Skyclad - The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth

This is the one and only Skyclad album that truly "does it" for me. The album after this (1992's 'A Burnt Offering for the Bone God'), although stylistically the same as this album in terms of it's death/thrash delivery, sounded rather tired and spent with none too many mind blowing moments to spare and Skyclad would become increasingly fruitier with each release as the allure of folk inspired "tavern metal" became to great for them to ignore.

On 'The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth', Skyclad were at their most vicious. The lion's share of material here does not sound far removed from that of vocalist Martin Walkyier's previous band, Sabbat. In fact, had this been released under the Sabbat moniker instead, I highly doubt anyone would have been the wiser.

Walkyier's vocals are just as witchy and venomous as they were in Sabbat and his lyrics just as punny and poetic. The majority of the songs here are in the razor sharp thrash style, though there are a few breathers in the form of "Irish jigs" and acoustic laden poetry sessions, which both fit in just fine.

This album is actually one of my favorites and I was always a little bummed that Skyclad did not keep the momentum of this release going a little bit longer throughout their career.