A single year can do a lot for a band, in particular when the motivation is on the rise and there is a lot to accomplish in order to make the huge impact on the Metal market. The release of the sophomore album, "A Burnt Offering For The Bone Idol", SKYCLAD took a step forward in their journey to become a prominent Folk Metal band. The addition of another lead guitarist and the recruiting of the Folk multi-instrumentalist, let to the installment of yet another slab in their foundation and a positive repercussion on their material. A push of the boundaries with further experimentation is always welcome, and when the will is strong, everything can happen.

Still bound by a considerate Thrash through Heavy Metal influence as their core, a developmental process was undergoing. SKYCLAD took on a rather traditional, simpler template, observing the fact that the carried out complexity featured on the debut cleared room for extra sections of Folk arrangements. Nonetheless, the album contains a good number of hooking riffs and notable soloing, which some tended to become over the top, which is every course considered as profound. It can be inferred that "A Burnt Offering For The Bone Idol" is lesser of a biting album music wise, rather far off the old SABBAT direction and more into establishing an own new identity. Martin Walkyier is still harsh on the vocal line, preaching his somewhat political chants for everyone to heed, yet also takes on a much clearer edge of singing, revealing an implacable voice that is down right one with the music.

As an enthusiastic sucker for the heavier moments of the genre, I turned upside down with my chosen pick of the album's finest. The closing tune "Alone in Death's Shadow", adhering the dramatic chain of events of what I perceived as the last moments of a dying man, left its eminence on the entire release along with another clue to what SKYCLAD are up to. In overall, it developed into a sort of a METALLICA balladry, venturing their mid to late 80s albums, lightly distorted, followed by harmonic acoustics only to send a sharp gaze into heavy riffery, pushing up to the climax. "The Declaration of Indifference", bearing the composer's complicated state of mind and mood swings, is possibly one of the better blending of solid Heavy, almost Thrash, Metal delivery, delivering strong riffing with well-played Folk elements. "Men of Straw" on the other hand, maintained the memory of the debut album, sharing a heavier tone, yet with the coming of the heavier Metal output, the new order took its hold with is an impressive show of rhythm bass work while acoustical melodies and violins stepped in to lead the charge. I can't say that I was over rejoiced by the album's regarded tune "Spinning Jenny", yet I could see its potential and its importance to the band's process of evolution. Other recommended songs: "A Broken Promised Land", "Salt on the Earth (Another Man's Poison)" and "Ring Stone Round".

SKYCLAD's musical trial and error, or into simpler terms: gamble, year after year is quite an interesting process to be a witness of. There have been substantial changes between the debut and the sophomore, which means that things might shake down on the upcoming third.