THE VIKINGS ARE COMING

Týr are embarking on their next adventure with their own record label and a new album. In December, the Faroese musicians will return to Switzerland with their melodic progressive folk-metal anthems. Even on their tenth album, Týr remain open to new influences while staying true to their unmistakable Viking prog. Pack your drinking horns and get ready to roar along to old and new singalong favourites at the top of your voices.

Support Acts: Twilight Force, Dragonland, Vanaheim

In January 2025, following their appearance at the revived Paganfest at Z7, Týr wrote on their social media channels: “Pratteln! We have played at your wonderful venue, Z7, so many times, but this was definitely the best time we have ever had there.” Bueheres.com were present at Paganfest and reviewed Týr’s performance as follows: “The majestic melodies and powerful vocals of Heri Joensen completely captivated the audience. It was particularly impressive to see how synchronously the band combined their multi-part vocals with the powerful guitar arrangements. Songs such as ‘Blood of Heroes’ sparked an enthusiasm that swept along both longtime fans and newcomers. The atmosphere during the performance was electrifying and practically made the hall boil.” In December 2026, this is set to be surpassed once again. Týr will then return to Z7 as headliners of a fine folk-metal package. With their unique blend of heavy metal and Faroese ballads, a melodic and harmonious take on folk/viking metal, and progressive influences, Týr have carved out a unique niche in the metal universe since their debut in 2002. Particularly distinctive within the genre is their consistent use of clean vocals and the complete absence of growls. In the Faroe Islands, this style of music is now known as kvæðamálmur (ballad metal). Its themes are rooted in Norse mythology, while the lyrics are mostly in Faroese or English. In recent years, the band have travelled constantly around the world with their anthems: among other things, they toured North America with Children Of Bodom and sailed the seas in true Viking fashion on the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise. The band’s tenth album will be released this year, the first on their own record label. At the beginning of the year, Týr announced that they wanted to take their musical destiny into their own hands so that the rights to their songs would belong 100% to the band forever. The video podcast offers fascinating insights into the making of the new album. It is well worth watching.

Twilight Force: Fifteen years ago, six musicians in the central Swedish provincial capital of Falun set themselves a clear goal. They wanted to make the heart of power metal beat more strongly again and, inspired by bands such as Stratovarius and Rhapsody, give it a more modern touch. Twilight Force immediately got off to a flying start, taking fans into a magical world full of myths, adventures and heroic tales with their debut album “Tales Of Ancient Prophecies” (2014). Twelve years, three albums and a few line-up changes later, a new chapter in the history of Twilight Force will be opened in 2026: “Brave knights, rejoice and celebrate. A new dawn is breaking. Twilight Force are proud and overjoyed to announce that a new and mighty alliance has been forged. Together with the unwavering label Napalm Records, we will face new challenges and embark on a journey towards a bright and exciting future,” the band announced on its information channels. With the single “Magic Of A New Dawn”, the symphonic power metallers are celebrating their newly signed record deal. The first taste of the new album once again transports fans into a fantastic world of mystical adventures, accompanied by the quintessential Twilight Force sound. Keyboardist Blackwald reveals about the song: “Life is like a magical book, full of secrets, wonders, wisdom and unforeseen events. Trials and difficulties sometimes appear when you least expect them. But whenever sorrow and hardship appear on your path, remember that there is always hope and magic. Follow your destiny with perseverance, steadfastness and courage. The prophecies will lead you to glory, and the power of the Ancient Force will always be with you!” Twilight Force have left no stone unturned to create yet another of the most overwhelming anthems power metal has ever heard.

Dragonland: For more than two decades, Dragonland have been a mainstay of the Swedish power-metal scene. Founded in Gothenburg in 1999, the band attracted attention with their debut album “The Battle Of The Ivory Plains” (2001) and established themselves with the follow-ups “Holy War” (2002) and “Starfall” (2004) as a hidden gem for fans of epic melodic and symphonic power metal. With catchy choruses, virtuoso guitars and opulent keyboard arrangements, Dragonland create an atmospheric soundscape shaped by fantasy stories and mythical tales. In particular, the concept album “Under The Grey Banner” (2011), based on a fantasy saga created especially for it, is regarded by many followers as a milestone in the band’s history. After a lengthy break from releasing music, Dragonland made an impressive return in 2022 with “The Power Of The Nightstar”, once again demonstrating their flair for grand melodies and cinematic arrangements. The rarely touring outfit has been considered a cult band of the European power-metal scene for years – making it all the more wonderful that they can now be experienced live again for the first time in a long while, enriching the bill of this special concert evening.

Vanaheim: The Dutch-Belgian-German band Vanaheim aim to bring back the golden era of folk metal and restore the genre to new glory. Their debut album “Een Verloren Verhaal” made a meteor-like impact on the scene in 2022 and was named “Album of the Year” by several scene journalists. The hype brought the band to the stages of major festivals across Europe, including Graspop Metal Meeting, Wacken Open Air, Wave Gotik Treffen and Milagre Metaleiro. They have toured with genre veterans such as Manntra, Heidevolk and Ensiferum, and played as support for Alestorm and Equilibrium. Vanaheim have worked hard to earn their place at the heart of the scene and are now ready to take the next big step. Following their success, the band signed a record deal with Fireflash Records, joined forces with MasterMoldMusic as their management team and found a trusted booking partner in RTN Touring. On 4 September 2026, Vanaheim will release their highly anticipated second album. Entitled “Roede voor de Borst”, it tells tragic, emotional and gripping stories of remorse, despair, hope and redemption. With its compelling blend of symphonic heaviness, elegant folk-inspired melodies and earthy death-metal riffs, “Roede voor de Borst” is not only the next step in Vanaheim’s career, but also raises epic folk metal to an entirely new level.