Scythia (Pronounced Sith- ee-a) is not your father’s metal band. Scythia is a fresh metal band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, but let's not hold that against them. They successfully combine symphonic and Celtic arrangements with classical composition techniques and the genre of metal to create one of the most well rounded folk metal albums to date. Dave Khan (lead guitar and vocals) explains, “We write music that we like to hear. Bringing different influences into your music will help give you a unique sound. There’s no competitive nature between our music and that of harder death metal. It’s just a matter of a bands influences and the sound they’re trying to achieve.” With influences of Irish folk, flamenco, jazz fusion, and classical, Scythia add their own style of epic compositions and instrumentation to create beautifully powerful songs which guide the listener through the realm of Scythia on a folk metal journey of epic proportions.

1.Caspian Rhapsody 02:04
2.Fierce Riders of Scythia (free) 03:49
3.The Black Death 04:26
4.Red Wizard 07:26
5.Elegy 01:31
6.Adamantium 07:34
7.Dies Irae Pt. 1 05:51
8.Warrior's Anthem 05:17
9.Epilogue 03:19

Upon embarking upon the debut quest that is "...Of War" we're treated with a classically influenced introduction that sets a classical, almost medieval Your browser may not support display of this image. tone for the album. The single "Fierce Riders of Scythia" beautifully demonstrates the skill the band has for combining classical compositions and metal influences. Blazing lead fiddle and guitar monies playing over fast, galloping rhythm guitars and clever piano accompaniment deliver you through a wide arrange of emotions as we take up our sword and enter the realm of Scythia.

Classically influenced scales and harmonies played between the guitar, piano and fiddle give playful movement to the compositions, while the fiddle and fife retain the Celtic feel while being classical at the same time. Scythia definitely understand acoustic dynamics in song writing. Often you'll find yourself enjoying a softer, more classical/Celtic part of a song, only to realize that it's cleverly arranged between thundering rhythm and solo guitars which provide teeth in which to bite down on the softer influence and frame it in the context of the story being told at the moment. Dave Khan (lead guitar and vocals) elaborates on the use of dynamics in Scythias song writing. “Dynamics are important because they can be used to change the mood of the part or give emphasis on certain heavy or softer parts” The best examples of this can be heard on the epic seven and a half minute long song "Red Wizard", and hauntingly epic "Dies Irae Pt. I".

While listening to the story unfolding before you on your quest through the realm of Scythia, the image of epic medieval sword battles is conjured several times by the chugging guitar riffs and powerful attack of the lead guitar and bass. If the image hasn't been conjured by the music, there comes a point when there's a swordfight sample used and the moment you hear the battle cries and sword clashes you're instantly transported to the battlegrounds forcing you to feel the anxiety that the band has crafted in their music. “We wanted to use more sound effects on ‘…Of War’ but because of time constraints we put in what we felt was necessary to get the point across. The next album will have a lot more of that kind of cinematic approach to it.”

Your browser may not support display of this image. While the music is crafted to enhance the mood and draw the listener in, the lyrics are written to tell a story. With classic themes of protagonist vs. antagonist, war, peace, love, reconciliation and transformation, the lyrics help the listener to lose themselves in the realm that Scythia have cleverly created. When asked if the album was a concept album Dave Khan replied “it’s more of a themed album. With a classical sound we wanted to tell a story like that of a myth. When telling a story that way, it’s always common to follow themes that have been told in myths for centuries. It’s also what people understand and relate to. Themes of protagonist vs. antagonist and love & war have been told for centuries and still are told today in modern pop culture.” When the you each the end of your quest through “…Of War” you feel a sense that something truly epic has begun and whether you’re a fan of metal music, folk music, classical music, or great storytelling, “…Of War” has something for everybody: cleaver arrangements, blazing solos and guitar monies, and a story that couldn’t be more epic. Scythia have just finished their Canadian tour, and are settling in to begin the writing process for the next album. Dave Khan makes clear, “ Some of the challenges we faced were of time constraints and engineering knowledge. We plan on focusing on these issues next album to continue to give our music the time and energy we feel it deserves.” Scythia are also preparing for a headlining tour next summer. Keep your eyes and ears open for future work from Scythia as they continue to craft an intriguing world in which the listener is swept away and immersed in a wave of influences that can only be described as the future of folk metal and purely Scythia.





By Zack Brenneman

Global Entertainment Mag

http://globalentertainmentmag.com/