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Archive for Ireland

The Answer release new video and announce U.K. tour dates

Posted in Misc., News with tags Ireland, new video, Rock, The Answer, UK Tour on 11th October 2016 by izaforestspirit

The Northern Irish rock band The Answer have recently release a new video for their latest single ‘Solas’. ‘Solas’ is the title track of their new album which is scheduled to hit the shops on 28th October 2016 via Napalm Records.

Here is the cover art:

The new album is inspired by the band’s Celtic background and sees them incorporating elements of Irish instrumentation, vocal style and Gaelic chanting into their music.

You can check out the new video here:

The Answer have also announced that they will be touring The U.K. next month with The Dead Daisies. So if you would like to hear some Irish rock n’rock then you can catch them live on the following dates:

NOVEMBER TOUR 2016
Sat 12th – The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
Sun 13th – The Classic Grand, Glasgow
Mon 14th – Corporation, Sheffield
Tues 15th – Riverside, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Wed 16th – Picturedrome, Holmfirth
Fri 18th – Diamond Live Lounge, Doncaster
Sat 19th – Academy 2, Birmingham
Sun 20th – Concorde 2, Brighton
Tue 22nd – Waterfront, Norwich
Wed 23rd – Electric Ballroom, London

For more information visit:

https://www.facebook.com/theanswerrock/

http://www.theanswer.ie/

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We Came As Romans at HMV Dublin on 18th June

Posted in News with tags acoustic set, HMV Dublin, Ireland, Metalcore, Michigan, Nuclear Blast, signing session, We Came As Romans on 16th June 2014 by Pieni

For the first time in their career, We Came As Romans are about to play a couple of shows in Ireland. And in addition to it, they will perform an acoustic session and in-store signing in Dublin, at HMV – Grafton Street, on Wednesday 18th June, between 13:00 and 14:00.

The two Irish gigs are at the following locations:

17.06.14 Northern Ireland Belfast @ Mandella Hall
18.06.14 Ireland Dublin @ Fibber Magees

www.wecameasromans.com
www.facebook.com/wecameasromans
www.nuclearblast.de/wecameasromans

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Inquisition announce UK & Eire tour dates

Posted in News with tags Belfast, Black Metal, Boston, British Isles, Dublin, Inquisition, Ireland, London, Scotland, Season of Mist on 25th March 2014 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

The darkening stars of black metal, Inquisition have announced the dates of their unholy conquest around the UK and Ireland. The blasphemous conquest around the British Isles will begin on 23th July at The Boston Arms in London before the sinister plague of black metal spreads to Scotland and Ireland before the final battle at Manchester’s Sound Control on 17th July. The full tour schedule is as follows:

13th July – London (UK) Boston Arms
14th July – Glasgow (UK) Audio
15th July – Belfast (UK) Voodoo
16th July – Dublin (IE) Voodoo Lounge
17th July – Manchester (UK) Sound Control

Inquisition online:

http://facebook.com/inquisition.official

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Heaven’s Basement announce UK headline tour for 2014

Posted in News with tags Black Veil Bride, BRIGHTON, Glasgow, heavens basement, Ireland, London, Norwich, Red Bull Records, Welcome Home on 4th December 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Gearing up for their support stint with Black Veil Brides next week, British rockers Heaven’s Basement have announced a full tour of the UK and Ireland for 2014. The Welcome Home tour will take place in 15 locations over 18 days, beginning in Norwich on 14th March and ending in Brighton on 30th March. Drummer Chris Rivers comments:

We’re heading out on our first ever full length European headline tour this March! After having such a great time on the July UK headline tour, we’re looking forward to coming home and stepping things up even more on this one.

Glamour Of The Kill and The Dirty Youth are support on all dates. Tour dates are as follow:

13 March – Norwich, Waterfront
14 March – Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
15 March – Southampton, Takedown Festival
16 March – Leeds, The Cockpit
18 March – Newcastle, Newcastle University Union
19 March – Glasgow, Cathouse
20 March – Belfast, N. Voodoo
21 March – Dublin, Voodoo Lounge
22 March – Manchester, Academy 2
24 March – Chester, The Forum
25 March – Bristol, The Fleece
27 March – London, Electric Ballroom
28 March – Plymouth, White Rabbit
29 March – Birmingham, Academy 2
30 March – Brighton, The Haunt

The band’s latest single I Am Electric is set for release on 16th December, in support of the reissue of their awesome, highly acclaimed debut Filthy Empire available now via Red Bull Records.

