Turisas
Stand Up And Fight
Century Media

Before spinning ‘Stand Up and Fight’, it’s worth taking some time to suspend your disbelief. Yes, from a certain standpoint you could well claim that Turisas’s third album is just so much hokum: if your toes were curling in discomfort when exposed to their previous records, then this’ll probably only reinforce your distaste. But as bombastic and plain silly as they can be, there’s no doubt that these Finnish folk metal titans are impressive songwriters and, indeed, one of the most entertaining acts in contemporary heavy music.

Criticising Turisas for being ridiculous is like bitching about a Tony Scott film for having a predictable plot: it comes with the territory, and is a huge part of their appeal. Who else, we ask, can hold forth with such conviction on the joys of slaughtering unscrupulous sea-dogs (‘Hunting Pirates’… Alestorm, it appears that your days are numbered) or craft such mighty, broadsword hefting anthems of the calibre of the title track? Painting their compositions on a scale that’s rarely seen outside of Broadway or the silver screen, the six-piece evidently don’t think much of the ‘less is more’ approach, songs like ‘Venetoi – Prasinoi’ bursting with countless ideas and a host of rousing horns, while moving forth at a healthy gallop… the symphonic elements are given more primacy this time around. Complete with a narrative that explores the fate of the Byzantine Empire, ‘Stand Up and Fight’ is the apotheosis of cheesy folk metal, and it’ll doubtlessly get Warhammer fans foaming at the mouths.

Naturally it’ll make more sense live (particularly with a neckful of ale and among a crowd of rabid Vikings) and it’s a bit hit and miss, but the band must be commended for taking plenty of risks, and sailing their longboats into as yet uncharted musical territory. Still more of a ‘Return Of The King’ than an ‘Alexander’.

Buy this album from AMAZON

Review by Rob Sayce