Cruachan – Blood On The Black Robe

Releasedate: 18-04-2011; Label: Candlelight Records
By: Sabine van Gameren

Cruachan is a band from Ireland making Folk Metal. The band has been together since 1992 and the album “Blood On The Black Robe” is their sixth full length release.

The band have changed a bit on their style since vocalist Karen left. The folk element will never leave them, but some harder attitude comes all over it and the fact that the band is currently signed with Candlelight Records says a lot. The band takes long instrumental parts as their basis and form the rest of their music around it. Some older instruments have been used, those that typically come with a folk band but yet surprising in the music somehow. Even though the band has quite a hard approach and a Metal background, the music does not really work for those who are not specifically lovers of Folk. It is in there and you can’t ignore it, which should not be done anyway as that is exactly what makes the band what they are, but after a couple of songs it may sound a bit whining and if they attempt to win a crowd outside of the group that stereotypically loves this music, they won’t get far with it. Musically, the band makes good songs, but did not convince me at all to listen more music of them/ Enough is enough, and one album is enough for now.

Line Up:
Keith “Fay” O’Fathaigh – Vocals, Guitar, Bodhran, Mandolin, Bouzouki, Banjo, Percussion
John Clohessy – Bass, Backing Vocals
Colin Purcell – Drums, Percussion
John Ryan Will – Tin Whistle, Violin, Banjo, Bouzouki, Keyboards
John “Fay” O’Fathaigh – Irish Flute, Tin Whistle, Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistle

Tracklist: 01.To War 02.I Am Warrior 03.The Column 04.The Kingdom Gone 05.An Bean Sidhe 06.Blood On The Black Robe 07.Primeval Odium 08.The Voyage Of Bran 09.Brian Boru’s March 10.Pagen Hate 11.The Nine Year War

Links:
Cruachan MySpace