Heaven’s Basement online:

http://heavensbasement.com
http://facebook.comheavensbasement

Soilwork announce UK 2014 tour (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Grand Magus announce UK and Ireland 2014 tour dates

Posted in News with tags Bank of Ireland, Dublin, Grand Magus, Hammerfest, Ireland, Judas Priest, London, Slade on 10th July 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

After the highly-celebrated release of sixth studio album, The Hunt, Swedish gods of the riff Grand Magus are heading back to the UK and Ireland to embark on a 5 date tour in March 2014. The Swedish trio have always stuck to their own path of natural evolution – they’ve never casted off their early days’ groove nor their love for epic doom and extreme metal. These trademarks are now being paired with traditional riffs and melodies that rock in the same qualitative league as Judas Priest or Dio.

With a new album due for release early 2014, this will be a great time to catch these Vikings at their finest! The band had a few words to say about this upcoming tour:

Warriors! When we last ventured across the sea to bring our steel to the UK and Ireland, our hearts were filled with joy from your response. It gave us such a rush that we wanted to come back as soon as possible. Well… We’ll be back in March! Expect the most ferocious viking power shattering the clubs and the, for us, aptly-named Hammerfest! Valhalla awaits!

The tour dates are as follow – Click the links for tickets!

12-Mar-14 UK NQ MANCHESTER

13-Mar-14 IRE The Pint DUBLIN

14-Mar-14 UK HAMMERFEST

15-Mar-14 UK Slade rooms WOLVES

16-Mar-14 UK UNDERWORLD LONDON

Grand Magus online:

http://www.grandmagus.com/
http://www.facebook.com/grandmagusofficial

Swallow The Sun announce one-off UK headline show as part of European tour (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Death metal legends Suffocation set to embark on UK tour next month

Posted in Featured, News with tags Dying Fetus, Frank Mullen, Ireland, John Gallagher, Mullen, New York, Pinnacle Of Bedlam, Suffocation on 26th April 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

New York’s death metal legends, Suffocation, will be embarking on a series of UK shows running through this coming May. It follows the release of their critically-acclaimed 7^th studio album , Pinnacle Of Bedlam. The band have also have announced that John Gallagher of Dying Fetus will be temporarily taking the place of vocalist Frank Mullen due to his other personal commitments for the UK and Ireland shows. Mullen comments:

John Gallagher from Dying Fetus will be filling in for these UK [and] Ireland shows and I’m sure he will do an awesome job. So please show your support for him and the band! See you soon.

Gallagher added:

I’m stoked to be performing on these shows with longtime friends and my brothers in metal, Suffocation. It’s going to be a blast and since I’ll JUST be singing the vocals, they are going to be super sick and guttural. So make sure to come out and party with us and witness the brutality!

Tour Dates as follows: (Click for tickets)
^{13.05.13 UK London O2 Academy Islington

14.05.13 UK Brighton Audio

15.05.13 UK Manchester NQ Live

16.05.13 Ireland Dublin The Pint

17.05.13 UK Glasgow Classic Grand

18.05.13 UK Plymouth White Rabbit}

Order the CD or deluxe CD/DVD digipak version of Pinnacle of Bedlam:
iTunes
Physical

Suffocation online:

http://facebook.com/Suffocation
http://nuclearblastusa.com/Suffocation
http://myspace.com/Suffocation

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Celtachor sign with Trollzorn Records

Posted in Featured, News with tags Alestorm, Celtachor, Celtic, Folk Metal, Heidevolk, Ireland, Skyforger, Warhorns Festival, Waylander, York on 11th March 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Irish black metallers, Celtachor, who recently shared the stage with Heidevolk in York, have penned a deal with Trollzorn Records. Formed in 2007, with a finalised line-up in 2010, the Celtic metal band have gone onto share the stage with top folk metal names like Alestorm, Skyforger, Heidevolk and Waylander, amongst others. Blending together influences from black, death and doom metal, as well as traditional Celtic medleys, Celtachor firmly established themselves as one of the top bands in Ireland’s underground metal scene.

