Rating: 7.5/10
Release: 29 May 2015
Label: Trollzorn

Argentina’s Skiltron (in conjunction with their label Trollzorn) have reissued their first 3 albums with bonus material on each album. Now, if you don’t have a least one Skiltron album in your collection already then what have you been doing? They are probably the biggest folk metal band from South America and have churned out 4 amazing folk metal albums releases over their 10+ year history. With some major festivals shows this summer (most notably Wacken) this is the perfect time for you to pick up these gems before you go see them if you don’t already own them. Each album has at least 5 bonus songs, either being demo or live versions of songs or a couple of covers (“The Ballad Of William Kidd” by Running Wild and “Spinning Jenny” by Skyclad) With a major Scottish/Celtic influence, Skiltron use the pipes and whistle better than most bands, even ones from the UK and Ireland. They tend to have songs that are anthems and get the crowd going for sure…. upbeat battle songs with a power metal feel…. think folk metal versions of Hammerfall or Lost Horizon come to mind. The live tracks do show how tight a band they are live and they are definitely a band I need to see live sometime soon (US dates please!!). I always have mixed feelings about reissues as they sometimes feel like “a money grab”…. repurposed/repackaged without a lot to make it worth your folk metal dollar. There is enough hear to make it something to consider but I wish they would have just put all on one release (bonus tracks that is) or at least give the option for those of us who already own the albums (me included). Again, for those that do not own these, they should immediately be in your collection for sure and with the bonus material, you are definitely getting your money’s worth for sure. For the rest that own the discography already, I will leave it up to you whether the bonuses are enough for you to repurchase. Hopefully they have a new album looming in the near future as that is what I will wait for…….

The Clans Have United (re-issue)
Tracklist

1. Tartan’s March
2. By Sword and Shield
3. Sixteen Years After
4. This Crusade
5. Rising Soul
6. Pagan Pride
7. Stirling Bridge
8. Gathering the Clans
9. Coming from the West
10. Across the Centuries
11. Spinning Jenny (Skyclad cover) (Bonus)
12. Gathering the Clans (demo version) (Bonus)
13. By Sword and Shield (demo version) (Bonus)
14. Sixteen Years After (demo version) (Bonus)
15. By Sword and Shield (instrumental version) (Bonus)
16. Coming from the West (instrumental version) (Bonus)

Beheading the Liars (re-issue)
Tracklist

1. Skiltron
2. The Beheading
3. I’m What You’ve Done
4. Praying Is Nothing
5. Calling Out
6. The Vision of Blind Harry
7. Hate Dance
8. Signs, Symbols and the Marks of Man
9. Let the Spirit Be
10. Fast and Wild
11. Crides
12. The Tartan Army (previously unreleased) (Bonus)
13. The Vision of Blind Harry (demo version) (Bonus)
14. Praying is Nothing (demo version) (Bonus)
15. The Vision of Blind Harry (live) (Bonus)
16. Praying is Nothing (live) (Bonus)
17. I’m What You’ve Done (live) (Bonus)
18. Skiltron (live) (Bonus)

The Highland Way (Re-issue)
Tracklist

1. Bagpipes of War
2. Between My Grave and Yours
3. One Way Journey
4. Awaiting Your Confession
5. A Last Regret
6. The Bonfire Alliance
7. Storm in Largs
8. St. Patrick’s Death
9. Through the Longest Way
10. Join the Clan
11. For Those Who Have Fallen in Battle
12. The Ballad of William Kidd (Running Wild cover) (Bonus)
13. Stirling Bridge (live) (Bonus)
14. By Sword and Shield (live) (Bonus)
15. Coming from the West (live) (Bonus)
16. Gathering the Clans (live) (Bonus)