Review by JD on August 22, 2010.

I saw this band’s name and it actually leapt out at me when it hit my desk. I smiled and stared at it for a few moments. I did not know what to be expecting from a band that was calling themselves Medusa’s Child. Let us see together what they bring, shall we (evil laughter ensues?.)

This German band is hard to actually pin down what it is that they do because there is so much going on in each track and throughout. Stylish Progressive Rock seems to flawlessly mingle with explosive Hard Rock with some so clear straight ahead metal that has hints of Gothic Metal as well. To me, Medusa’s Child is almost a bastardized marriage of styles that include 80's Power metallists Omen that then meets Savatage and ends up mixed with Ravens Cry and their countrymen Crematory. Pretty cool, huh?

Songs include varying topics like historical facts like the 'Wounded Knee', the destruction of the American Indian culture and the contradicting ideas towards faith... Medusa’s Child shows that they have the ability to write about anything they want with clarity, heart and passion. Then put it out there in a clear and precise manner. As far as lyrics go... these are some of the
most intelligent ever.

Moving lyrics, complex ideas, intelligent thoughts and seriously heavy... this band got it all and a infinite amounts of talent as well. If this was an atomic bomb, it would be rated ten million Megatons. Eclectic sounding to the hilt...but instantly becomes a dirty little pleasure as well. That is what happens when a quality band puts out an exceptional album... people listen.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8.5
Originality:8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by JD on August 22, 2010.

I saw this band’s name and it actually leapt out at me when it hit my desk. I smiled and stared at it for a few moments. I did not know what to be expecting from a band that was calling themselves Medusa’s Child. Let us see together what they bring, shall we (evil laughter ensues?.)

This German band is hard to actually pin down what it is that they do because there is so much going on in each track and throughout. Stylish Progressive Rock seems to flawlessly mingle with explosive Hard Rock with some so clear straight ahead metal that has hints of Gothic Metal as well. To me, Medusa’s Child is almost a bastardized marriage of styles that include 80's Power metallists Omen that then meets Savatage and ends up mixed with Ravens Cry and their countrymen Crematory. Pretty cool, huh?

Songs include varying topics like historical facts like the 'Wounded Knee', the destruction of the American Indian culture and the contradicting ideas towards faith... Medusa’s Child shows that they have the ability to write about anything they want with clarity, heart and passion. Then put it out there in a clear and precise manner. As far as lyrics go... these are some of the
most intelligent ever.

Moving lyrics, complex ideas, intelligent thoughts and seriously heavy... this band got it all and a infinite amounts of talent as well. If this was an atomic bomb, it would be rated ten million Megatons. Eclectic sounding to the hilt...but instantly becomes a dirty little pleasure as well. That is what happens when a quality band puts out an exceptional album... people listen.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8.5
Originality:8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Felix on July 9, 2019.

A Burnt Offering for the Bone Idol - this title appears as an omen for the excessive lyrics of the man with the overflowing pen, also known as Martin Walkyier. I confess I thought that his name is inseparably linked with Skyclad, but history told me that I was wrong. However, on the second album Walkyier still played the main role. His thousand words per song became a trademark, but not the only one. Skyclad were shaping their pretty individual style and they did it in a remarkable, multi-layered manner. 

The album has a darker touch than its predecessor, or am I just biased by the fact that Adolf Hitler's martial voice shows up in the intro? Either way, A Burnt Offering for the Bone Idol reflects the thoughtfulness of the formation. Lines like "So many causes I could die for - but I don't know which is right" speak volumes. Maybe the band overemphasized its more or less intellectual approach, because the stormy elements that characterized the highlights of the debut were on the retreat. This does not mean that the full-length lacks heaviness. Of course, there is an absolutely superfluous acoustic guitar number, but the debut had a comparable piece. Apart from this throwaway track, the band swings the axes and the pushy fiddle also tries to rock as good as possible. Nevertheless, the impulsive approach of songs like "Sky Beneath My Feet" is missing. 

But no need to cry - the vast majority of pieces scores with an enormous substance, effective guitar lines and comprehensible yet exciting structures. The folkloric elements do not gain the upper hand. Okay, the booklet of the re-issue announces that the band "created the folk metal genre single-handedly" and I agree that the somewhat quirky formation made its contribution to the birth process of this style. Nonetheless, here the metallic components dominate and the pretty opulent instrumentation - mandolin, violin, keyboards - does not cause damage. Quite the opposite, Skyclad combine all contributions in an impressive way. The full and comparatively warm sound puts the songs in the right light, the predominantly melancholic closer as well as the more vigorous tracks. "Spinning Jenny", maybe the most prominent song of the band, also profits from the well-succeeded sound, but the most impressive pieces are songs like the fatalistic "A Broken Promised Land", "Salt on the Earth (Another Man's Poison)" with its oriental beginning and the galloping guitars or "R'vannith" which scores with clearly defined riffs.

All in all, Skyclad manage comparatively complex patterns without neglecting the flow of the songs and this makes the album very accessible. Any kind of awkwardness does not show up, the experience of the musicians results in strong and expressive pieces. By the way, it's sad to know that Keith Baxter is already dead, R.I.P. - but it's a small comfort that the more or less innovative music of Skyclad lives on. And now I try to memorize the lyrics of this album... guess it won't take long - maybe I'll be back in roughly two years.

Rating: 7.8 out of 10