Celtachor’s debut album, Nine Waves From The Shore, was released in November 2012 but is now available from Trollzorn’s online shop, at this location. The band’s next release will be out towards the end of 2013 and will be released through Trollzorn Records.

Dark metal band Foscor enter studio; Begin work on fourth album (valkyrianmusic.com)
Finsterforst – Rastlos (valkyrianmusic.com)
Gloryhammer release first music video; debut album to be released 29th March (valkyrianmusic.com)
Valfeanor – The Eerie Constellion (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Irish rock band Sweet Taste join Rocksector family

Posted in News with tags Black Stone Cherry, Hard Rock Hell, Ireland, Irish rock, North Wales, Quireboys on 21st February 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

The Irish rock outfit Sweet Taste have joined the Rocksector Records roster and have also announced details about their new EP Hit The Spot which will be released on 22nd April 2013.

With a genuine exuberance this Belfast-born classic rock sounds fresh and exciting, with songs beautifully crafted and played. Audiences at a Sweet Taste show will testify to the band’s skills in the live arena and with Hit The Spot the band has fine-tuned its recording to combine the energy of a live feel with a modern clarity of sound.

Formed in 2009, the band self-released a 3-track EP in September of that year and via a true commitment to live shows soon forged a place as one of Ireland’s most sought-after live acts. They’ve appeared at some of Ireland’s premier venues such as The Limelight, Spring and Airbrake, and The Empire Music Hall.

In 2011 Sweet Taste crossed the waters to appear at Hard Rock Hell in North Wales, appearing alongside bands such as Black Stone Cherry, Quireboys, Therapy? and Crash Diet.

Sweet Taste were just recently confirmed for an acoustic set at SOS Festival in North Manchester on 20th July and further tour dates are anticipated around the same time. Meanwhile, they launch the new EP with a Belfast show at The Empire Music Hall on 18th April.

The band is offering a free MP3 download of the song Get Your Groove On from the EP. Go to this location for the MP3, together with a sampler video.

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Evile announce UK and Ireland shows with Kreator

Posted in News with tags Dublin, Evile, HMV Group, Ireland, Joel Graham, Kreator, London, Manchester on 11th January 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Evile have confirmed a short string of shows in the UK and Ireland with German thrash metal legends Kreator.

The bands will be teaming up for three shows this April in Dublin, Manchester and London. The shows take place shortly after Evile are scheduled to finish recording their new album, the follow-up to 2011’s Five Serpent’s Teeth. Evile bassist Joel Graham comments “We are really looking forward to playing a few shows with the mighty Kreator this April; we really enjoyed touring the US with them for two months back in 2010. We’ll be fresh out of the studio too around this time, so who knows, it’s possible these shows could see us playing some new stuff for the first time…”

See Evile live with Kreator at the following shows:
^{Apr. 26 – Dublin, Ireland – The Academy

Apr. 27 – Manchester, UK – HMV Ritz

Apr. 28 – London, UK – HMV Forum}

Evile‘s latest album, Five Serpent’s Teeth, is available now on CD and limited edition coloured vinyl, and is also available from the Earache Webstore in a range of exclusive “Serpent Cult” fan packs.

Get the album now in Europe at this location or in North America at this location.

Five Serpent’s Teeth is also available on iTunes at this location.

