Cruachan The Morrigans Call
Candlelight USA CDL343 April 3, 2007
By Wayward_Son
Back in 1995, a young Irish outfit called Cruachan released a classic in folk black metal known as Tuatha Na Gael. To this day, the album still reigns as one of the premier examples of this specific sound, still spawning many imitators. With the bands next three albums, the black metal portion disappeared completely, replacing it with a more ear-friendly, and accessible sound and bringing to the forefront a female singer.
So with The Morrigans Call, this writer has good news and bad news. The good news is that the harsher black metal riffs have again been integrated into Cruachans music. Also, the sharp rasps from the debut have appeared as well, as on opener Shelob. From the moment the album begins, it is obvious Cruachan has changed. The Brown Bull of Cooley continues in the same fashion. However, it is a small victory.
The bad news being that those moments are few and far between and that the female vocalist is still present. This writer will give Karen Gilligan some credit. Her work on songs such as Erinsong (Demo 97 and Pagan) and the masterful duet Spancill Hill (Folk-Lore) almost force this writer to forgive her intrusiveness. Once the first two songs of their older black metal sound are over, it is back to heavy metal folk. Songs such as The Old Woman in the Woods, their version of The Wild Rover are abysmal. This writer is also a bit weary of their song entitled Coffin Ships, especially after fellow countrymen, Primordial, unleashed a song by the same name, and received heaps of praise for the morose tune. Though, this writer assumes Cruachan is professional enough to have other motives for the title than copying their Irish brothers.
This writer stands on the fence with The Morrigans Call. This writer had already accepted that the Cruachan on Tuatha Na Gael was long dead, and had even made peace with the following three releases, despite their shortcomings. Now with a semi-return of an older sound combined with the happy sounds of the more current material, it sounds even less genuine. To prove this, Cruachan even re-recorded the classic Cuchulainn from the debut. It sounds forced and does not have an inkling of the sinister epic that the original possessed. Perhaps the old adage of being careful what you wish for, Faithful Reader, is truer than one suspects.
The Morrigans Call is hardly a terrible release, it just seems flat and uninspired. The return of some of the old sound is welcome, but then unveils itself as something the band needs to let die. Better bands have taken the sound and run with it. This writer does not recommend The Morrigans Call, but highly suggest you hunt down Tuatha Na Gael.
Official Cruachan Website
Official Candlelight USA Website
Candlelight USA CDL343 April 3, 2007
By Wayward_Son
Back in 1995, a young Irish outfit called Cruachan released a classic in folk black metal known as Tuatha Na Gael. To this day, the album still reigns as one of the premier examples of this specific sound, still spawning many imitators. With the bands next three albums, the black metal portion disappeared completely, replacing it with a more ear-friendly, and accessible sound and bringing to the forefront a female singer.
So with The Morrigans Call, this writer has good news and bad news. The good news is that the harsher black metal riffs have again been integrated into Cruachans music. Also, the sharp rasps from the debut have appeared as well, as on opener Shelob. From the moment the album begins, it is obvious Cruachan has changed. The Brown Bull of Cooley continues in the same fashion. However, it is a small victory.
The bad news being that those moments are few and far between and that the female vocalist is still present. This writer will give Karen Gilligan some credit. Her work on songs such as Erinsong (Demo 97 and Pagan) and the masterful duet Spancill Hill (Folk-Lore) almost force this writer to forgive her intrusiveness. Once the first two songs of their older black metal sound are over, it is back to heavy metal folk. Songs such as The Old Woman in the Woods, their version of The Wild Rover are abysmal. This writer is also a bit weary of their song entitled Coffin Ships, especially after fellow countrymen, Primordial, unleashed a song by the same name, and received heaps of praise for the morose tune. Though, this writer assumes Cruachan is professional enough to have other motives for the title than copying their Irish brothers.
This writer stands on the fence with The Morrigans Call. This writer had already accepted that the Cruachan on Tuatha Na Gael was long dead, and had even made peace with the following three releases, despite their shortcomings. Now with a semi-return of an older sound combined with the happy sounds of the more current material, it sounds even less genuine. To prove this, Cruachan even re-recorded the classic Cuchulainn from the debut. It sounds forced and does not have an inkling of the sinister epic that the original possessed. Perhaps the old adage of being careful what you wish for, Faithful Reader, is truer than one suspects.
The Morrigans Call is hardly a terrible release, it just seems flat and uninspired. The return of some of the old sound is welcome, but then unveils itself as something the band needs to let die. Better bands have taken the sound and run with it. This writer does not recommend The Morrigans Call, but highly suggest you hunt down Tuatha Na Gael.
Official Cruachan Website
Official Candlelight USA Website
