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
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Wolves howling on the wind.
Above the land of Tír Na n-Óg
The ancient calm still reigned.
"I long to stand on my home shore",
Said Ossian in a glare.
"But Ossian love, the is your home",
She seen the look upon his face,
She knew the pain he felt.
He longed to be home among his race,
With his ring-sword strapped to his belt.
"Return my love to the land of man
but be warned time rests heavily there,
Come back to me if ever you can,
Back to the land of the fair."
"Do not dismount from the steed you ride,
From this world it belongs.
If you dismount you shall fall by its side,
To be remembered only in faerie songs".
He galloped across the faerie seas,
Back to the land of man.
Watched by the Gods and the Daoine Sídhe,
His life to end as it began.
"I have returned", he said aloud,
But no one was there to hear.
His noble home once bold and proud,
Had crumbled through the many years.
A power had come into the land,
To threaten the olden ways.
The people ignore the ancient Gods,
They bid farewell to a golden age.
Ossian stopped his gallant steed,
He could see some people ahead.
"Help us please, our brother are trapped-
Beneath this dolmen", they said.
He leaned down from his mount,
And gripped the dolmen firm.
From the earth the rocks was freed,
The people beneath unharmed.
But from the strain his saddle broke,
To the earth he was cast.
A cry of pain burst from his throat,
The years now caught him at last.
In Tír Na n-Óg Niamh shed a tear,
When she saw the rider-less horse.
Ossian was gone, her greatest fear,
Her heart was full of deep remorse.
The lyrics to Cruachan's "Ossian's Return" tell the story of Ossian, a man who longs to return to his homeland. The song sets a somber tone from the start, with the grey and leaden sky setting a bleak mood. Ossian is not alone in his sadness, as wolves howl in the distance. However, the land of Tír Na n-Óg is calm and ancient - a stark contrast to Ossian's feelings.
Niamh of the golden hair empathizes with Ossian's longing to return home, but reminds him that Tír Na n-Óg is his home now. Ossian's pain is evident on his face, and Niamh knows that he longs to be back among his own people. She warns him not to dismount from his horse, as it does not belong in this world. Ossian ignores the warning and travels back to the land of man, where he finds that his once noble home has crumbled over the years. The people have abandoned the ancient ways and are threatened by a new power.
Ossian helps the people who are trapped under a dolmen, but his saddle breaks and he falls to the earth. He cries out in pain, and the years finally catch up with him. The song ends with Niamh shedding a tear for Ossian, who has returned to the land of the fair.
Overall, the lyrics of "Ossian's Return" are rich with imagery and emotion. The story of Ossian's longing for home and the eventual realization that things cannot stay the same forever is both poignant and relatable. The song also serves as a warning against forgetting the past and the importance of honoring traditions.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky was grey and leaden,
The atmosphere was dull and colorless.
Wolves howling on the wind.
The wolves were crying out into the wind.
Above the land of Tír Na n-Óg
It was over the land of Tír Na n-Óg that...
The ancient calm still reigned.
The ancient peace still peace prevailed.
"I long to stand on my home shore",
"I desire to set foot upon the land of my home" said...
Said Ossian in a glare.
Ossian spoke with a piercing stare.
"But Ossian love, the is your home",
"Your home is here Ossian, my love", replied...
Said Niamh of the golden hair.
Niamh whose hair was golden said this.
She seen the look upon his face,
She noticed the expression on his face.
She knew the pain he felt.
She understood the ache in him.
He longed to be home among his race,
His people was what he craved to be around.
With his ring-sword strapped to his belt.
His sword with a ring was fastened at his waist.
"Return my love to the land of man
"Go back to the land of humankind my love...
but be warned time rests heavily there,
Warned that time weighs heavily there,
Come back to me if ever you can,
Return back if it is possible,
Back to the land of the fair."
To the land of the fair people."
"Do not dismount from the steed you ride,
"Do not dismount from your horse...
From this world it belongs.
This animal belongs to this world.
If you dismount you shall fall by its side,
If you leave your mount, you will fall beside it,
To be remembered only in faerie songs".
Being remembered only in fairy songs."
He galloped across the faerie seas,
He rode across the fairy ocean,
Back to the land of man.
To the land of humankind.
Watched by the Gods and the Daoine Sídhe,
Being observed the Gods and Daoine Sidhe,
His life to end as it began.
His life would end where it had originated.
"I have returned", he said aloud,
"I have come back," he uttered,
But no one was there to hear.
But no one was present to listen.
His noble home once bold and proud,
His home had formerly been illustrious and proud,
Had crumbled through the many years.
Had decayed over several years.
A power had come into the land,
A strength had invaded that land,
To threaten the olden ways.
Endangering the ancient traditions.
The people ignore the ancient Gods,
The old Gods were being neglected by the people,
They bid farewell to a golden age.
They said goodbye to a time of prosperity.
Ossian stopped his gallant steed,
Ossian halted his brave horse,
He could see some people ahead.
He saw some individuals in the distance.
"Help us please, our brother are trapped-
"Help us, our sibling is trapped,"
Beneath this dolmen", they said.
They informed him that the same was below/beneath the dolmen.
He leaned down from his mount,
He bent down towards the ground from his horse's back,
And gripped the dolmen firm.
And firmly grasped the dolmen.
From the earth the rocks was freed,
The rocks were released from the soil,
The people beneath unharmed.
The individuals underneath were not hurt.
But from the strain his saddle broke,
However, while he was straining, his saddle was broken,
To the earth he was cast.
He was thrown towards the ground.
A cry of pain burst from his throat,
Painful moaning came out from his throat,
The years now caught him at last.
At last, time had caught up with him.
In Tír Na n-Óg Niamh shed a tear,
In Tír Na n-Óg, Niamh shed a tear,
When she saw the rider-less horse.
When she saw the horse without a rider.
Ossian was gone, her greatest fear,
Her biggest fear had turned true, and Ossian had gone,
Her heart was full of deep remorse.
She was plagued with a profound sense of guilt.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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