Get more Evile news and info at:
^{Official website – http://www.evile.co.uk

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/evileuk

MySpace – http://www.myspace.com/evileuk

Twitter – http://twitter.com/evileuk}

Kreator announce UK tour dates (valkyrianmusic.com)
Sonata Arctica announce UK tour for April 2013 (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Dead Aeon–Apotheosis

Posted in Review with tags AEON, All Shall Fade, Apotheosis, Dead Aeon, Death Metal, Ireland, Primordial on 8th November 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Dead Aeon
Apotheosis
Released 24^th November
Death Metal/True Irish Guinness Metal
Self-Released

Formed 4 years ago in Monaghan, Ireland and with varying line-up changes over the years, Dead Aeon have been clawing their way into the Irish metal scene with what can only be described as unrelenting drunken fury. After a short break, Dead Aeon entered the studio to record their debut EP Apotheosis.

From the second Apotheosis begins, Dead Aeon take you on a hellishly exciting rollercoaster ride of murderous vocals and lethally executed riffs. Each track leaves you feeling like you’re at ground zero of an artillery barrage. The third track, All Shall Fade might relent in terms of speed compared to other tracks on the EP like Omnicide and Veins Of The Earth, but it still injects an unhealthy dosage of vitamin B(rutal) into your ears. The vocals of frontman Jack Penders are well refined, keeping a strong, ravenous sound hurtling through Apotheosis, especially during in the opening track Omnicide and the guitar and bass workings of Chris Winsryg (guitarist) and Daniel Doherty (bassist) easily go toe-to-toe with some of the bigger names in the death metal scene, with their work really standing out on Mass Culture Theory and Rise To Power. Drummer Evan McGuigan’s stylings certainly don’t go unnoticed through the EP either – It’s hard to not notice his thundering playing as he blasts through each track.

While each track on Apotheosis are each a masterpiece in their own right, the opening track Omnicide and Mass Culture Theory, for me, are the two strongest songs on the EP that really show what Dead Aeon are about, displaying an unholy aggression and and bone-crushing sound.

Avoiding the folky and Celtic orientated sounds of bands from their native homeland like Darkest Era and Primordial, and the more rock anthem stylings of one of Ireland’s biggest musical exports, Thin Lizzy, Dead Aeon have crafted themselves an authentic sound that rings out well throughout Apotheosis like church bells on a quiet winter’s night. With a heavy-hitting sound like this one, Dead Aeon have potential to put Ireland’s metal scene on the map.

5/5

Nico Davidson

Dead Aeon are:

^{Jack Penders – Vocals

Daniel Doherty – Bass

Evan McGuigan – Drums

Chris Winsryg – Guitar}

https://www.facebook.com/DeadAeon

Aeon issue new studio update (valkyrianmusic.com)
Aeon release lyric video for Aeons Black (valkyrianmusic.com)
Aeon prepared to unleash the sonic severity of their fourth full-length (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Celtachor release title and artwork for debut album

Posted in News with tags Celtachor, Dublin, Ireland, Irish mythology on 10th October 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Irish blackened folk metalers Celtachor have revealed the title and artwork for their upcoming debut album titled Nine Waves From The Shore.

Recorded between 2011 and2012 in the bands own studio in Dublin, it will be self released by the band on November 25^th. The concept for the album deals with the Landing of the Gael and the main heroes and characters as part of that saga. The artwork was painted by the band’s drummer Anais Chareyre. It depicts the Battle of Tailtin, the armies of the Men of Dea against the Men of the Gael being over watched by the goddess Danu rising from the hills and mountains of Eire.The band have been working hard since 2010 melding the influences of black, doom, folk metal into one unified force. Inspired by Irish Mythology and its sagas, Celtachor hope to cover new ground in 2013 and spread their message to Europe and beyond reciting the ancient tales of Ireland in their own voice and way.

Celtachor also discussed some of the concepts on the new album with Nico last month in York. The interview can be seen here. Celtachor will also be joining Cryptic Age next year at the Jorvik Viking Festival to support Heidevolk – Details can be found here.

