Review : SUIDAKRA – “Crogacht”

Suidakra – “Crogacht”
released March 9, 2009 by Wacken/SPV

Two things about names: the band is mainman Arkadius Antonik’s first name backwards, and “Crógacht” is Irish for bravery: a fitting title for a concept album based on the Celtic myth of Aided Óenfhir Aífe, where the hero Cuchulainn journeys to the Isle Of Skye to learn the arts of war from Scythian warrior woman Scáthach. This is the German band’s ninth album in their near-fifteen year career, though this is only the second to feature traditional folk instruments. Again employing dedicated bagpipe–and also tin whistle–player Axel Rõmer further develops the dimension created on 2006’s Caledonia, and takes it even further with guest vocalists, a choir, and Arkadius on both keyboards and banjo. But you can’t shake their core of neckwrecking battle metal, the skeleton on which they flesh their Frankenstein. 1 & 7 are instrumentals.

FCC OK
Try 2, 3, 6, 9

01. Slán
02. Conlaoch
03. Isle of Skye
04. Scáthach
05. Feats of War
06. Shattering Swords
07. Ár Nasc Fola
08. Gilded Oars
09. Baile’s Strand

Rating: