The Living and the Dead (Cruachan album)

The Living and the Dead is the ninth studio album by Irish folk metal band Cruachan. The album was released on 24 March 2023 through Despotz Records.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

The Living and the Dead
Studio album by
Released24 March 2023
Genre
Length51:55
Language
LabelDespotz
Cruachan chronology
Nine Years of Blood
(2018)
The Living and the Dead
(2023)
Singles from The Living and the Dead
  1. "The Hawthorn"
    Released: 2 October 2020[1]
  2. "The Crow"
    Released: 25 November 2022[2]
  3. "The Reaper"
    Released: 27 January 2023[3]
  4. "The Witch"
    Released: 24 February 2023[4]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rock 'N' Load8/10[11]

Rock 'N' Load praised the album saying, "In all, The Living and the Dead is a fitting way for Cruachan to celebrate the legacy of both the band and folk-metal as a whole. The blend of folk and metal instruments and styles is exceptional, even for a band that have been engaged with this style for three decades. While it is true that at times there seems to be imagination lacking when it comes to certain guitar riffs, the sheer creativity and intuition displayed elsewhere more than make up for this. The compositions and arrangements are at times absolutely masterful, invoking the talents of classical composers, and the range of emotions evoked throughout the record is certainly something for the band to be proud of. They are set to headline the revered Siege of Limerick festival on Easter Sunday, or, the Ēostre celebration of the Spring Equinox, if you're that way inclined."[11]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Cruachan

The Living and the Dead track listing[12]
No.TitleLength
1."The Living"2:57
2."The Queen"6:50
3."The Hawthorn"5:04
4."The Harvest"5:21
5."The Festival" (featuring Camillus Hiney)2:50
6."The Ghost" (featuring Mathias Lillmåns)4:22
7."The Crow"5:26
8."The Reaper"4:29
9."The Children"3:35
10."The Changeling" (featuring Nella and Jon Campling)3:31
11."The Witch" (featuring John Stuart Dixon)4:57
12."The Dead"2:33
Total length:51:55

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Discogs.[13]

Cruachan
  • Keith Fay – vocals, guitar, banjo, keyboards, bodhrán, mandolin, percussion, Irish bouzouki
  • David Quinn – guitar
  • Audrey Trainor – violin, viola, cello
  • Joe Farrell – bass
  • Tom Woodlock – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
  • Camillus Hiney – guest accordion on track 5
  • Mathias Lillmåns – guest vocals on track 6
  • Nella and Jon Campling – guest vocals on track 10
  • John Stuart Dixon – guest guitar on track 11
  • Kim Dylla – backing vocals
  • Geoffroy Dell'Aria – bagpipes, tin whistle, low whistle
  • Sinead Richards – euphonium
  • John Fay – tin whistle

References

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  1. ^ "Folk-Metal Legends CRUACHAN Release New Single 'The Hawthorn'". Metal Shock Finland. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Cruachan Release New Video – "The Crow"". Folk N Rock. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Irish folk-metal pioneers Cruachan release new single 'The Reaper' featuring Sinead Richards". Rock 'N' Load. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Cruachan - Streaming New Single". Metal Storm. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  5. ^ "CRUACHAN Change New Album's Title To "The Living And The Dead"". Metal Kaoz. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  6. ^ "CRUACHAN Returns With The Living And The Dead Album In March Feat. Guests From VENOM, FINNTROLL". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Cruachan - Present Video For 'The Reaper' Track". Metal Storm. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Cruachan release new video for The Reaper". My Global Mind. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Cruachan Unveils New Music Video "The Reaper"". Metal Underground. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Irish Folk-Metal Pioneers CRUACHAN Release New Epic Music Video for 'The Reaper'". Metal Shock Finland. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Cruachan // The Living and the Dead // Album Review". Rock 'N' Load. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  12. ^ "The Living and the Dead by Cruachan". Apple Music. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Cruachan The Living and the Dead". Discogs. Retrieved 11 May 2023.