I think you’d be hard pressed to find a band quite like Mirrorshield.
Sure, over the years you may have come across pirate metal, viking metal or pagan metal, but high-fantasy infused symphonic folk metal? That’s a new one.
Set amongst the ash-riddled ruins of Eremoss, the groups debut, Visions From A Crystal Light, invites listeners into a reverie of 11 high-fantasy tales that’ll have you ready to race through the woods on horseback, sword in-toe.
Mirrorshield – Visions From A Crystal Light
- Label: Independent
- Release: 12 Dec
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From the whimsical fables of PixieDruid Nif Petalfig to the horrific battles of Eldenblot, Visions From A Crystal Light impressively hones in on narrative, foley and obscure synth settings to create traditional medieval folk soundscapes, which are then matched alongside deeply lore-ridden tales and tech-heavy power metal riffs. Kind of like if Jethro Tull’s Thick As A Brick and Children of Bodom’s Follow The Reaper had a baby, and that baby caught up with Judas Priest’s Painkiller for a game of Dungeons and Dragons.
For those less interested in the albums narrative, tracks like ‘Woods of Oraya’ and ‘Osthill Mystic’ lean into traditional power metal, delivering adrenaline fuelled, riff-heavy shred-fests, while ‘Dawns Embrace’ and ‘Battlemage Requiem’ toy with folk-driven balladry, tying in inclusions of the mandolin, slower tempos and ritualistic chants.
It definitely won’t be for everyone, but for those that like something a bit different, Visions From A Crystal Light is a fun release that you can’t help but get lost in – as if it’s a soundtracking a movie that’s only playing in your mind. Even if it’s not for you, it’s hard not to admire the originality.
Listen to the debut album for Mirrorshield here.
