holds quite a few very interesting moments. So depending on your point of view, this one could rank in a lot of different spots.
Tracks to check out: If I Die Laughing It’ll be an Act of God, Great Blow for a Day Job, A Badtime Story, Come on Eileen
The Answer Machine? (1997)
Following Oui Avant-Garde A Chance, The Answer Machine? throws up more questions than answers. Again the metal content is car reduced compared to Irrational Anthems, making one wonder, if Oui Avant-Garde A Chance had not actually been a fluke, but more of a herald. Feeling like a hybrid between the last two albums, it seems like an intermediary album that is somehow suspended in mid-air, leaving fans wondering where the journey would take them.
Tracks to check out: Building a Ruin, Helium, Eirenarch, Troublesometimes
The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea (1995)
Coming off the heels of Prince of the Poverty Line, The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea (gotta love Walkyier’s wordplays) shows a band that is managing to continuously avoid releasing the same album twice in a row. In many ways is is the maybe least accessible Skyclad album, because while it is showcasing the talents of Georgina Biddle more than any violinist before, some of the compositions also are fairly hard to get into, which has resulted in some split reviews on this album.
Tracks to check out: Just What Nobody Wanted, A Stranger in the Garden, Turncoat Rebellion, The Present Imperfect
The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth (1991)
With their debut Skyclad entered mostly uncharted territory, fusing together thrash, heavy metal and folk. Sure, it was still a far cry from their coming albums in terms of refined amalgamation, but it already showed the roots to their unique sound and character. The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth sees Martin Walkyier still at his gruffest, but his rough organ lent a lot of spirit to the music. The foundation has been laid and it’s a classic in its own right.
Tracks to check out: Sky Beneath my Feet, The Widdershins Jig, Skyclad, Moongleam and Meadowsweet
A Burnt Offering to the Bone Idol (1992)
Skyclad’s second strike followed one year later and is the next logical step from the debut, a little more refined, some more violin and amazing consistency. In a way it is also the most varied album, from thrash (“Men of Straw”) over balladesque (“Ring Stone Round”) to the almost doom of “Alone in Death’s Shadow.” If anything, A Burnt Offering to the Bone Idol whetted the appetite of Skyclad fans for what was about to come!
Tracks to check out: Spinning Jenny, Ring Stone Round, Men of Straw, The Declaration of Indifference, Alone in Death’s Shadow
Vintage Whine (1999)
After the two far mellower affairs Oui Avant-Garde A Chance and The Answer Machine? Skyclad returned to full folk metal duty with Vintage Whine. The energy and power back and Martin Walkyier is in absolute top form lyrically as well. Vintage Whine feels like the spiritual successor to Irrational Anthems both in intensity and quality. It also is legacy for how Walkyier has grown as a singer, effortlessly combining singing with his trademark gruff delivery.
Tracks to check out: Vintage Whine, On With Their Heads, The Silver Cloud’s Dark Lining, Cancer of the Heart, Little Miss Take, Something to Cling to
Prince of the Poverty Line (1994)
Following up the iconic Jonah’s Ark was no small feat and Skyclad did not make the mistake of just hitting repeat, but instead offered their earthiest album to date. A little rougher than Jonah’s Ark, Prince of the Poverty Line has an amazing balance between a bit drier sound with some truly outstanding melodies and a spot on Martin Walkyier. Including a surprising amount of atmosphere (“Gammadion Seed”), Prince of the Poverty Line is one of the Novocastrians’ finest moments.
Tracks to check out: Civil War Dance, Cardboard City, Land of the Rising Slum, The One-Piece Puzzle, Gammadion Seed
Jonah’s Ark (1993)
Ladies and gentlemen, the birth of folk metal, Skyclad’s true coming of age: Jonah’s Ark. The violin plays a far stronger role, the thrash elements are strongly toned down and Walkyier has reached his full lyrical potential. While later albums continued to refine this style amalgamation, this album is where it all started and what kicked off a completely new chapter with folk moving into almost all metal subgenres. One of the most groundbreaking albums in metal and with its innovation, cohesion and consistency more than deservedly sits in the number 3 spot in Skyclad’s illustrious discography.
Tracks to check out: Thinking Allowed, Cry of the Land, The Wickedest Man in the World, Earth Mother, the Sun and the Furious Host, A Word to the Wise, Bewilderbeast, It Wasn’t Meant to End This Way
Irrational Anthems (1996)
It was pretty much a dead heat between Irrational Anthems and Folkémon for the top spot. After the kind of oddball-ish The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea, Skyclad hit a grand slam home run with Irrational Anthems. Considered one of folk metal’s most iconic albums, chock full of outstanding melodies, a near perfect balance between folk and metal and with an almost unrivalled hit density, it also contains one of the two best Skyclad cover versions in Aram Khatchaturian’s “Sabre Dance” (the other one being Thin Lizzy’s “Emerald” off their Tracks From the Wilderness EP).
Tracks to check out: Inequality Street, The Wrong Song, Penny Dreadful, The Sinful Ensemble, Sabre Dance, I Dubious, Science Never Sleeps, History Lessens, Quantity Time
Folkémon (2000)
As mentioned above, the line between Irrational Anthems and Folkémon is nearly indistinguishable and to be honest, both would equally deserve the top spot. Folkémon is the heaviest album since probably A Burnt Offering to the Bone Idol without going back to their thrash metal rots. Instead they took the rediscovered energy of Vintage Whine and one-upped it to take the fans onto a tour de force through Skycladland as the last chapter to the Walkyier era. And what a worthy send-off it was!
Tracks to check out: The Great Brain Robbery, Think Back and Lie of England, Polkageist!, Crux of the Message, The Disenchanted Forest, You Lost My Memory, Any Old Irony?
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