#Scottish Ballad

[doomedandstoned]

Austin’s AIWASS Resurrect  Scottish Folk Song ‘Cruel Brother’ in New Single

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Artwork by gozien_crayon

It has been estimated that some four million new songs are being released into the world of sound every year. Certainly, it's been hard -- neigh, impossible -- to keep up with all the new albums churned out just in the doom scene. As a consequence, it is all too easy to loose touch with the great songs of the past. I'm not talking about songs from the '70s, '80s or '90s, but those written generations and generations ago, stretching back into Medieval and Renaissance times.

That's why it's so refreshing to encounter a band taking on an old Scottish ballad like the one before us. Taking a cue from Battlefield Band, the traditional folk group who brought "Cruel Brother" to a wider audience decades ago, Austin, Texas band AIWASS gives this tragic tale a unique twist.

Dark, moody synthesizer surrounds the senses as the track begins, as if to transport us hundreds of years into the past to a scene unthinkable: a dying bride, a spiteful brother, a grieving knight, and an atmosphere teeming with sadness and revenge. Gently plucked mandolin strings cross with acoustic guitar. Misty, forlorn vocals tell the tale of love found and lost, eventually engaging the full powers of the doom metal quartet, complete with foreboding drums and bluesy, bittersweet guitar riffs.

Frontman Blake Carrera comments:

The themes of the song, despite being an old Scottish ballad, are quite familiar to listeners of doom and metal in general: love, lust, violence, and loss. By reinterpreting this song, we hope to bring the past into the future. The screams at the end of the song are not just an identification that this is “blackened doom”; they are also the screams of loss and sadness that are perpetuated throughout time by all of us.

Aiwass caught my ear during the pandemic, when we premiered and gave a detailed review of their first LP Wayward Gods. Since then, the band has expanded with founding member Blake Carrera (vox, guitar, mandolin, synth) joined by Eddy Keyes (vox, acoustic guitar, bass), Pablo Anton (guitar), and Grant Husselman (drums). As a result, the Aiwass sound has evolved into something wonderfully nuanced and altogether powerful.

"Cruel Brother" will be issued as a standalone single on Friday, March 28th (get it here). Fans of Green Lung, take notice

Give ear...

AIWASS - Cruel Brother

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LYRICS

[Verse 1] There were three ladies played at baw Hey wi the rose and the linsey o But a knight cam by, played ower them aw Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 2] This knight bowed low tae aw the three Hey wi the rose and the linsey o But tae the youngest, he bent his knee Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 3] O lady fair, gie me your haun' Hey wi the rose and the linsey o And I'll mak ye lady ower aw my land Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 4] Sir knight, ere you my favour win Hey wi the rose and the linsey o Ye maun gain consent ower all my kin Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 5] He gained consent fae her parents dear Hey wi the rose and the linsey o And likewise fae her sisters fair Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 6] He's gained consent ower all her kin Hey wi the rose and the linsey o He forgot tae speak tae her brother John Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 7] When the wedding day was come Hey wi the rose and the linsey o This knight would take his bonnie bride home Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 8] Her mother led her through the closs Hey wi the rose and the linsey o And her brother John stood her on her horse Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 9] He took a knife baith long and sharp And he stabbed the bonnie bride tae her heart

[Verse 10] Lead me tae yon high, high hill Hey wi the rose and the linsey o And I'll lie doun and I'll mak my will Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 11] And what will ye gie tae your brother John Hey wi the rose and the linsey o The gallows tree for tae hang him on Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 12] And what will ye gie to your brother John's wife Hey wi the rose and the linsey o The wilderness tae end her life Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[a-r-welm]

TAM LIN MERCH & PRINTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Redbubble shop now open, featuring prints & merchandise of the watercolor illustrations from the TAM LIN lyrics video, which are now available for purchase!

[batfamilytrashblog]

when you get this ask you have to answer with 5 of ur fav songs and then send this ask to 10 of ur favourite followers :) 💖

Willie’s Lady

Tam Lin(Child 39)

Geordie(Child 209)

Willie of the Winsbury(Child 100)

Riddles Wisely Expounded(Child 1)

These are all new recordings of old(and I mean old) Scottish ballads that I listen to an unhealthy amount

[thefugitivesaint]

Jill Karla Schwarz, 'Tam Lin', ''Fairies and Elves'', 1984 Source I'm going to use this post as the perfect opportunity to direct you to my favorite song from the folk band Fairport Convention from their 1969 album 'Liege & Lief', Tam Lin (which, I'm sure, I've posted about at some point)

[goldenstarprincesses]

Hear me out, all nations have beautiful and enchanting voices

But only when they are singing their own peoples folk songs

[annelise-draws]

Don't let go.

[greencheekconure27]

* based on the ones I see referenced most

Propaganda is welcome!!!!! (Including recordings and art)

Please reblog

[jasofthehollow]

as the token "friend who is into folk music" there is nothing worse than having a well-meaning friend recommend you a "folk" song from whatever fantasy show/movie/video game they've been watching/playing because first of all- holy shit that is so kind of you to think about me. and now i have to break your heart by not liking whatever music you're about to play to me.

[agarthanguide]

My Favorite Child Ballads Pt 1

The Child Ballads are a collection of 305 ballads from England and Scotland. They were anthologized by Francis James Child in the second half of the 19th century, but date back between 200 and 500 years.

Here's a couple of my favorites.

Hind Horn (Child Ballad 17), recorded by Maddy Prior

When young Hind Horn goes to sea, the King's daughter Jean gives him a magic ring, so he knows if he still has her heart. I always want to cheer at the climax of the song, when the lovers are reunited.

The Bonnie House of Airlie (Child Ballad 199), recorded by FullSet

The emnitiy between the Campbells and the Ogilvys boils over when Archibald Campbell raids Airlie Castle, the home of the James Ogilvy, Earl of Airlie, in the summer if 1640. There's roundheads vs cavaliers and a poignant heroine in Ogilvy's wife Lady Margaret.

[ingravinoveritas]

“Romantic”

With Michael and David at the helm of this ship, I would expect nothing less...

[lady-on-the-grey]

“They will turn me in your arms into a wild wolf,

but hold me tight and fear me not, I am your own true love,”

The ballad of Tam Lin (Child 39) is one of my all time favorite songs/folk stories. I find it to be such a fascinating glimpse at how stories change over such long periods of time. This piece was mostly inspired by the Anaïs Mitchell cover, but I also am quite fond of the Fairport Convention version as well.

[thefearofcod]

at 5:31 pm on July 1st, @eussoros texted me “The actual question is where is my Russingon tam lin fic” and I replied “Holy Shit” and opened a new document. welcome to Wip Wmonday time isn’t real

[thestarlightforge]

Tired: Homework at a reasonable hour

Wired: Snowbaird AU Wedding (including full playlist and handfasting vows, adapted from Catching Fire) 😌

[esmesqualor-not-esmecullen]

Janet in the ballad of Tam Lin is such a badass.

Them: Don't go into Carterhaugh Woods! Janet: I do what I want.

Them: Tell us who got you pregnant! Janet: That's my business.

The Elf Queen: Tam Lin is mine forever and ever! Janet: That's my Baby Daddy. I'll have him back now.

[thefugitivesaint]

Joseph Noel Paton (1821-1901), 'Elfinland Wud', ''The Book of British Ballads'' by Samuel Carter Hall, 1842 Source

[scribefindegil]

Academia has many flaws, but the way college enables you to throw parties with stupidly specific and esoteric themes and have people both understand and commit to them is unparalleled