Tracklisting for Nine Waves From The Shore is as follows:

^{The Landing: Amergin’s Conquest
The Battle Of Tailtin
The Kingship Of Bodb Dearg
Sorrow Of The Dagda
Tar éis an Sidhe
Conn Of The Hundred Battles
Anann : Ermne’s Daughter}

Interview: Celtachor (valkyrianmusic.com)
Heidevolk confirmed for closing weekend of Jorvik Viking Festival (valkyrianmusic.com)
Knaat debut album "Die Lichtung" out Oct. 13th 2012 (valkyrianmusic.com)
Dead End Finland – Stain of Disgrace (valkyrianmusic.com)
BAAL ZE UB debut album "..From The Cave of The Forgotten" out now (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Interview: Celtachor

Posted in Interview with tags Celtachor, Celtic, Celtic Metal, Folk Metal, Ireland, Irish, Irish mythology, Warhorns Festival on 26th September 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Before their epic Celtic-sounding set at Warhorns Festival, Valkyrian Music editor Nico Davidson was able to catch Irish black metallers Celtachor for an interview where they discussed the band’s upcoming new album, Irish mythology and films.

Celtachor will also be supporting Heidevolk at Fibbers, 23rd February 2013. For more info and tickets, click here.

Warhorns Festival running order announced (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Darkest Era set to play pre-Euro tour warm up show at Ireland’s biggest metal club

Posted in News with tags Arkona, Czech Republic, Darkest Era, Dublin, Ireland on 7th September 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Darkest Era has announced a very special late night performance at Ireland’s biggest metal club night, Dublin’s Club Poison, on Thursday September 20, 2012. The show is as a warm-up for the band’s 16 date European tour with Russian Folk Metal titans Arkona which kicks off at the end of this month.

Darkest Era guitarist Ade Mulgrew said: “This is going to be a really killer show and a great way to warm-up for the tour. We’re doing an Axl Rose and not hitting the stage until well after midnight, by which time the Poison faithful should rearing to go and ready to help us tear the place apart. There’s such a great vibe around Dublin right now about Club Poison and we’re really excited about hitting the place while it’s so hot.”

Darkest Era’s first ever European Tour (supporting Arkona) kicks off in the Czech Republic on September 27, 2012 and will see the band play 16 shows in 10 countries.

Club Poison is Ireland’s Biggest Metal night and takes place every Thursday at Andrew’s Lane Theatre, Dublin 2, between 10pm and 3am. Entry on September 10^th is €5 before 11 and €7 after. Check Club Poison’s Facebook page for more info.

For full Darkest Era tour listings, click here.

Hour of 13 added to Dublin Doom Days festival line-up (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Hour of 13 added to Dublin Doom Days festival line-up

Posted in News with tags Chad Davis, Dublin, Godflesh, Ireland, iTunes, Roadburn Festival, Tilburg on 30th August 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

East Coast doom metallers Hour of 13 have been confirmed for this year’s edition of the Dublin Doom Days festival in Ireland.

The fourth edition of the festival takes place over two days, September 28th and 29th, at The Pint in Dublin. Also included on the bill are the likes of Urfaust, Tome, Weed Priest, The Veil, Weeping Ulcer and more.

Hour of 13 guitarist Chad Davis comments: “Hour of 13 are pleased to be a part of the 2012 instalment of Dublin Doom Days. A little over 2 years to the date, it will be great to play our second-only European appearance in the birthplace of our first ever live show. The people in the Irish scene are extremely amazing, and we would like nothing more than to bring our music back to them for round two.”

Hour of 13 vocalist Phil Swanson adds: “It’s very last minute with not much time for preparation. I’d never consider this for anyone but Mark and nowhere else but Dublin.”

For more information about the Dublin Doom Days festival, join the official event page on Facebook.

See HOUR OF 13 live at the following shows:

^{Sep. 29, 2012 – Dublin, Ireland – The Pint

Oct. 26, 2012 – New York, NY – Saint Vitus

Apr. 18, 2013 – Tilburg, Netherlands – Roadburn Festival}

HOUR OF 13’s new album, 333, is available now worldwide. Get the CD in Europe here or in North America here.

333 is also available on iTunes.

Hour of 13 confirmed for Roadburn Festival 2013 (valkyrianmusic.com)

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New Sirocco album ‘Lambay’ out soon

Posted in News with tags County Waterford, Ireland, Jim Tobin, Savage Messiah, Wolfchant on 8th August 2012 by izaforestspirit

Skillful metallians SIROCCO are back with a bunch of great new songs!

