Review by Brian on January 10, 2015.

Folk metal is one of those genres that either you succeed at or fail miserably. I hate to make it so black and white, but to these ears that's how it is. Hailing from Scotland, Falloch definitely find themselves in the prior category. With the release of their second LP This Island, Your Funeral, Falloch have created a beautiful album of folk metal/ post rock that stacks up against the best the genre has to offer. With it's hints of black metal and doom metal, it also manages to help the band transcend being so easily labeled.

After the first album Where Distant Spirits Remain, Andy Marshall left to start his wonderful folk/black metal project Saor. This left me wondering if Falloch would become just another one and done band, seeing as how Marshall was the main song writer of the 2 man band. Remaining member Scott McLain didn't let that happen and filled out the line up making it a 4 piece for This Island, Our Funeral. This also lead to the band taking a new direction, without losing the formula that made them successful on their debut. The most notable and biggest part of this new direction are the vocals. Tony Dunn's vocals are majestic, they soar off the mountain tops into the valley bellow making songs like "For Life" and "Brahan" that much more powerful. They also are whispers on the wind from the ocean to the shore, bringing comfort at softer moments, "For Uir" is a perfect example of this. The music that accompanies these vocals is just as mesmerizing. It flows between mid paced riffing and slower melodies. It also adds some chugging chords and the occasional tremolo guitar parts. This keeps the album interesting and the listener off balance just enough to keep their attention. It has an epic feel without over doing it and creating atmosphere without the use of lots of effects.

The problem with a lot of music that falls under the folk metal banner is it doesn't feel or sound genuine. Falloch does not have that problem, this is heartfelt and real. Their music is natural and organic, giving breathing room in the songs and keeping them from becoming cluttered. This Islands, Our Funeral comes from the soul, which makes it such an enjoyable listen. Free your mind and let Falloch take you through the heavens on this spiritual journey.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by Brian on January 10, 2015.

Folk metal is one of those genres that either you succeed at or fail miserably. I hate to make it so black and white, but to these ears that's how it is. Hailing from Scotland, Falloch definitely find themselves in the prior category. With the release of their second LP This Island, Your Funeral, Falloch have created a beautiful album of folk metal/ post rock that stacks up against the best the genre has to offer. With it's hints of black metal and doom metal, it also manages to help the band transcend being so easily labeled.

After the first album Where Distant Spirits Remain, Andy Marshall left to start his wonderful folk/black metal project Saor. This left me wondering if Falloch would become just another one and done band, seeing as how Marshall was the main song writer of the 2 man band. Remaining member Scott McLain didn't let that happen and filled out the line up making it a 4 piece for This Island, Our Funeral. This also lead to the band taking a new direction, without losing the formula that made them successful on their debut. The most notable and biggest part of this new direction are the vocals. Tony Dunn's vocals are majestic, they soar off the mountain tops into the valley bellow making songs like "For Life" and "Brahan" that much more powerful. They also are whispers on the wind from the ocean to the shore, bringing comfort at softer moments, "For Uir" is a perfect example of this. The music that accompanies these vocals is just as mesmerizing. It flows between mid paced riffing and slower melodies. It also adds some chugging chords and the occasional tremolo guitar parts. This keeps the album interesting and the listener off balance just enough to keep their attention. It has an epic feel without over doing it and creating atmosphere without the use of lots of effects.

The problem with a lot of music that falls under the folk metal banner is it doesn't feel or sound genuine. Falloch does not have that problem, this is heartfelt and real. Their music is natural and organic, giving breathing room in the songs and keeping them from becoming cluttered. This Islands, Our Funeral comes from the soul, which makes it such an enjoyable listen. Free your mind and let Falloch take you through the heavens on this spiritual journey.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by JD on November 25, 2012.

Some say that the best music is kept very simple, and that is a very true lesson indeed. Look at Motorhead. They are the undisputed Godfathers of Thrash, and they have kept their music simple and true to themselves while pummeling you with it throughout their career - and they kick ass even now. A very helpful lesson have Lords Motorhead has offered up and that only a selected few actually end up getting.

Finish scare rockers Rocking Corpses combine brilliantly a few simple, yet very identifiable musical genres into one blood stained entity. Old school Punk, NWOBHM era metal and even some grungier parts and splashes of Death Metal come together into what is RC’s. It is like a combination of The Misfits, GWAR, Motorhead and Saxon with shadings of 80's radio rock meeting early Death Metal. It seems to be confused at times - but that seems to be the fun that anchors the band.

Songs like the humourous Death Metal of 'Take A Whiskey' to the bloody ‘b’ movie inspired 'In The Dead Of The Night' show a band that is having a shit load of of fun while playing some decent music. They are not totally in the metal vain in my view, but they are still a whole lot of fun you can have without getting arrested.

They are not your typical Metallers or Punkers but Rocking Corpses are simply a group that has fun no matter what. I like the album, but do not love it. I do recommend this album though for depositing into their collection of any real rocker - Metalhead or not - to just have it to pull out and party to once in a while. With too many different styles in one, this band needs to continue on but perhaps focuses a little more without losing the fun factor.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7.5
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7
Originality: 7.5
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.2 out of 10

Review by JD on November 25, 2012.

Some say that the best music is kept very simple, and that is a very true lesson indeed. Look at Motorhead. They are the undisputed Godfathers of Thrash, and they have kept their music simple and true to themselves while pummeling you with it throughout their career - and they kick ass even now. A very helpful lesson have Lords Motorhead has offered up and that only a selected few actually end up getting.

Finish scare rockers Rocking Corpses combine brilliantly a few simple, yet very identifiable musical genres into one blood stained entity. Old school Punk, NWOBHM era metal and even some grungier parts and splashes of Death Metal come together into what is RC’s. It is like a combination of The Misfits, GWAR, Motorhead and Saxon with shadings of 80's radio rock meeting early Death Metal. It seems to be confused at times - but that seems to be the fun that anchors the band.

Songs like the humourous Death Metal of 'Take A Whiskey' to the bloody ‘b’ movie inspired 'In The Dead Of The Night' show a band that is having a shit load of of fun while playing some decent music. They are not totally in the metal vain in my view, but they are still a whole lot of fun you can have without getting arrested.

They are not your typical Metallers or Punkers but Rocking Corpses are simply a group that has fun no matter what. I like the album, but do not love it. I do recommend this album though for depositing into their collection of any real rocker - Metalhead or not - to just have it to pull out and party to once in a while. With too many different styles in one, this band needs to continue on but perhaps focuses a little more without losing the fun factor.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7.5
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7
Originality: 7.5
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.2 out of 10