Skyclad - Wayward Sons of Mother Earth

Skyclad's ambitious attempt to combine thrash metal, English folk music, and medieval fantasy lyrics results in a groundbreaking -- though at times understandably awkward -- debut. Despite the album sleeve's picture of them wielding swords and clad in medieval garb, the band starts off tentatively, leading the way with the thrash-heavy "Sky Beneath My Feet" and "Trance Dance" before plunging into the album's "folkiest" moment, "The Widdershin's Jig." With it's violin-led arrangement, the song is a huge departure and, unfortunately, the band still lacks the confidence and conviction to see the experiment through. Read More