Kindred Spirits

Personnel: Ard Chieftain O'Hagen (vocals); Saul McMichael (guitar, acoustic guitar, background vocals); David Briggs (bouzouki, mandolin, whistle, bodhran, background vocals); Aaron Hughes (fiddle); Neil Speers (Uilleann pipe); Den Ferran (drums); Michael Proctor (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: David Briggs .
Recording information: Stonecircle Studios, Lurgan, Ireland.
No, Waylander haven't heard of you either, but that doesn't mean you don't exist, right? Believe it or not, the release of 2012's Kindred Spirits album highlights the fact it's been nearly 20 years since brothers Ciaran and Dermot O'Hagan formed this Celtic metal ensemble in their native County Armagh, Northern Ireland. And you could say the long and harrowing misadventures they've endured might inspire a few legendary yarns of their own. Alas, on this, only the group's fourth proper full-length release over all of these years, it merely inspires a series of competent, but largely interchangeable, blackened thrash workouts adorned with savage shrieks and spidery folk melodies performed on a synthesizer (what, couldn't afford a friggin' flute player?). Think a latter-day Skyclad, only not nearly as eclectic or straight-up batshit crazy enough to entertain. The best Waylander can offer by way of variety is to narrate certain story lines amidst tamer tempos and momentary respites from the reigning fury -- e.g. "Twin Fires of Beltine," "Grave of Giants," and "Erdath." But it's safe to say that a lyric sheet is almost de rigueur if listeners are to dig deeper for distinctions between these tracks, among which "A Path Well Trodden" (buoyed by unusually inspired riffs) admittedly represents a rare standout. Now, they say variety is the spice of life, but meat and potatoes will do just fine most of the time, so if one's particular musical tastes happen to be attuned to the very narrow furrow Waylander are ploughing, song after song, then Kindred Spirits they will be. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia