Customer Reviews

Pagan

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are thinking about picking up a copy of Pagan, it is best to assume that you are at least somewhat familiar with Cruachan's sound. Having said that, Cruachan still continues to amaze with their fourth full-length release. They manage to make a return to their metal roots, but still keep the folk sound that defines them so well. As a result, Pagan is very similar to Tuatha Na Gael in a few ways. First and most importantly, there is more of a metal sound to this album (as compared to The Middle Kingdom and Folk-Lore), very similar to the sound of Tuatha Na Gael. However, there is still plenty of folk sound to it. That is probably what makes this release the most versatile: it can please the most diehard metal fans, but also those fans who have grown to love the folk aspect of Cruachan. Second, there are a lot of covers of songs from Tuatha Na Gael (Viking Slayer, which borrows a lot from Return, Erinsong, and The Fall of Gondolin). I am by no means saying that this is a bad thing. All three of these songs are very well done, and probably my three favorites on the CD. Last and somewhat unfortunately, the recording quality is also similar to that of Tuatha Na Gael. Of course, it does add a nice feel to the CD since Cruachan's only other nearly straight metal release sounds similar in this regard. The only thing that bothered me was that there is far less flute music in the songs on Pagan as compared to their other albums. This is due to the fact that the flutist was on-and-off with the group during recording, so they can hardly be blamed, but it still detracts somewhat. I would recommend this release to anybody who is a fan of either end of Cruachan's spectrum. Both the metal side and the folk side are represented significantly and represented well. Additionally, to clear up any confusion, the track list is out of order. The real order is:
1. Michael Collins
2. Pagan
3. The Gael
4. Ard Ri Na Heireann
5. The March of Cluain Tairbh
6. Viking Slayer
7. 1014 A.D.
8. Some Say the Devil is Dead
9. A Thousand Years
10. Lament for the Wild Geese
11. Erinsong
12. Summoning of the Sidhe
13. The Fall of Gondolin

It's the fourth Cruachan's album and I think it would be helpfull if I compare it with their albums came before.
The first Cruachan album, Tuatha na Gael, is a extreme Metal masterpeace. It's perfect and beautiful as Cruachan will never make better.
When Karen Gilligan came with her pretty female vocals, Cruachan made two albums with low Metalness, The Middle Kingdom and Folk-Lore.
Pagan isn't so good as Tuatha na Gael, but it has a higher Metalness than the second and third album. Karen's vocals became better and more interesting, and the presence of Keith Fay O'Fathaigh harsh vocals are stronger than before.

Well, I love folk and I love metal. When I heard of a Celtic folk-metal band (a friend had already turned me onto excellent Nordic bands like Finntroll and Asmegin), I had to check them out. I don't find the blend as "perfect" as Finntroll (where the polka/humpa and stomping metal compliment each other to a sublime extent) or the Flogging Molly/Pogues Irish folk-rock sound (again, where the Celtic pub song/punk thing seems to compliment nicely). So, I can't give it 5 stars, but I do like it and it grows on me with each listen. Karen Gilligan's vocals are very reminiscent of that early 80's new wave chick rock vocal style, which I don't really think blends well with the Celtic or metal styles and gives the overall album more of a rock than (modern-) metal feel, although there are some black-metal moments in this (including some stuff redone from their original Tuatha Na Gael album, which is very much in a black folk-metal vein). The folk instruments and elements (they do a version of Some Say the Devil is Dead, which one might find on a more straight-ahead Irish folk album) are great.
So, if you're looking for Celtic music fused with black metal, you'd do better with their first album (Tuatha Na Gael) or the band Eluveitie, and if you're looking for more of a fantasy feel, try just about any European power metal band (e.g. Rhapsody or Elvenking) but if you are willing to accept them for what they are, this is good music with Celtic and metal elements.

I picked this up because I loved the Pagan cover. The music was another surprise as I was not sure what to expect. I'd never heard of these people until I saw several of their CD's in the closing of Tower Records.

The music is very Irish and folky, yet still full of metal. I have several of the melodies dancing around in my head right now as I write this. I love their use of traditional instruments, particularly, the Shawm (I think it's called that). Overall, the album has a great feel to it.

My only criticism is the harsh vocals. The male voice is good in most places but when he is singing harsh, it just sounds too grating and is too much of a contrast to the rest of the music.

These guys and girl remind me of Goat Of Mendes, and that is not a bad thing. I like their twist on metal and strongly recommend it. Dance an Irish jig!

