Stramash "The Lion Rises" Headhunter Records
Release date: 21 May 2013
Running time: 41:12, 10 tracks
After having delivered one of the best Celtic rock albums of 2011, the Glaswegian band Stramash is back with a new album titled “The Lion Rises”. And Andrew (lead vocals, guitar), William (bass, background vocals), Andy (drums, background vocals), Michael (lead guitar, vocals) and Iain (Highland pipes and whistles) have done it again. These guys are able to find the best balance of traditional songs, covers and self-penned songs. There are only three original songs on this album, but all of the tracks are Scotch fueled numbers. Stramash have their own identity and they have remained faithful to the main elements that could be found on their previous album. Changes? Improvements? Of course, the guys have taken a more Celtic punk approach on some of the songs and there is even a non-Scottish subject song (and Irish topic song by Flogging Molly).
The first track is a cover of the traditional song “Trooper and The Maid” and Stramash rendition is a bagpipes punk goes metal number. One of the album highlights.
The second number is an enjoyable comedy punk version of Billy Connolly’s “Wellyboot Song”. This is the first single of the album and we have recently posted the video for this top-notch song.
“If it wasnae for your willies, where would you be?
You’d be in the hospital or infirmary,
You would have a dose of the flu or even pluracy
If it wasnae for your feet in your wellies!
This is the evidence that Stramash could become a Celtic Toy Dolls is they wish.
After that, a pirate punk song. Stramash cover the Swedish pirate band Ye Banished Privateers. By the way, an early live version of this song was featured on our Pirate punk sampler back in 2010.
Track number 4 is an amazing self-penned song titled “The Stramashannach”. A Celtic rock number with a punk twist featuring awesome guitar work and fantastic whistling. The lyrics of this song and those of the next one are the kind of subjects that can be heard on Black Tartan Clan albums: friendship and love for Scotland.
“The Lion Rises” is my favourite track together with “Fade to Grey”. They are not straight Celtic punk/rock numbers, but they are well written and the performance is exquisite. I would dare to say that “The Lion Rises” has a REM flavour via the Oysterband. The whistle is perfect on this song and the guitar work at the end is excellent too.
The following two numbers are traditional songs that get the Stramash treatment. “Nancy Whisky” is a different version of the well-known covers by Shane MacGowan and The Mahones and more metal guitars are featured on “Maids When Yer Young” .
As I have previously stated, “Fade to Grey” is a gem too. It has Scottish pop reminiscences and it’s a wonderful song with bagpipes on the background.
Finally, “Farewell tae Sicily” is a rousing bagpipes song and "Rebels" a Celtic punk anthem.
If you enjoy the likes of Black Tartan Clan and Celkilt, go ahead and get a copy of “The Lion Rises”. As they say on the liner notes, 80% of all your hard spent money on this CD will go directly into their stomachs in the guise of BEER!
Tracklist:
01 - Trooper and the Maid 4:16
02 - Wellyboot Song 2:49
03 - The Lamentation of a Marooned Sailor 4:12
04 - The Stramashannach 4:16
05 - The Lion Rises 5:12
06 - Nancy Whisky 3:49
07 - Maids When Yer Young 3:15
08 - Fade to Grey 4:03
09 - Farewell tae Sicily 3:29
10 - Rebels 5:51
http://www.stramashscotland.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/stramash.scotland
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stramash/163284790370011
http://www.reverbnation.com/stramash
https://twitter.com/StramashBand
Click to buy:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-lion-rises/id649355747 (digital copy)
http://www.stramashscotland.co.uk/shop/ (hard copy)
Review by Kinksmarkham
Release date: 21 May 2013
Running time: 41:12, 10 tracks
After having delivered one of the best Celtic rock albums of 2011, the Glaswegian band Stramash is back with a new album titled “The Lion Rises”. And Andrew (lead vocals, guitar), William (bass, background vocals), Andy (drums, background vocals), Michael (lead guitar, vocals) and Iain (Highland pipes and whistles) have done it again. These guys are able to find the best balance of traditional songs, covers and self-penned songs. There are only three original songs on this album, but all of the tracks are Scotch fueled numbers. Stramash have their own identity and they have remained faithful to the main elements that could be found on their previous album. Changes? Improvements? Of course, the guys have taken a more Celtic punk approach on some of the songs and there is even a non-Scottish subject song (and Irish topic song by Flogging Molly).
The first track is a cover of the traditional song “Trooper and The Maid” and Stramash rendition is a bagpipes punk goes metal number. One of the album highlights.
The second number is an enjoyable comedy punk version of Billy Connolly’s “Wellyboot Song”. This is the first single of the album and we have recently posted the video for this top-notch song.
“If it wasnae for your willies, where would you be?
You’d be in the hospital or infirmary,
You would have a dose of the flu or even pluracy
If it wasnae for your feet in your wellies!
This is the evidence that Stramash could become a Celtic Toy Dolls is they wish.
After that, a pirate punk song. Stramash cover the Swedish pirate band Ye Banished Privateers. By the way, an early live version of this song was featured on our Pirate punk sampler back in 2010.
Track number 4 is an amazing self-penned song titled “The Stramashannach”. A Celtic rock number with a punk twist featuring awesome guitar work and fantastic whistling. The lyrics of this song and those of the next one are the kind of subjects that can be heard on Black Tartan Clan albums: friendship and love for Scotland.
“The Lion Rises” is my favourite track together with “Fade to Grey”. They are not straight Celtic punk/rock numbers, but they are well written and the performance is exquisite. I would dare to say that “The Lion Rises” has a REM flavour via the Oysterband. The whistle is perfect on this song and the guitar work at the end is excellent too.
The following two numbers are traditional songs that get the Stramash treatment. “Nancy Whisky” is a different version of the well-known covers by Shane MacGowan and The Mahones and more metal guitars are featured on “Maids When Yer Young” .
As I have previously stated, “Fade to Grey” is a gem too. It has Scottish pop reminiscences and it’s a wonderful song with bagpipes on the background.
Finally, “Farewell tae Sicily” is a rousing bagpipes song and "Rebels" a Celtic punk anthem.
If you enjoy the likes of Black Tartan Clan and Celkilt, go ahead and get a copy of “The Lion Rises”. As they say on the liner notes, 80% of all your hard spent money on this CD will go directly into their stomachs in the guise of BEER!
Tracklist:01 - Trooper and the Maid 4:16
02 - Wellyboot Song 2:49
03 - The Lamentation of a Marooned Sailor 4:12
04 - The Stramashannach 4:16
05 - The Lion Rises 5:12
06 - Nancy Whisky 3:49
07 - Maids When Yer Young 3:15
08 - Fade to Grey 4:03
09 - Farewell tae Sicily 3:29
10 - Rebels 5:51
http://www.stramashscotland.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/stramash.scotland
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stramash/163284790370011
http://www.reverbnation.com/stramash
https://twitter.com/StramashBand
Click to buy:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-lion-rises/id649355747 (digital copy)
http://www.stramashscotland.co.uk/shop/ (hard copy)
Review by Kinksmarkham
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