Týr began in January 1998. Heri Joensen met his old bandmate, Kári Streymoy, at a party in Copenhagen, Denmark. Joensen suggested to Streymoy that they should meet up and jam. Streymoy initially declined, but later took him up on his offer.
They were soon joined by another former bandmate, bassplayer Gunnar H. Thomsen, making the duo a trio. They began making music which was heavily inspired by Norse mythology, Faroese traditional music, and heavy metal music in general. According to the band's frontman Heri Joensen, Týr's "musical mission is to break down the walls that are erected between all the kinds of metal that have arisen over the years. Power-, doom-, black-, progressive-, gothic-, viking-, folk-, ethnic- and epic metal. Walls and labels do nothing but fill people with prejudice."[1]
The name of the band comes from Týr, a Norse god. Before Týr, Joensen and Thomsen formed their first band, at the age of seventeen. They called themselves Cruiser. Streymoy also played with them for a short while. They later changed their name to Wolfgang. Although neither band released any albums, Wolfgang lasted until 2000, which was long enough to record an undisclosed amount of songs that, according to Joensen are "pretty much ready to release.[2]"
Týr was a part of the Paganfest tour in Europe and the US in 2008, with Ensiferum headlining. Other bands on the tour included Eluveitie, Turisas in the US, and Moonsorrow and Korpiklaani joined them on the European part of the tour.
God Of War
Týr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Truth to life than my own
And forces of unseen kind
Beyond our imagination
At the end of the day
Right or wrong must depend on
Weak or strong, and how would we
Hang the last hangman
The truth is sad
Much wants more
Hang your head
Ask what for
We sacrifice
Blood and gore
Before the eyes
Of the God of War
I believe not life could ever exist
Without the survival of the fittest
Maybe this is the best
We can do with what we have
Should we not be grateful
Priviledged as we are
Walking this rugged old planet
Who are we to complain
Such is the nature of man
This was to be our lot
The truth is sad
Much wants more
Hang your head
Ask what for
We sacrifice
Blood and gore
Before the eyes
Of the God of War
The lyrics of the song "God of War" by Týr seem to defy the traditional notion of a supreme being or higher power. The singer starts by saying not to tell him that there is a higher truth to life than what he knows, and that forces beyond our imagination may exist. However, he then questions whether right or wrong depends on being weak or strong and how we would hang the last hangman. This implies that there might not be a divine justice or moral judgment in the world, only the power dynamic that determines who gets to make the rules and who suffers the consequences.
The rest of the lyrics suggest that life is a struggle for survival, and that the strong must dominate the weak. The idea of "survival of the fittest" is presented as the basic principle of existence, and the lyrics seem to justify the brutality and violence of human history as part of our natural lot. The singer acknowledges that the truth is sad and that much wants more, but he also suggests that we should be grateful for what we have and not complain about the harshness of life. The song ends with the repeated line "before the eyes of the God of War," which seems to assert that the only deity that exists is the one that represents the destructive and aggressive impulses of humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me not that there is a higher
Do not claim that there exists a superior
Truth to life than my own
Truth to life that is not mine
And forces of unseen kind
And invisible forces
Beyond our imagination
Beyond what we can conceive
At the end of the day
Ultimately
Right or wrong must depend on
Morality depends on
Weak or strong, and how would we
Strength and weakness, and how can we
Hang the last hangman
Execute the last executioner
I believe not life could ever exist
I do not think that life could exist
Without the survival of the fittest
Without the strongest surviving
Maybe this is the best
Perhaps this is the optimal
We can do with what we have
We can make do with our resources
Should we not be grateful
Should we not show appreciation
Priviledged as we are
Advantaged as we are
Walking this rugged old planet
Existing on this harsh planet
Who are we to complain
Why should we express discontent
Such is the nature of man
This is human nature
This was to be our lot
This was our fate
The truth is sad
The reality is disheartening
Much wants more
A lot craves more
Hang your head
Feel ashamed
Ask what for
Question what purpose
We sacrifice
We offer as tribute
Blood and gore
Bloodshed and violence
Before the eyes
In the presence
Of the God of War
Of the deity of war
Contributed by Vivian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hahaa
Surtur and Tyr are so chill, it's chilling.
Kratos is calm, reasonable and much more passive than his previous self.
Atries is past his rebellious phase, now growing as 'Loki from Jortur".
Freya has calmed down, out of her phase for vengeance for Baldur.
Ragnarok was one big therapy session for our protagonists. It is like, Greece pantheon was fraught with 'Evil' God's which made Kratos and Demios (Briefly) Angry and rebellious.
The Norse, in comparison, is far more sagacious; not 'Evil'. They have their own Garden(metaphor), which makes them worthy of being an adverse for our set of lunatics. Regardless, they are not 'Evil', they seem merely ungratified, flawed beings with impeccable intentions.
The Egyptian saga, if it follows the trend set by GOW Series, will feature a lot of polity of Gods as a race above man. Kratos dying after such development by hands of Egyptian pantheon will make him the true God of War. War ends in civilization.
OWN
Seeing the real Tyr makes you realize Odin was basically making a mockery of him when he imitated Tyr.
Alexis Dominguez
I felt the same way as well.
Emiliano Merendino
His intention probably, he wanted Atreus and Kratos to feel like allying with Asgard is the only option
ElectricWoodalu
Someone, I believe Mimir, actually makes this comment in the game after the reveal
Ben Kimber
I like how the real Týr isn't a traumatised pacifist. He has the calm composure and confidence of a warrior who has found peace, but there is a hint in his demeanor that while he has no intent to harm you, he still easily could. I would have loved to have seen him fight.
John Smith
Peace fortified with strength.
ei
Yeah. Odins tyr was kinda annoying. I wish we saw more of the real tyr..
Maybe in the future...tho i dont think there will be much more of this story...maybe they should just make more norse mythology games without the god of war (even tho i love the older, dad version of him)
God of Testo E
@ei well guess that was the intent of the devs. Make us think "how is this weakling became a god of war?". Lol
Space Cat
@ei wasnt the plan to unite all the gods of war? Tyr is the God of war in Norse mythology. Maybe in future games he will be with you, in the other Egypt games or asian games.
WitchyScribbles
Tyr telling Freya that her love saved her people and made them strong, after she was told by the Norns that she kills everyone she loves, was very moving.