Cruachan
Cruachan (kroo-a-khawn) is a Celtic and black metal band from Dublin, Irela… Read Full Bio ↴Cruachan (kroo-a-khawn) is a Celtic and black metal band from Dublin, Ireland that has been active since the 1990s. They have been acclaimed as having "gone the greatest lengths of anyone in their attempts to expand" the genre of folk metal. They are recognised as one of the founders of the genre of folk metal. With a specific focus on Celtic music and the use of Celtic mythology in their lyrics, Cruachan's style of folk metal is known as Celtic metal. The band named themselves after the archaeological site of Rathcroghan in Ireland also known as Cruachan.
Keith Fay had formed a Tolkien-inspired black metal band by the name of Minas Tirith in 1991. Around the same time, he began listening to more folk music and picked up Skyclad's debut album The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth. Originally released in 1990, this "ambitious" and "groundbreaking" album made an impact on Fay and he set out to combine black metal with the folk music of Ireland. In 1992, Keith Fay formed Cruachan with a demo recording distributed in 1993. Keith Fay also credits the Irish rock band Horslips as a "huge influence on Cruachan," further noting that "what they were doing in the 70's is the equivalent of what we do now."
The year 1995 saw the release of Cruachan's debut album Tuatha Na Gael, an album that "suffered under poor production." On the strength of this album, the band received attention from Century Media. The band found it amazing to receive interest from "such a big label" but were dismayed at the terms and conditions of the offered recording deal. They refused to sign a "very poor contract" that would have given the record label "the rights to change every aspect of our music." After "lengthy negotiations failed to yield a deal with Century Media Records", the band disbanded in 1997.
Cruachan reformed in January 1999 and after signing a recording deal with Hammerheart Records, they released a second album The Middle Kingdom in 2000. By this time, the band had dropped the black metal style in favor of a more traditional metal sound. They also expanded the roster by inviting guest vocalist Karen Gilligan to be a full-fledged member of the group. Their subsequent album Folk-Lore was co-produced by Shane McGowan of The Pogues fame. Shane McGowan also contributed vocals to two covers of traditional Irish songs, "Spancill Hill" and "Ride On." The latter was released as a single and the band experienced a small taste of commercial success when it entered the Irish charts.
The band released their fourth studio album Pagan in 2004 with cover artwork by John Howe. The production on the album was subsequently criticized by frontman Keith Fay as "terrible". In 2005, the band parted ways with their label Karmageddon Media "on good terms." For the band's fifth album, Cruachan returned to the same Sun Studios where they had recorded their first three albums. The result was The Morrigan's Call, an effort that Keith Fay described as their "best work to date, in every aspect." The album was released in November 2006 through AFM Records. Drummer Joe Farrell left the band shortly thereafter due to "personal reasons" and was replaced by Colin Purcell.
A further line-up change occurred in December 2008 as vocalist Karen Gilligan left the band "on good terms for various reasons." Keith Fay announced that he "will take over full-time vocal duties while John Ryan and John O' Fathaigh will take on backing vocal roles."
A demo was recorded in 2010 which showed Cruachan's return to a much harder more Black Metal influenced style. This demo was sent to specific record labels only and Candlelight Records UK signed Cruachan in June 2010. The latest Cruachan album, Blood on the Black Robe, was released in 2011.
Keith Fay had formed a Tolkien-inspired black metal band by the name of Minas Tirith in 1991. Around the same time, he began listening to more folk music and picked up Skyclad's debut album The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth. Originally released in 1990, this "ambitious" and "groundbreaking" album made an impact on Fay and he set out to combine black metal with the folk music of Ireland. In 1992, Keith Fay formed Cruachan with a demo recording distributed in 1993. Keith Fay also credits the Irish rock band Horslips as a "huge influence on Cruachan," further noting that "what they were doing in the 70's is the equivalent of what we do now."
The year 1995 saw the release of Cruachan's debut album Tuatha Na Gael, an album that "suffered under poor production." On the strength of this album, the band received attention from Century Media. The band found it amazing to receive interest from "such a big label" but were dismayed at the terms and conditions of the offered recording deal. They refused to sign a "very poor contract" that would have given the record label "the rights to change every aspect of our music." After "lengthy negotiations failed to yield a deal with Century Media Records", the band disbanded in 1997.
Cruachan reformed in January 1999 and after signing a recording deal with Hammerheart Records, they released a second album The Middle Kingdom in 2000. By this time, the band had dropped the black metal style in favor of a more traditional metal sound. They also expanded the roster by inviting guest vocalist Karen Gilligan to be a full-fledged member of the group. Their subsequent album Folk-Lore was co-produced by Shane McGowan of The Pogues fame. Shane McGowan also contributed vocals to two covers of traditional Irish songs, "Spancill Hill" and "Ride On." The latter was released as a single and the band experienced a small taste of commercial success when it entered the Irish charts.
The band released their fourth studio album Pagan in 2004 with cover artwork by John Howe. The production on the album was subsequently criticized by frontman Keith Fay as "terrible". In 2005, the band parted ways with their label Karmageddon Media "on good terms." For the band's fifth album, Cruachan returned to the same Sun Studios where they had recorded their first three albums. The result was The Morrigan's Call, an effort that Keith Fay described as their "best work to date, in every aspect." The album was released in November 2006 through AFM Records. Drummer Joe Farrell left the band shortly thereafter due to "personal reasons" and was replaced by Colin Purcell.
