catalogue

HAND OF KALLIACH

CORRYVRECKAN (PROSTHETIC RECORDS)

HAND OF KALLIACH - CORRYVRECKAN 162261
format:
1 CD
release:
23.02.2024
label:
PROSTHETIC RECORDS
genre:
Metal
item ID:
162261
barcode:
0656191061520
The band's name is borrowed from the legend of the Cailleach, the ancient witch god of winter from Scottish Celtic mythology.

The story goes that she lives at the bottom of an enormous whirlpool, Corryvreckan, which lies between some of the western isles of Scotland and lends its name to this album.

As the herald of winter, she rises from the depths to wash her plaid (cloak) in the waters of the Corryvreckan.

Once washed and restored to a bright white, she casts it across the earth where it lands as snow.

This is done at the start of Samhainn (beginning on 31st October, which was the Celtic precursor to Halloween and the name of the band's debut album).

Her reign ends as spring arrives with the festival of Bealltainn in May, and she turns to stone to await the next winter.

The Cailleach is depicted in various, contradictory ways - both as a symbol of death, loss and despair, as well as a source of nurturing and protection.

Taking inspiration from all this, the music that HAND OF KALLIACH creates is centred around these dual concepts of benevolence and malevolence, all against the backdrop of the history, mythology and land/seascapes of the Scottish islands.

The threads of Celtic and Gaelic folk music and folklore weave throughout the album, against a backdrop of spectral, melodic death metal.

Blending the robust brutality of death metal with the ethereal wisps of folk is an intoxicating brew.

Corryvreckan was recorded with Wynter Prior at Sphynx Studios, Brighton, UK. The resulting album is a phantasmagorical journey through ancient tales and truly progressive modern metal, with an unmatched eye for detail that brings every single element of Corryvreckan to life.
 
  • Tracklisting
  • 1.1. THREE SEAS
  • 1.2. FELL REIGNS
  • 1.3. DìOGHALTAS
  • 1.4. CIREIN-CRòIN
  • 1.5. DEATHLESS
  • 1.6. THE HUBRIS OF PRINCE BHREACAN
  • 1.7. UNBROKEN YOU REMAIN
  • 1.8. THE CAULDRON
  • 1.9. OF TWILIGHT AND THE PYRE