It’s happened again. Stumped on what to pick as album of the month. As every year, we honour mental health awareness month by picking an album that’s helps us through dark periods of ill mental health and/or resonate with us. Both albums I have picked helped me in two very different ways.
Marko Hietala – Pyre Of The Black Heart
Even though this album was released in 2020, I have only come across it recently and it’s incredibly cathartic. I have been really struggling mentally lately and to listen to something that matches how you feel is incredibly comforting. The album itself contains remarkable melodies that hit your soul and take your breath away. These include the dark yet sensational Stones, the emotional Voice Of My Father, the vast and epic sounding I Am The Way and the folkish, rock Runner Of The Railways. Marko Hietala is one of my favourite vocalists and this album showcases it at it’s best. The album is a great comfort if you are going through a hard time, it reassures us we aren’t alone.
Find Marko Hietala on Facebook.
Battle Born – Blood, Fire, Magic And Steel
The moment I pressed play on this gallant record, I knew I was going to include this in my album of the month post. Over the past few years, BATTLE BORN have become one of my go to bands when I need a morale boost and their latest album is full of tracks that will make the most tedious of tasks feel like a mighty feat. Leading up to this release, there was a triology of powerful singles; Fire Storm, Blood And Fire and Dragon Heart. I recognised some of the tracks from their previous live shows such as the empowering party anthem Down Your Drinks And Raise Your Swords and the fist pumping Power Force. My personal favourites that I hadn’t heard in the live setting were The Endless Grey and Meridia; The Endless Grey is a beautiful ballad that brought my emotions to the surface and Meridia is bombastic melody that brings that makes you feel heroic. Whilst I have been struggling mentally, this album has lifted me out of that dark hole. I am due to catch them on their tour very soon and look forward to feeling that morale lifted in the flesh.
Words: Lotty Whittingham
Find BATTLE BORN on Facebook.
What albums help you through tough times? Let us know in the comments below.
