Corr Mhóna (ROI) | ‘Corrguineacht’

Isn’t it a strange thing, I thought the other day while spinning this, that so few bands in the underground sing in Irish. Completely in Irish, that is. Not choice phrases, nor individual songs (for which there are brilliant precedents obviously), but as the core of what they do. What does that say?

Corr Mhóna have gamely elected to change matters, and sing this demo entirely in Gaelic. That’s an impressive feat, and all the moreso for it actually sounding good into the bargain.

What it really shows though is the lengths they’ve gone to to make their music individual. They’ve put the same dedication and artistry into their songwriting, and the result is a demo that marks the arrival of a new Irish band that are bound, sooner or later, to produce an absolute gem on the back of it.

There’s no rooting around here for subgenres and categories - it’s a metal album, just with an accentuated Pagan feel. There are many similarities to Old Season and Sirocco, primarily through the excellent riffwork and drumming, which are the wrought metals that the rest of it embellishes.

The vocals are highly intriguing. Sung honestly and with conviction in Irish, they nonetheless remind much of Solstice’s ‘Halcyon’ in their delivery. They have that same sort of innocent, earnest feel.

The Solstice comparison continues in Corr Mhóna’s quieter moments as well. Two excellent instrumentals appear on this cd, changing the mood brilliantly, and really giving a feel of moors and misty fields (as it were). There’s even good samples of some birds thrown in which far from being hammy helps take the listener away.

The band’s music has an all too rare mystique. Despite listening to this ten times or more now, it’s still hard to place who they are or what they’re genuinely about; all you have is the music, in its mid 90s glory. Though not entirely perfect, it sails above minor flaws with its obvious sense of pride and purpose.

Aside from pride and purpose, it’s shot through with a sense of melancholy derived from the likes of ‘Crestfallen’ and ‘Orchid’. In terms of Irish romanticism in metal, Corr Mhóna have absolutely what it takes to be one of our shining lights in the years to come. They’ve got it all the more for not having tried to; this is all mood, and metal drawn from a much deeper spiritual well.

Ciaran Tracey ::: 26/12/09