Cruachan

Contact: keith@cruachanireland.com Cruachan was the capital of the medieval Irish kingdom of Connacht. It is also an important site in Irish mythology. Cruachan formed as a result of the disbandment of a previous band called Minas Tirith . They disbanded in mid-1997 but reformed in January 1999. Cruachan's earlier works were more influenced by black metal. Since reforming, they became more melodic, with Karen Gilligan joining as the lead vocalist for the recording of The Middle Kingdom in 2000. She was originally hired as a guest vocalist for a few songs, but joined full-time when the founding member Keith Fay decided he was unhappy with his own clean singing ability. Keith Fay became the lead vocalist again following the departure of Karen Gilligan in 2008, and the band returned to a more extreme style of music. A session female vocalist joined the band on tour to sing Gilligan's parts. John Ryan was originally hired as a replacement for John Fay, but has stayed with Cruachan despite the latter's return in 2008. Shane MacGowan , from the famous Irish folk-rock band The Pogues, appeared on Cruachan's single "Ride On" from 2001. Mauro Frison and John O'Fathaigh have appeared as extras in the historical television series Vikings . Compilation appearances: - "Cúchulainn (The Hound of Culann)" on Seventh Key Creations Compilation: Volume Two ( Seventh Key Creations , 1995) - "A Druids Passing" (with Karen Gilligan ) on Celtic Women Volume 2 ( SPV GmbH , 2000) - "Celtica (Voice of the Morrigan)" on In Unison ( Sentinel Records , 2000) - "Celtica (Voice of the Morrigan)" on Sign Of The Hammer ( Hammerheart Records , 2000) - "The Middle Kingdom" on Hammerheart Hails SOD ( SOD Records / Hammerheart America , 2000) - "The Middle Kingdom" on New Extremal Metall Ballads Part 2 ( Lighthouse Records , 2000) - "The Middle Kingdom" on Sign Of The Hammer ( Hammerheart America , 2000) - "To Hell or to Connaught (Bonustrack on Digi-Version)" on Hammerheart Hails Chaos Mag ( Hammerheart Records , 2000) - "I am Tuan" on Adrenalina cz. 15 ( Thrash 'Em All , 2001) - "Sauron" on Warzone XXV ( Metal Invader , 2001) - "Unstabled (Steeds of Macha)" on Rammstein – Presents Vol.3 ( Century Media Records , 2001) - "Unstabled (Steeds of Macha)" on Warzone XV ( Metal Invader , 2001) - "A Druids Passing" on Celtic Women Volume 3 (2002) - "Bloody Sunday" on Rocková Nálož 3 (Rockový Magazín Spark, 2002) - "Death of a Gael" and "Ossian's Return" on Hammerheart Records Promotional Sampler Vol. 1 ( Hammerheart Records , 2002) - "Death of a Gael" on Hell Awaits CD Sampler Nº 6 (Hell Awaits, 2002) - "Ossian's Return" on Rammstein Presents Volume 6 ( Century Media Records , 2002) - "The Children of Lir" on Atlantida Vol. 13 ( Atlantida Productions , 2002) - "The Children of Lir" on Fuego Negro N° 2 (Fuego Negro, 2002) - "The Children of Lir" on Hammerheart Records Sampler Music For Generation Armageddon ( Hammerheart Records , 2002) - "Bloody Sunday" on Beauty In Darkness Vol.7 ( Nuclear Blast Records , 2003) - "Death of a Gael" on A Sangre Y Fuego #01 ( GOI Music , 2003) - "Death of a Gael" on Celtic Women Volume 5 ( SPV GmbH , 2003) - "Michael Collins" on Hell Awaits CD Sampler N° 31 (Hell Awaits, 2004) - "Michael Collins" on Superсборка (#6'04) (Play Magazine, 2004) - "Ride On" (Feat. Shane MacGowan ), "Rocky Road to Dublin", "Oró Sé Do Bheatha Abhaile" and "Spancil Hill (Feat. Shane MacGowan )" on Respect - North And South (Naxos World, 2004) - "Ride On" on Gothic Compilation (Gothic And Machines, 2004) - "Celtica (Voice of the Morrigan)" on Лучшие Хиты Радиостанции ULTRA 100.5fm. 2005 CD-Rom (2005) - "Pagan" on A Sangre Y Fuego #26 CD-ROM ( GOI Music , 2005) - "The Great Hunger" on Let the Hammer Fall Vol. 52 (Metal & Hard Rock Hammer World , 2006) - "The Very Wild Rover" on Global Rhythm Connector's June 2007 (Global Rhythm, 2007) - "I am Warrior" on Fear Candy 92 ( Terrorizer Magazine , 2010) - "I am Warrior" on Candlelight Records Presents Legion I ( Candlelight Records , 2011) - "I am Warrior" on Zero Tolerance Audio 40 (Zero Tolerance Magazine, 2011) - "Ride On" on Erde Kinder VOL III CDr ( Folkseele , 2011) - "Prophecy" on Legacy 06/14 ( Legacy Magazine , 2014) - "Blood for...." on Trollzorn - Label Compilation IV ( Trollzorn Records , 2015) - "The Marching Song of Fiach Mac Hugh" on Zillo Medieval - Mittelalter und Musik CD 06/2015 (Zillo Medieval e.K., 2015) - "The Battle of the Yellow Fjord" on Trollzorn Label Compilation (CD, Trollzorn Records , 2019) Unknown date: - "The Fianna" on Extreme Art Metal #6 (Fuego Negro) - "The Gael" on Encore Collection Vol. I ( Encore Records ) - "To Invoke the Horned God" on The Nazgul's Hoard ( Nazgul's Eyrie Productions ) - "To Moytura We Return" on The Way of Mystery Vol. III (Cédric Larriveau)