Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 12:10 PM by Giorgos Tsekas
Genre: Folk, Black Metal
Country: Ireland
Label: Trollzorn
Year: 2018
It’s been four long years since the last offering from Cruachan, probably the best band with Skyclad that the folk metal genre has ever seen. Their last effort was just brilliant and as it is a part of a trilogy (the sophomore to be precise) 2011’s full-length ‘Blood On The Black Robe’ had made the anticipation for the upcoming album rather high. The fabulous ‘Trilogy of the Blood’ couldn’t have a lesser important ending. It is not just the epicness, the war thrilling concept about heroes, villains, brave, cowards, triumphs, defeats or the noble spirit that triumphant is been captured from the variety of musical styles (from Celtic sounds to Black Metal assaults) that we hear on the album. This trilogy and not only the specific album is, if not one of the finest moments from founding member, guitarist and screamer Keith Fay, certainly is his most ambitious effort. It’s not so easy to speak about War; especially a theme about your ancestors’ armed conflict against an arch rival of your people without sound like a chauvinistic pig or arranged on one side only. This is not a History lesson of course…‘Nine Years Of Blood’ is strong concept album that sings about the great, historic war between Ireland and England that lasted from 1593 to 1603. Musically speaking, the Irish prime fathers and pioneers of Celtic Folk Black Metal delivers once again heavy riffing, without overshadowing the folk elements, with many melodic parts and strong medieval feeling. There’s a melancholy spread all over the album and a sense of cinematic pattern followed by the band (‘The Harp, the Lion, the Dragon, and the Sword’, the opening instrumental that is a remastered version of ‘I am Tuan’ with a more heavy and powerful guitars or ‘The Ale Before the Battle’), while there’s also a lot of traditional Gaelic (and some drinking) songs that follow the catchy dance intelligible form too (‘Flight of the Yellow Earls’, ‘Battle of Yellow Ford’, ‘Back Home in Derry’ and ‘Cath no Brioscal’). All the above are beautiful songs and nice compositions but still my favorites are the heaviest ones as the highlights of the album are personally speaking: ‘Blood and Victory’ and ‘Queen of War’. ‘Nine Years of Blood’ proves why Cruachan are a great band; they celebrate their 25th anniversary, with a masterpiece.
5/6
