Cruachan

Cruachan is the name of an Irish Celtic metal band founded in 1992 by Keith Fay after the end of Minas Tirith which existed since 1989.

Cruachan mixes Celtic music, history and mythology with black metal. Cruachan's black metal influence, however, has become diluted in recent releases, and most fans only consider their first album Tuath Na Gael to be black metal. Recent work has become more melodic, with softer vocals, courtesy of Karen Gilligan, who joined after the release of Tuath Na Gael. Black metal elements remain on some songs, such as the primary vocals of Pagan's title track.

Cruachan probably took their name from the ancient city of the same name, which was the capital of the old Irish kingdom of Connacht.

Many of Cruachan's songs refer to this kingdom, such as Cattle Raid of Cooley, which is an event in Irish mythology. Cruachan's lyrics also contain frequent references to the Viking Age, the Viking invasions of Ireland, and the defeat of the Dublin Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf by Brian Boru. Other songs touch on the troubles and aspects of Irish myth and legend. Some of their songs, however, are based on various aspects of the works of Tolkien, such as The Fall Of Gondolin from the album Tuath Na Gael and Sauron from the album Ride On.

Shane McGowan of The Pogues fame appeared on Cruachan's single 'Ride On' for the 2001 single as well as on digipak version of Folk-Lore.

Discography

* Tuath Na Gael (1995, re-release in 2001)
* The Middle Kingdom (2000)
* Folk-Lore (2002)
* Ride On (Single, 2001)
* A Celtic Trilogy (2002)
* Pagan (2004)
* The Morrigan's Call (2006)

Current members

* Keith Fay
* Karen Gilligan
* John Clohessy
* Joe Farrell
* John Ryan (Newest Member)

Former members

* Jay Brennan
* Collette Uí Fathaigh
* Leon Bias
* Aisling Hanrahan
* John Ó Fathaigh
* Joanne Hennessy
* Steven Anderson
* Jay O' Neill
* Steven Coleman
* Declan Cassidy
* Paul Kearns

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruachan_...