I finally found this cd after looking for countless weeks in countless cd shops (i found it in Borders), and let me tell you, it was worth the look! i first heard of this band when i was on the goat of mendes website (which is an excellent band as well) when i typed these guys in on amazon, i found numerous celtic-metal bands, and ever since ive fallen in love with the genre. Some great songs on this cd are- viking slayer, some say the devil is dead, lament for the wild geese, the others are very good as well. if you like good rock (with occasional black metal vocals), and a touck of celtic folk, you'll love this cd!

Cruachan's music is kind of hard to designate. The easy way would simply be to call it Folky/ Irish-celtic Metal. But it goes beyond that, and not always in a good way. There are lots of metal/rock guitars, a mix of gruff male to black metal vocals, as well as a female singer who at times sings in a sweet melidious voice, but often comes off with this out-of-place 80's punk sound that is pretty irritating and doesn't fit the scheme of the music well. it certainly doens't go w/ the whole fantasy/medieval cover artwork. there are more flaws abundant.

The album starts off with "Michael Collins" which is kind of an odd name but it's explained in the song notes section of the CD booklet. It begins w/ some scottish sounding drums which kick into Celtic bagpipes and horns, the guitars kick in and the basic and formulaic vocal structure w/ that "punky" sound come into play. the song is pretty good but would be improved w/ better production and a more fantasy-metal sound. Next up comes the old-school influenced, black metal track "pagan" all about denying Jesus Christ and expressing Catholic hypocrisy, mixes black vocals w/ female backed sections (no punk voice, thank god). Some good melodic riff work and is pretty dark, the Irish instrumentals kick in midway but aren't completely necessary. Good song.
Other good songs include "Some Say the Devil Is Dead" which is more of a non-serious and silly beer drinking song. It's fast and silly lyrics and repetitious melody will get stuck in your head for a good time to come. Good song, just pretty stupid. The best track is easily "Lament of the Wild Geese." Unfortuately bad production takes away but this is the only track on the album where the fantasy whimsical sweetness of the CD comes to life. Female vocals are used w/ a very catchy and nice melody, and relaxing piano work, it builds a good and uplifting middle-agy type atmosphere. I wish more of the album sounded this way, and it probably should've.
there are 3 instrumental on this which unfortunately are just OK and nothing to scream about. The melodies w/in them are just repeated way too often and w/ the cruddy production, the instruments become almost grating and annoying (most especially the bagpipes). The final track is definitely a headbangers track, w/ some black vocals, hardcore guitar riffs and even a few Slayer/Old metallicaesque moments... pretty interesting and good-enough song.

What brings this CD down are a few things. The wierd punk-like female vocals (either she only sings in the high pitched soft voice or nothing at all) which don't have any real passion to them and sound flat. the simple punk like guitar riffs are another thing (these aren't prevelant but do take up a significant amount of album space). Third is that while there are about 3 GOOD, not GREAT songs on this, the rest is just a mix of Ok to mediocre to annoying; no real depth, no complexity, and no atmosphere, just a few decent moments w/in each song, but nothing to keep you coming back. The main thing that brings this down though is the production that I've ranted on. Guitars are just too plain sounding and at times the main melodies are sorta muffled under a rhythm guitar. Drums sound clunky, bass is almost non-existant, irish/celtic instruments become annoying, and everything sounds too plain and dry.

Overall, this is a pretty good drive-in-your-car album, mostly due to the straightforward rock and punky nature of it, but there really isn't anything well enough to sustain good replay value. Besides the black vocals at some parts, there really isn't a whole lot of REAL METAL in this. I wish more of the disc sounded in the style of the better songs, by that I mean the ones without the rhythm-based thrash guitar, punk passages, and simple rock riffs. If this band sounds interesting to you, I'd suggest to try an earlier record.

I love this album! I originally got into this genre of music by being turned onto first Dimmu Borgir and then Finntroll. Now I've found an all new genre of music to get into instead of staying stuck in the Hatebreed/Chimaira/Slipknot area of metal.

This album isn't as metal as Finntroll tends to be but if you are looking for different sounds and have some patience for new things then I think you will appreciate this record. It definitely conjures up some lush images of fantasy worlds a la Lord of the Rings. It's no Blind Guardian or Finntroll but more Nightwish, and very pretty none-the-less. Definitely worth the money.

For those into Sweden's "Viking" Rock scene- ie Ultima Thule, Rode Orm and, especially Hel, this CD is worth checking out. Imagine a melodic "Death" metal version of Jethro Tull! Great songs like "some say the devil is dead", "Viking slayer" and "fall of Gondolin". Unfortunately, there are a couple of drawbacks that detrack from the enjoyment: the title track is a sick attack on Christianity worse than anything Marylin Manson has done (more venom than Venom!) while "Michael Collins" shows the band's sympathy to the IRA! However, if you skip over those two mistakes you got a good CD.