Sirocco is a Mediterranean wind, Lambay is an island in the Irish Sea and azure blue is a colour of sea. Are Irish band Sirocco true nature buffs? Perhaps, and they are keen of Irish history too, because 'Lambay' is a concept album about the viking invasion of Ireland. They call themselves as Celtic thrash metal, but I'd call them a heavy metal band.

'Lambay' is their third full length album to date, and a self-released one. For an independent album, it sounds good. The production is organic, clear and generally OK, if a tad soft for a heavy metal album. I think there's a bit too much of reverb on drums and vocals. Okay, it sounds old school, really old school now.

The music is also rather melancholic for heavy metal. After the marine vibe-ish intro, the title track kicks off with British doom way, slowly building into a doomy and folky heavy metal song. Feeling of murkiness lies heavily even on more epic moments, but hey, this is Irish after all! Folk music melodies are moulded into metal form, but no folk instruments are utilized. Storytelling aesthetics can be sensed in songwriting, as the song advances with such turnover moments. 'Follow, Unearth' is a bit faster and manages to blow some life to earlier gloominess. Something like (The Lord Weird) Slough Feg, Twisted Tower Dire and Iron Maiden merged on this one. Some excellent melodies and riffs make the song special. The band cannot keep up this level of finesse in their songsmithing. Do not get me wrong, as the next song 'Mael Suthain' is enjoyable until 2 minute point, when some annoying stuff starts to happen. They did try out something... Something, on the chorus, but it turned out in a bloody irksome way. So a piano/snare drum interlude 'Tempest' was conjured. Only it does not fit in, not a single bit. Thankfully, 'An Cheann Ri' is filled with great stuff again, and this continues till the end. Throughout the album, there are some prog rock antics among heavy metaling, and the closer 'Kingdom of Oriel' contains very Blue Oyster Cult-ish vocal melodies and guitar work. I've mentioned this before, and wil mention it once again: With lyrics the musical movements could be so much easier to fathom.

Originally, Sirocco were an instrumental band and released their debut album during that era. The bass player took over the vocals duties later. Generally, I feel more comfortable with metal music when there are vocals involved. However, in this case I feel that the vocalist's style is pretty much wrong for the music the band have created. The vocalist hits the notes, but he cannot really sing. It sounds more like articulation. Think about James Hetfield of Metallica and Death Angel's Mark Osegueda mixed with Falkenbach's Vratyas Vakyas (even though Mr. Osegueda actually knows how to sing). It's not bad in any case, but just feels weird here. But... I'm beginning to kind of digging them! The instruments are finely played. Steve Harris trademark clanking bass, earthy guitars (and good solos in vein of 80s Iron Maiden, yay!) and thundering drums are what to expect here.

Lots of potential packed here, in form of enjoyable Celtic heavy metal, but a few preparations and I believe they could really show what they are made of. Not of iron as yet, but hopefully next time around, which is a big possibility. 'Lambay' is a definite grower (the vocals are, too). Bring me that mead now, maid!

Rating: 7+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
05/17/2013 22:23