There is a new force to be reckoned with in the metal world, and they are Lunarium. Hailing from Waverly, Ohio (near Chillicothe); this band of Celtic warriors released their debut album Journeys, Fables & Lore April 2008. With an impressive 15 songs (clocking in at a little over an hour), the album’s lyrics are firmly entrenched in medieval, Viking and Gaelic history.
A Musical Medival History Lesson
Songs like the opener, Warcry, evoke a period when the Romans were busy invading Germanic shores, and were met by small yet fierce bands of men and women painted blue and white and wielding primitive weapons. “…in battle they’re revered, by the Romans they’re feared. And the women are standing in line. For the men painted blue, throwing javelins true. And their hair white with handfuls of lime.”
1066, as the name suggests, presents a lyrical history lesson of the year that brought on the dawning of the middle ages. Various historical events from this year are represented including the Battle of Stamford Bridge, a famed battle during which a single Viking was said to have held his own against over 40 Saxons until one speared him from a floating barrel underneath the bridge. “At Stamford Bridge the Vikings fell, down to one, who with his axe, made the Saxons fear his name!”
Trolls & Ale
Trollslayer, on the other hand, is a humorous account of a troll and its eating habits: “Hunts for horrors that come out at night. Cut a piece off, it continues to fight. Glowing eyes that pierce the dim, disgusting munching sounds-it’s dining on a limb!” Despite the fantasy trappings, lead vocalist Cinnead Loreweaver stated in an exclusive interview with Suite 101 that the song is actually a metaphor about standing up for yourself.
One song that stands out is Ale. The band decided that since the album was to have a Celtic theme, they needed a drinking song. The song is pure fun, and is a perfect anthem to raise a glass of stout to. It also proffers a lesson about the potential hazards of approaching women in taverns whose husbands may or may not be around when one has had a bit too much ale.
Loreweaver stated, that while Ale is a popular live song, it isn’t the band’s favorite. Liberation and Death Rides were both written within two weeks of their first practice and remain a favorite to play live.
There are few bands from the US that play anything akin to folk metal or power metal; it’s refreshing to finally see a band from our shores tackle this type of music, and do it so well.
Information on Lunarium, including their tour schedule can be found at their website. For additional information, and to hear a sampling of their music, visit their MySpace site.
