
A Burnt Offering For The Bone Idol is a grand medieval banquet full of succulent folk, juicy classic metal and meaty thrash. Skyclad’s 1992 album was a truly original and pioneering work that built on their debut album’s idiosyncratic promise. The addition of a full-time violinist Fritha Jenkins adds class and colour to a rich and varied set of pagan metal all graced by the gifted lyrics and charismatic vocals of Martin Walkyier. The lusty jig Spinning Jenny and the fist-pumping The Declaration Of Indifference are the enduring set-list faves but every track here is special. The mix of traditional metal mastery à la Maiden and Manowar coupled with the rage and darkness of the underground made this the album to beat in a year when proper epic metal seemed to be in short-supply. From the dystopian anger of Broken Promised Land to the historical tragedy of R’Vannith and the mellow moon-lit ley lines of Ring Stone Round, A Burnt Offering… is a treasure from start to finish.
I like the violin. It adds a little something extra to it. I have to admit, the picture of the band looks like they should have been from the 80’s. This is the 90’s where is the flannel and leather?
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No, the 90s was all about the Robin Hood look!
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I’m sorry…I completely forgot about that!!
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I appreciate your attention to detail HMO with the accent grave on “à” la!
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It’s usually the umlauts I need to look out for!
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Very fetching outfits they’ve got. Was that for their production of Robin Hood: The Musical, aye?
Anyhoo, a very interesting vibe they have going on. Not sure I’d choose to listen to them, but I could probably tolerate a full album’s worth of tunes.
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Don’t tell me you weren’t dressing like this in the 90s! Bet you just hid all the photos…
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Busted.
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I haven’t heard any Skyclad in ages, thanks for addressing this. They proved that any instrument, in this case a violin, can be make metal songs sound great if properly used.
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Yeah I’d never heard anything like this when it came out. You hear all sorts of instruments in metal but back then… Totally original!
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