Skyclad

Skyclad is a British heavy metal band with heavy folk influences in their music. They are considered one of the inventors of folk metal, the other major influence on the genre being Bathory. For the meaning of

Skyclad is a British heavy metal band with heavy folk influences in their music. They are considered one of the inventors of folk metal, the other major influence on the genre being Bathory. For the meaning of the name, see Skyclad.

The band was founded in 1990 by former Sabbat vocalist Martin Walkyier and Satan/Pariah guitarist Steve Ramsey, after Walkyier left Sabbat over an argument with guitarist Andy Sneap as to the direction of his lyrics. The two's aim was to put together the 'ultimate pagan metal band' (initial ideas for the band included such extravagances as traditional Robin Hood costumes, though these concepts were soon dropped). Rounding out the group with another ex member of Pariah, bassist Graeme English, as well as drummer Keith Baxter, they penned a deal with German record label Noise International and recorded and released Wayward Sons Of Mother Earth in 1991. After a tour with Overkill they added Fritha Jenkins on violin and keyboard and a second guitarist in the shape of Dave Pugh, allowing for a more folk-based sound on their follow-up release A Burnt Offering For the Bone Idol in 1992. The groups early outpur was prolific, with Jonah's Ark following in 1993 and Prince of the Poverty Line a year later in 1994 with Cath Howell replacing Jenkins. She in turn was replaced by Georgina Biddle for 1995's The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea, after which both Baxter and Pugh left the group. Unable to tour, the group recorded and released Irrational Anthems and Oui Avant-Garde a Chance in the space of a year, both with studio drummers. The Answer Machine? followed in 1997 with the band still lacking a permanent drummer, but drummer Jay Graham and guitarist Kevin Ridley (who had previously been the bands producer) signed on in 1998, in time to record Vintage Whine for a 1999 release. The lineup remained stable for the recording of 2000's Folkémon, but founding member Walkyier left the band in 2001, citing various reasons, such as financial difficulties or the bands unwillingness to tour in South America owing to security concerns as the final straw, though other band members have commented that his somewhat acerbic personality was one of the major contributing factors to the groups lineup instability. For many fans, Walkyiers lyrics and delivery style were one of the bands central attractions, and there were fears that his departure spelled the end of the band. After replacing drummer Jay Graham (who left shortly after Walkyier) and moving Kevin Ridley onto vocals, the group sprang into action to remedy these fears with 2002's No Daylights... Nor Heel Taps which featured studio recordings of "Irish Pub versions" of Skyclad classics by the new line-up, proceeded by a single, 2001's "Swords of a Thousand Men". The single's title track, a cover tune (originally recorded by Ten Pole Tudor), also appeared on Folkémon as a bonus track, although in a different version. The single featured two recordings of the track, one of them with Ridley on vocals and one with Ridley sharing the microphone with Ten Pole Tudor's vocalist Edward Tudor-Pole. The single/album release was accompanied by the 'The Same...But Different' tour, the largest Skyclad had undertaken for many years. Also in 2001 the band released Another Fine Mess, which featured live recordings from 1995 and the contents of the Outrageous Fourtunes EP. 2004's A Semblance of Normality marks the bands first new material post-Walkyier (there had been some unpleasantness between Walkyier and the other band members over copyrights and royalties for his lyrics, as well as the release of tracks featuring him), keeps very much in the vein of previous releases, with Ridley's lyrics making an obvious effort to follow similar themes and styles to Walkyiers whilst retaining an individual identity. The album has probably been the most widely received of their releases, probably due to better distribution and word-of-mouth advertising, and has received much critical acclaim, especially in the English-speaking world, where, ironically (given the use of inventive wordplay in their titles and lyrics, much of it aimed at native English speakers), the band is almost unknown. However, in South America and mainland Europe they have been extremely popular for many years, especially in Germany and Greece, where they've been regarded as the second biggest heavy metal band after Metallica, a situation on which band members have remarked with a sort of resignation in interviews.