Cruachan

M

ost bands the folk metal genre are heavy metal bands with varying folk influences tacked on, but Cruachan does it the other way around, as their heavily Celtic folk aspect is as predominant as the heavy metal in their sound. Active since 1992, they formed as a result of the disbandment of Minas Tirith and took their name from the capital of the Middle Ages Irish kingdom of Connacht; also an important site in Irish mythology. Although their earlier sounds were more black metal, the addition of Karen Gilligan joining as the lead vocalist after their 1999 reformation their sound became more melodic. She was originally hired as a guest vocalist to fill in for some select songs but joined full time when founding member Keith Fay decided he was unhappy with his own clean singing ability. Keith Fay became the lead vocalist again following the departure of Karen Gilligan in 2008 and the band returned to a more extreme style of music.

Under the line-up of Keith Fay (vocals/guitars/keyboards), Leon Bias (guitars (acoustic)/bouzouki/mandolin), John Clohessy (bass), Collete Ui Fathaigh (keyboards), John O'Fathaigh (Irish flute/whistles/recorder) and Jay O'Niell (drums/percussion) Cruachan would debut with Tuatha na Gael (1995). The Middle Kingdom (2000), the Ride On EP (2001), Folk-Lore (2002) and Pagan (2004) would follow with Karen Gilligan (vocals/percussion) and Joe Farrell (drums/percussion).

With The Morrigan's Call the membership had a slight change to feature John Ryan (Fiddle/violin/mandocello/bowed bass/banjo/vocals (grunts, track 1)), while Blood on the Black Robe (2011) saw Colin Purcell take (drums/percussion).

Blood for the Blood God (2014) and Nine Years of Blood (2018) saw the second major membership change with Kieran Ball (guitars), Eric Fletcher (bass) and Mauro Frison (drums/percussion).

Once again the membership changed, this time boasting Tom Woodlock (drums/percussion/hand clapping), David Quinn (guitars) and Audrey Trainor (violin/viola/cello) for The Living and the Dead (2023).