Easily their best album yet and much more aggressive. Never would have thought they had it in them, fans of Skyclad should definitely check this one out.

Fucking awesome album..their best by far. The music can be aggressive,hard,calm,fast and slow all in one song

How does this album compare musically to their previous works? I've heard random snippets of them before but this is my fist full length. I don't remember it being quite so black metal influenced in the past? Maybe? I really like it this way, though!!

Written by Susan on 29.06.2011 at 23:22

How does this album compare musically to their previous works? I've heard random snippets of them before but this is my fist full length. I don't remember it being quite so black metal influenced in the past? Maybe? I really like it this way, though!!

This one is an attempt to go back to the original black metal sound that they had on their first album, which they later dropped on their other albums. The original sound these guys had wasn't very impressive, which is probably why they changed it by dropping the black metal influence, focusing more on the folk elements etc. Always found their music nice but nothing exceptional, until this one that is.

^Ah, I see. Thanks for explaining. It's nice when bands are able to successfully come full circle with their sound.... Having heard their early black metal sound do you think they were successful with this blend? Or do you prefer their more exclusively folk version?

I can't compare but I certainly like this blend.

I have to say I prefer the blend over the concentration on folk elements. Plenty of those here to enjoy but the black metal sound they've got here seems to be much better than what they attempted originally. I suppose they're well practiced in bringing in that wonderful Celtic sound but something about the way that they fuse that with the black metal sound just clicks for me.

I agree with what was said previously. This is the best I have heard from them. The vocals (which have never been their strong suit) are a bit weak, but overall this has much more bite than before. I don't just mean aggression either: The riffs stick in your head better, and the tempo changes are more effective. Even the acoustic passages seem more emotional.

Written by R'Vannith on 19.04.2011 at 16:35

Easily their best album yet and much more aggressive. Never would have thought they had it in them, fans of Skyclad should definitely check this one out.

I can see why you said fans of skyclad should check this out-i believe both bands have a good balance of melodic folk music and some seriously heavy riffs. That said, 'Blood on the black robe' is the only Cruachan album i've listened to...

Written by musicalkaratekid on 28.03.2012 at 23:46

Written by R'Vannith on 19.04.2011 at 16:35

Easily their best album yet and much more aggressive. Never would have thought they had it in them, fans of Skyclad should definitely check this one out.

I can see why you said fans of skyclad should check this out-i believe both bands have a good balance of melodic folk music and some seriously heavy riffs. That said, 'Blood on the black robe' is the only Cruachan album i've listened to...

It certainly packs more of a punch than any of their earlier albums, some of those are nice enough but just don't hit home like this one, at least for me.

Written by R'Vannith on 30.03.2012 at 06:02

Written by musicalkaratekid on 28.03.2012 at 23:46

Written by R'Vannith on 19.04.2011 at 16:35

Easily their best album yet and much more aggressive. Never would have thought they had it in them, fans of Skyclad should definitely check this one out.

I can see why you said fans of skyclad should check this out-i believe both bands have a good balance of melodic folk music and some seriously heavy riffs. That said, 'Blood on the black robe' is the only Cruachan album i've listened to...

It certainly packs more of a punch than any of their earlier albums, some of those are nice enough but just don't hit home like this one, at least for me.

Yeah, still, i'm thinking of listening to the band's other albums, just out of curiosity.

From what I've heard Cruachan's latest album is indeed their heaviest and most aggressive, but there is still plenty of room left for some well refined accordion/violin/female vocal harmony interludes, which all seem to contribute to the idea that Cruachan are still one of the best Folk metal acts from ireland.

This is damn great album...i believe they changed their style somehow, but it turns out to be a really good move