Skyclad "Folkémon"

Folkémon is the tenth studio album by the British folk metal band Skyclad. It is the last album the band recorded with Martin Walkyier as vocalist. As is normal with the band's works under Walkyier, the album's lyrical themes deal with politics, environmentalism, spirituality and personal issues.

The album's title was thought up after one of the band members read in a newspaper that, according to a survey, more children recognised the Pokémon character Pikachu than the current Prime Minister. The theme is continued in the liner notes, with the band members listed, for example, as 'Folkémon trainers'.

The front cover art and the three illustrations in the lyric-booklet are by Duncan Storr, longtime Skyclad collaborator.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Martin Walkyier; all music composed by Steve Ramsey and Graeme English.

Track 4 lyrics adapted from 'The Storm', a poem by Alison LR Davies.

1. "The Great Brain Robbery" Steve Ramsey 4:34
2. "Think Back and Lie of England" Graeme English 4:59
3. "Polkageist!" Ramsey 4:01
4. "Crux of the Message" Ramsey 4:52
5. "The Disenchanted Forest" Ramsey 7:10
6. "The Antibody Politic" English 3:18
7. "When God Logs-Off" English 3:09
8. "You Lost My Memory" English 5:57
9. "Déjà-Vu Ain't What It Used to Be" Ramsey 5:45
10. "Any Old Irony?" English 3:52
11. "Swords of a Thousand Men" (Bonus track) Edward Tudor-Pole Edward Tudor-Pole 2:47

Bonus track written and composed by Edward Tudor-Pole. On US release (Nuclear Blast NBA6502-2), this bonus track was 'hidden'.

"Think Back and Lie of England" is a wordplay on the English popular expression "Lie Back and Think of England".

Recording information:

Recorded at Trinity Heights, Newcastle, United Kingdom.

Mixed at Moles Studios, Bath, United Kingdom.

Co-produced Skyclad.