The Living and the Dead
Cruachan · 2023
52 min · 12 tracks · folk metal
A rich tapestry of folk melodies and metal aggression intertwines with themes of myth and mortality throughout the album.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Queen — This track stands out for its haunting melody and powerful lyrics that delve into themes of power and loss, encapsulating the album's overarching narrative.
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The Harvest — With its driving rhythms and evocative lyrics about nature's cycles, this song highlights Cruachan's deft balance between folk traditions and metal intensity.
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The Witch — This track combines atmospheric instrumentation with compelling storytelling, creating a vivid scene that exemplifies the band's capacity to weave folklore into their music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively intertwines folk melodies with metal aggression, showcasing strong thematic writing.
What we noticed
- The lyrics consistently reference folklore and mortality, with each song focusing on a different mythological theme.
- The album maintains a steady tempo for the first half, then introduces slower, more atmospheric tracks in the latter half to enhance its thematic depth.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- mythical narratives entwined with intensity
- rich melodies for reflective moments
- short bursts of energetic storytelling
- cathartic explorations of mortality
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward, upbeat tracks
- want instant, catchy gratification
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on March 24, 2023, 'The Living and the Dead' is Cruachan's seventh studio album, following their critically acclaimed 'Nine Years of Blood' in 2019. At this point in their career, the band continues to evolve their unique blend of Irish folk music and heavy metal, solidifying their identity within the genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Eluveitie· Finntroll· Korpiklaani
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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The Ghost
A pivotal moment shifts perspective to directly address the haunting figure, creating an intimate connection with the listener.
This choice deepens the emotional impact by transforming a distant narrative into a personal confrontation with loss.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Living 3:04
- 2 The Queen 6:51
- 3 The Hawthorn 5:04
- 4 The Harvest 5:22
- 5 The Festival 2:50
- 6 The Ghost 4:22
- 7 The Crow 5:38
- 8 The Reaper 4:30
- 9 The Children 3:36
- 10 The Changeling 3:31
- 11 The Witch 5:08
- 12 The Dead 2:38
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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