A further line-up change occurred in December 2008 as vocalist Karen Gilligan left the band "on good terms for various reasons." Keith Fay announced that he "will take over full-time vocal duties while John Ryan and John O' Fathaigh will take on backing vocal roles."
A demo was recorded in 2010 which showed Cruachan's return to a much harder more Black Metal influenced style. This demo was sent to specific record labels only and Candlelight Records UK signed Cruachan in June 2010. The latest Cruachan album, Blood on the Black Robe, was released in 2011.
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Cruachan Lyrics
"Michael Collins" A volunteer in his nations struggle Another soldier in the…
03-Death Of A Gael A warrior so proud of the woman by his side, His…
04 The Fall of Gondolin The most beautiful city built on the middle-earth It's spl…
07 1014 A.D. [Instrumental]…
09-Susie Moran Life for you it was not easy, And at times was…
10.14 A.D [Instrumental]…
11 to invoke the horned God He holds a twisted torch in his hand, The forests are…
A Druids Passing See the stone circle on the hilltop, Shining in the light…
A Thousand Years As I look out across the sea I stand proud but…
An Bean Sidhe In the dead of night you will hear me cry, I…
Ard ri na hEirann A tale of honor I will now tell About a man,…
Ard Rí Na Heireann A tale of honor I will now tell About a man,…
Blood For The Blood God Prepare the first born child, cleanse the infant's skin Wr…
Blood on the Black Robe Chieftains and Elders hear my words, As I tell of my…
Bloody Sunday Remember well the 30th of January, The feeling of dread that…
Celtica On the ground he lays, His lifeblood drains from him, The …
Celtica (Voice of the Morrigan) On the ground he lays, His lifeblood drains from him, The ba…
Children of Lir (Music: KF, JF Words: KF) In a time of myth and…
CuChulainn The Hound of Culann, the Hound of Ulster, He is of…
Death of a Gael A warrior so proud of the woman by his side, His…
Diarmuid and Grainne The years they passed like a flowing stream In a highland…
Erinsong I am the wind that blows over the sea I…
Exiles Loneliness was all she knew, Because of her God sent beauty.…
Fall of Gondolin The most beautiful city built on the middle-earth It's spl…
I Am Warrior Here I stand, I am naked and bloody, My fists are…
Is Fuair an Chroě Medb; You said you would always be there, You said you…
Is Fuair an Chroí Medb; You said you would always be there, You said you…
Michael Collins A volunteer in his nations struggle Another soldier in the…
ó ró sé do bheatha abhaile [Chorus] Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile, Oró, sé do bheatha abha…
Oro Se Do Bheatha Abhaile (Chorus) Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile, Oró, sé do bheatha a…
Ossian The sky was grey and leaden, Wolves howling on the wind. A…
Ossian's Return The sky was grey and leaden, Wolves howling on the wind. Abo…
Pagan A scourge on the world from the earliest days Christ,…
Pagan Hate Fire - Burning - cleaning the lie, The light is burning…
Primeval Odium There is a pain inside me A pain as old as…
Return The sky was grey and leaden, Wolves howling on the wind. Abo…
Ride On You say you ride the finest horse I've ever seen Standing…
Sauron From the south a shadow will rise, With blackened soul and…
Shelob A tyrant so evil, so nasty, so vile, a beast with…
Some Say the Devil Is Dead Some say the devil is dead, the devil is dead,…
Spancill Hill Last night as I lay dreaming Of pleasant days gone by, Me…
Susie Moran Life for you it was not easy, And at times was…
Tain Bo Cuailgne I see a battle-A blonde man, With much blood about his…
Téir Abhaile Riú Téir abhaile riú, téir abhaile riú, Téir abhaile riú a Mhary…
The Brown Bull of Cooley Maeve was a queen with a passion for war. She had…
The Children of Lir In a time of myth and magic, Lived a man of…
The Column Arise, arise, hear th call of the land, To arms, to…
The Death Of A Gael A warrior so proud of the woman by his side, His…
The Fall of Gondolin The most beautiful city built on the middle-earth It's spl…
The Fianna When evening in Eireann was gray, Before the dawn went away…
The First Battle of Moytura They came here when the sun was high. The sea was…
The Gael I hear you calling Your voice so fair I reach…
The Great Hunger We are alone in this cursed land, left to die…
The Hawthorn In darkest night, in witching night Among the hawthorn-o Whe…
The Middle Kingdom We who are old yet fair of face, Thousands of years…
The Morrigan's Call I fall to my knees, I await my death. A fallen…
The Nine Year War "Come ye Gaelic chiefs and raise your banners high, Let loo…
The Old Woman in the Woods There was an old woman and she lived in the…
The Rocky Road to Dublin In the merry month of June, from me home I…
The Very Wild Rover I've been the wild rover for many's a year, And I've…
The Voyage of Bran Bran walked alone to ease his mind, To reflect on life…
The_Middle_Kingdom We who are old yet fair of face, Thousands of years…
Thy Kingdom Gone Holy man take a look at the world See the terror…
To Hell or to Connaught We fled for our lives on a winter's eve, Cold but…
To Invoke the Horned God He holds a twisted torch in his hand, The forests are…
To Moytura We Return On the day of the De Danann rule, Breas ruled the…
Ungoliant Evil incarnate from the depths of night, a monstrous creatu…
Unstabled Roaming, wandering, Left in fields just sauntering. Sold off…
Viking Slayer I watch the sky turning black And know the time…
Wolfe Tone Born in occupied Dublin town, as the sun shone down…