This interview was conducted by Philip A. Wickstrand with vocalist/ guitarist/keyboardist Keith Fay by email in April, 2011.

With the Folk Metal scene getting increasingly crowded and its rise to popularity over the last two years bringing uncreative copycat bands out of the woodwork in a genre where's there's no excuse for not displaying at least a modicum of originality, it's nice to see one of the originators of the style releasing a new album to show the kiddies that they've been doing it longer than they have and can still do it better. With six albums under their belts since 1995, CRUACHAN greet 2011 with their newest effort, Blood on the Black Robe.

Phil: First of all, please tell our readers a bit about the new album, Blood on the Black Robe.

Keith: Well there is a big change compared to the last few Cruachan albums. There is a much harder edge and darker feel to the album, it is almost a return to our roots but still very different to Tuatha Na Gael - the album that started it all.

Phil: What was the song writing process like this time around?

Keith: Slightly different than normal. John Ryan was living in Sydney Australia for most of the writing process but was still involved. He came up with a few of the folk melodies on the album - would record them then send them by email with the notes written out for me to play then I would incorporate the parts into whatever song I was working on. We would go to rehearsal studio with the songs near 90% complete then play through them and refine them and bounce ideas off each other.

Phil: How was the time in the studio?

Keith: It was good. We had shorter than we normally have but our producer really knows his stuff and knows his studio like the back of his hand so there was no time wasting. I'm really happy with the end result but there are still a few problems that I hear when listening to the album, the next studio session will be even better!

Phil: What do you feel are the standout tracks on the album?

Keith: That's a hard one because every track is so different. Personally I really like The Column. I think the guitar lead melody with the violin backing in the middle part has a really weird vibe to it, I really like that part. Pagan Hate is probably my favourite song.

Phil: Where do you feel this album stands amongst the rest of the CRUACHAN catalogue?

Keith: I thought Morrigans Call was the best we have done to date and was, for me, a very defining album. I would say this is right there with and possibly even better depending on personal opinion etc. In time I think I will say that Blood is the best work we have done to date .... but it will be bested by our next one, don't worry!

Phil: Is there any possibility of a North American tour, even as just a limited run of dates, within the foreseeable future?

Keith: I don't know, we would love to play there as we've never been but we are 100% dependant on a promoter making first contact with us. This has happened in South America this last month and we are discussing the possibility of a few dates in Brazil and Argentina. I really hope something does happen in North America too.

Phil: Are there any lyrical themes that you have yet to use that you've been giving serious consideration?

Keith: Not really no. I generally try to stick to our usual topics but over the years these topics have gotten bigger, haha. I guess I sing about whatever I feel is right for the band as a whole but there are some different sounding lyrics on this album - the lyrics for Primeval Odium for example are very different for me!

Phil: How far are you into your recovery from the vicious assault you suffered back in February and have the police caught the bastards that did it yet?

Keith: I'm back to full health, not a bother at all with me. It was a rough few weeks afterwards as broken ribs are a painful nightmare to deal with. I had a mini tour of Ukraine recently and was worried that it might suffer because screaming the way I do puts a lot of pressure on my ribcage but it all worked out, I was healed by then.

Phil: Recommend a book for our readers and then explain why you choose that particular work.

Keith: Hmmmmmm....I recently read The Veiled Kingdom by Caren Bin Ladin. It really took me in and I had the thing finished really quickly. It gives a real deep insight into the Bin Ladins and the whole way of life that they have. She was born in Switzerland and brought up with western values so she describes the complete alien world that is life in Saudi Arabia, she's a brave woman to have wrote this book and it really makes you appreciate the freedom we have in the west.

Phil: If there's anything else you'd like to add, please feel free to do so and thank you for taking your time with this interview!

Keith: Thanks for reading and everyone please pray to your God or Gods that we get to North America to tour.

Cruachan's Keith Fay

Interviewer: Philip A. Wickstrand

April 22, 2011

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(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Formed: 1992
Dublin,  IRELAND
Label: Candlelight Records
Genre: Celtic/Folk Metal

CURRENT LINE-UP:

Keith Fay:  Vocals, Guitars, Banjo,
                    Bodhran, Bouzouki,
                    Mandolin & Percussion
John Clohessy:  Backing Vocals
                              & Bass
John O'Fathaigh:  Flutes, Pipes &
                                 Whistles
John Ryan Will:  Violin, Bouzouki,
                   Keyboards & Tin Whistle
Colin Purcell:  Drums & Percussion

DISCOGRAPHY:

Celtica Demo (1994)
Tuatha Na Gael (1995)
Promo '97 Demo (1997)
The Middle Kingdom (2000)
A Celtic Trilogy Boxed Set (2002)
Folk-Lore (2002)
Pagan (2004)
The Morrigan's Call (2006)
A Celtic Legacy Comp.(2007)
I Am Warrior Demo (2009)
Blood on the Black Robe (2011)