Finally their new album ‘Lambay‘ is ready, offering you the
finest Celtic Thrash Metal from the ever-green isle Ireland!

Frontcover and inlay-art has been crafted by well known Belgian brush-artist Kris Verwimp!

SIROCCO also looking out anytime massively for new Live-Gigs!

Formed in Co. Waterford in 2003 by Jim Tobin, SIROCCO are a blend of thrashy rythms, beautiful lead guitar melodies, intricate drumming and pounding bass lines, interleaved with plenty of dual guitar harmonies, and old school heavy metal solos, combined to create a sound which they like to call “Celtic Thrash”. Originally an instrumental band, bass player Ciaran O’ Cearuill stepped up to the mic in early 2007 to finalize the line-up, and is audible on their most recent release “The March Through Crimson Frost”, which was officially released in the U.K. and Ireland release on April 7th, 2008, through Code7 Music. SIROCCO have played over 100 shows since their inception, including support spots for Exodus, Megadeth, Wasp, Suidakra, Firebird, Crowning Glory, Waylander and Wolfchant, as well as playing at the Cork Winterfest 2007 festival alongside Primordial, The DOD 2008 Festival alongside Watain and the Full Metal Rack 2008 Festival alongside Pagan Altar. The 4-piece have also travelled to the U.K., where they played a headlining show with U.K. metallers Savage Messiah and Heathen Foray in November 2007, and again in June 2008 to headline the inaugural Summer Solstice Pagan Festival. Their new and third album, “Lambay“, a concept album about the Viking invasion of Ireland, will see the light of the day in August / September 2012. 2012 will also see the bands first shows in Belarus, Lithuania, Spain and Malta.

http://www.siroccoband.com

New Sirocco album ‘Lambay’ out soon (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Darkest Era reschedule Dublin show

Posted in News with tags Dublin, Dublin City, Ireland on 7th June 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Darkest Era have rescheduled their Dublin co-headliner, at The Pint, with Mael Morda which was postponed from April 27th. The show is now scheduled for 28th July.

Tickets are available for 12 euros here.

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Amon Amarth w/Support @ Vicor Street, Dublin

Posted in Gig, Live with tags amon amrth, black, detah, Dublin, Grand Magus, heavy, IN SOLITUDE, Ireland, march, Metal, Metal Blade Records, Roadrunner Records, vicar street on 23rd March 2012 by colmcasserly

Bands: Amon Amarth, Grand Magus, In Solitude
Location: Vicar Street
Date: 15th April 2012

Epic night of metal right here and my first assignment for Valkyrian Music so I was very excited about this! The night was not just anticipated by me but the entire Dublin metal scene as it was Amon Amarth’s first time to bring their stage show with them. I had never heard Grand Magus or In Solitude before the night and I was very surprised by both bands they both had some seriously good tunes and they put on a great show. It was the second night of the tour and the bands seemed very confident on stage as the first date jitters had worn off it seems.

In Solitude were the opening act and they really played a blinder, they’re blend of black and old school metal was really interesting and they set the stage for a really good night. They could come off a little cheesy at times though and the vocals were far too low in the mix and that is one of their selling points I feel cause the style of vocals are very alluring. Also, what was with the dead fox? But quality songs and great stage presence combined made for an awesome set!

Grand Magus were on next and they’re something else! Soaring, powerful vocals with epic sounding songs without even a hint of power metal except some song titles, “Hammer of The North” for one, just good old Heavy Metal! They started a little shakey but pulled it together very quickly and delivered a very entertaining set and they truly looked like they were having the time of their lives! They did get a little samey over the course of the set though.

And the headliners, Amon Amarth, they have made quite a name for themselves over the years so we all really knew what to expect from them. They played the best part of an hour and a half which consisted of old faithfuls (The Pursuit of Vikings) and some newer tracks (Death In Fire) but they never relented and even the slower tunes never dropped the intensity. Any issues with the levels or sound were gone now and it was now crystal clear. I don’t think they made one mistake all night, and it being very close to St Patrick’s day in Dublin any crowd interaction went down really well. They had their stage complete with glowing ruins and the drum riser was massive and they had some pretty epic set pieces on it. A lot of Amon Amarth songs recently have guest guitarists playing solos and here is what annoyed me, they can’t do them live. They give them their best shot but never seem to pull them off convincingly. Other than that minor problem they really gave a 110% and it looked like they really had a blast. Epic gig, epic bands great night!

