Search - Cruachan :: Pagan

Better Blend

sliphsc | VA USA | 11/02/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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"

I Wish I Lived in Europe, Where Music is Good

Mark Radulich | Tampa, FL USA | 09/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

More Metal than the second and third album

Dante | Valinhos, SP BRAZIL | 10/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."