Description
Black vinyl with lyric insert. Limited 350 numbered copies
The eighth wonder of the world: Skyclads 1997 album “The Answer Machine” might be the album where the band found a balanced sound in which the folk and the metal were both symmetrically represented. This is just like most Claddies releases a near perfect album but there also this one or two less great tracks that seems to show up on most of their releases. This time its “Fainting By Numbers” and “Dead Angels On Ice” that very well could have been lifted off from the album. However, with those exceptions, this is a perfect album. As far as the songs, the highlights are many, Building A Ruin, Worn Out Sole To Heel, Single Phial, Isle Of Jura, My Naked I, Eirenarch, Helium and (I think you get the point) are all classics. As with all of Skyclad’s work (until when he left the band), Martin Walkyier has written some of the wittiest satirical lyrics of any metal band. Through a combination of play on words, sarcasm, irony, and a bit of nihilism, Walkyier has always been my favorite lyricists for any metal band. This album like many of their earlier efforts provides some of those lyrics that can make you laugh and think about the futile efforts of the doomed human race all at the same time. As far as the music itself, like I said earlier, this album balances out the folk and metal evenly and effectively. Some songs are heavy and show that Skyclad is undeniably a metal band (Eirenarch), while others show the mellower, folkier sound that Skyclad is known for (Single Phial). Some songs are very upbeat and happy (Helium), while others can be slower moody songs (Isle of Jura). Then there are the perfect songs like Building A Ruin which prove that Skyclad is at the top of the Folk Metal food chain. There are many who would complain that this isn’t metal enough, but for those who can take a break from some of the more traditional extreme metal bands, Skyclad’s “The Answer Machine?” is the album to pick up.
Track listing:
1. A Clown Of Thorns
2. Building A Ruin
3. Worn Out Sole To Heel
4. Single Phial
5. Helium
6. The Thread Of Evermore
7. Eirenarch
8. Troublesometimes
9. Isle Of Jura
10. Fainting By Numbers
11. My Naked I
12. Catherine At The Wheel
13. Dead Angels On Ice