Cellar Darling – This is the Sound (2017)

Formed by ex-Eluveitie members: Anna Murphy, Merlin Sutter and Ivo Henzi, Cellar Darling perfectly combines Folk elements with Metal and Rock to create a very lively and unique sound that will captivate audiences. Led by the charismatic vocals of Anna Murphy, this release delivers 14 tracks of superbly catchy and engaging music that will stick in your head long after you stop listening to it.

Opening with the killer “Avalanche”, this track features one of the catchiest chorus sections of 2017. The band keeps minor Eluveitie influences with their folk elements, but they focus on making killer vocal melodies and playful instrumentations that perfectly define their own identity, as we can hear on tracks like “Black Moon”, the brilliant “Challenge”, and the hard rocking “Hullabaloo”.

The band is not afraid of shaking things up with the moody “Six Days”, a track that has a darker side or the more Folk-ish “Water”, sandwiched between killer tunes like “The Hermit” and “Fire Wind & Earth”. This last track is one of our favorites as it gives us a certain Anneke van Giersbergen (post-The Gathering) vibe, hence making it quite brilliant and engaging. With the subtle use of Anna’s hurdy gurdy, “Under the Oak Tree” is definitely our favorite track thanks to its very dramatic and grandiose sound.

Tracks like “Starcrusher” and “Hedonia” are certainly steps away from the band’s previous outfit, and yet they still show that inventiveness and ingenuity they have demonstrated in the past. It is clear that Anna Murphy and company are a very creative force and this band has them creating powerful music on their own terms. If you like Folky and catchy music that is led by powerful female vocals and complemented by playful instrumentation, it does not get any better than “This is the Sound”.

Label: Nuclear Blast Records

Release: June 30th, 2017

Genre: Folk/Dark Rock/Metal

Country: Switzerland