|
|
| |
Origin: Ireland |
|
| |
This page updated 09.22.07 |
|
I feel that one of the most intriguing sub-genres of metal is that which infuses Celtic music, Irish in particular, into the more traditional classic and extreme music we call heavy metal. Cruachan is the band that manages to meld these two diverse musical styles together most seemlessly. Founded in 1992 by Keith Fay, ex-Minas Tirith, Cruachan could have been classified as a Black Metal band. Even then the band incorporated traditional Irish instruments into their unique sound. The metal elements of their music soon began to gravitate to more a more classic heavy metal sound, but the band broke up in 1997 before securing a contract with a new label. Fan interest prompted Keith to reform the band in 1999, and their second album was soon released to positive reviews. Cruachan's third album, Folk-Lore, refined their sound slightly and included some traditional Irish folk tunes set to metal arrangements. Pagan is a bit of a return to their roots with more black metal elements than on their previous album. They certainly have carved out a unique place in the world of metal, and the future looks very promising for this group. They are definitely one of my favorite bands.
Click here to read Harvest Moon's interview with Keith Fay!
| Karen Gilligan (1999- ) |
vocals, percussion |
| Keith Fay |
guitars, vocals |
| John Clohessy |
bass |
| Joe Farrell (1999- ) |
drums |
Previous Members
| Aisling Hanrahan (1995-1997) |
vocals |
| Jay Brennan (1992-1997) |
acoustic guitar |
| Jay O'Neill (1992-1997) |
drums |
| John O'Fathaigh (1992-2002) |
flute, tin-whistle, pipes |
| Ed Gilbert (2003) |
keyboards, banjo, tin whistle |
| Tuatha Na Gael |
(1995)
N.E.P. |
Track Listing
1) I Am Tuan
2) The First Battle of Moytura
3) Maeves' March
4) Fall of Gondolin
5) Cuchulainn
6) Tain Bo Cuailgne
7) To Invoke The Horned God
8) Brian Boru
9) To Moytura We Return |
Lineup:
Keith Fay - vocals, guitars, keyboards
Jay Brennan - acoustic guitar
John Clohessy - bass
Jay O'Neill - drums
John O'Fathaigh - tin whistle, flute |
 |
|
|
| The Middle Kingdom |
(2000)
Hammerheart |
Track Listing
1) A Celtic Mourning
2) Celtics (Voice of Morrigan)
3) The Fianna
4) A Druids Passing
5) Is Fuair an Chroi
6) Cattle Raid of Cooley
7) The Middle Kingdom
8) O ro se do bheatha bhaile
9) Unstabled (Steeds of Macha)
10) The Butterfly |
Lineup:
Karen Gilligan - vocals, percussion
Keith Fay - vocals, guitars, keyboards
Jay Brennan - acoustic guitar
John Clohessy - bass
Joe Farrell - drums
John O'Fathaigh - tin whistle, flute |
 |
|
|
| Folk-lore |
(2002)
Hammerheart |
Track Listing
1) Bloody Sunday
2) Victory Reel
3) Death of a Gael
4) The Rocky Road to Dublin
5) Ossian's Return
6) Spancill Hill
7) The Children of Lir
8) Ride On
9) Susie Moran
10) Exiles
11) To Invoke the Horned God |
Lineup:
Karen Gilligan - vocals, percussion
Keith Fay - vocals, guitars, keyboards
Jay Brennan - acoustic guitar
John Clohessy - bass
Joe Farrell - drums
John O'Fathaigh - tin whistle, flute
HMM Review
 |
 |
|
|
| Pagan |
(2004)
Karmageddon Media |
Track Listing
1) Michael Collins
2) Pagan
3) The Gael
4) Ard Rí na Heireann
5) The March To Cluain Tairbh
6) Viking Slayer
7) 1014 A.D.
8) Some Say The Devil Is Dead
9) Summoning The Sidhe
10) A Thousand Years
11) Lament For The Wild Geese
12) Erinsong
13) The Fall Of Gondolin |
Lineup:
Karen Gilligan - vocals, percussion
Keith Fay - vocals, guitars, keyboards
John Clohessy - bass
Joe Farrell - drums |
 |
|
|
| The Morrigan's Call |
(2006)
Karmageddon Media |
Track Listing
1) Shelob
2) The Brown Bull of Cooley
3) Coffin Ships
4) The Great Hunger
5) The Old Woman in the Woods
6) Ungoliant
7) The Morrigan's Call
8) Téir Abhaile Riú
9) Wolfe Tone
10) The Very Wild Rover
11) Cuchulainn
12) Diarmuid and Grainne |
Lineup:
Karen Gilligan - vocals, percussion
Keith Fay - vocals, guitars, keyboards
John Clohessy - bass
Joe Farrell - drums |
 |
|
|
|
|