IN SOLITUDE To Tour With AMON AMARTH (valkyrianmusic.com)
Amon Amarth Announce Celebratory 20th Anniversary Shows (valkyrianmusic.com)

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The Saxons Are Coming (Again!)

Posted in News with tags Bradford, Celtachor, England, Folk Metal, Ireland, London, Nothgard, Ravenage, Viking Metal on 2nd September 2011 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

In October, the UK will see the return of mighty Saxon, Viking and Celtic warriors on the Warhorns Over Aengland tour. Nothgard will be touring for three days around England with support from Hull’s own Ravenage, Windrider and Infernal Creation along with Ireland’s very own Celtic Black Metal quintet Celtachor.

Dates confirmed so far are 29th October at Rios in Bradford and Relentless Garage in London on 30th October. Tickets for the Bradford show are available here for a mere £6. Tickets for the London show will soon be available.

Wolfthorn – Echoes Of A Forgotten Past EP [2010] (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Celtachor – In The Halls Of Our Ancient Fathers [2010]

Posted in Review with tags Black Metal, Celtachor, Celtic, Celtic Metal, In The Halls Of Our Ancient Ancestors, Ireland, Irish Black Metal on 21st June 2011 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Band: Celtachor
Album: In The Halls Of Our Ancient Fathers
Release year: 2010
Genre: Celtic Black Metal

Celtachor formed in the early, wintery months of 2007, combining a mixture of folk, doom and black metal. They have slowly been on the rise in the Irish underground metal scene with their uniquely told version of Irish mythology and other great legends and stories of Ireland. “In The Hall Of Our Ancient Fathers” is the recent addition to their on going saga.

The tribal-like sounds of “Nemed’s Wake” eerily makes itself heard with dark, droning choir-like vocals creating a grim and terrifying atmosphere. A symphonic piece of epic proportions shortly follows, making way for the next track “Rise of Lugh”. The first riff is lacking in speed but has a clear black metal sound. The tempo increases with the vocals and drums entering the fray. There are clear Celtic influences in some of the flute medleys, adding a very legendary mystique to the music. The vocals are raw, untamed and savagely good. Some of the riffs are very crushing and brutal.

”In The Halls Of Nuada” comes next, beginning with a Celtic medley before the demonic onslaught of guitars, vocals and drums. The guitars and drums seem to be lacking in power compared to the vocals, which dominate the track viciously. In certain sections, the riffs are very choppy and whilst the drums seem more barbaric. “A Warning To Balor” blasts its way next with more of an eighties styled rock section which oddly works well with the more aggressive screams. There are a few melodic licks on this track as well. A masterfully played bass riff introduces the next track “Riders Of The Fomor”. The guitar riff that follows is mediocre and weak sounding. The Celtic styled medleys make a return on this track, adding a beautiful sound to the aggressive riffs. The vocals sound more raw and bloodthirsty.

“The Sons of Tuireann and the Blood Fine” is the second to last track, which calmly starts with an enchanting flute medley. The guitars join in soon after, twinning well with the flute. The vocals are still going strong, raw and murderous sounding, fortunately. The drums are sounding more powerful and beastly on this track as well. The final track “The Wavesweeper” begins with an intro similar to the first track, though the riff that follows seems poorly composed. The track improves with the introduction of the vocals, however, bringing a brutal assault of black metal. It is certainly one of the more violent tracks and perhaps the best one.

Celtachor are slowly becoming masters of their trade. “In The Halls Of Our Ancient Ancestors” is a brilliant mixture of Irish sagas, black metal and Celtic influences. If the ancient tribes of Ireland listened to metal, then this would certainly be that they’d approve of.

5/5

Nico Davidson

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