Definitely one of the better electronic/synth bands to splinter off from the black metal scene. I've had a curiosity in checking this band out for a while because of the BESTIAL SUMMONING connection, but after hearing it was all keyboards I decided against it (blame Mortiis and De Infernali for this reaction)...but as I had to borrow the CD to scan in the cover for LARM, I decided I might as well give it a few spins, and it turns out that this is actually semi-decent, although perhaps a bit redundant to anyone who's been into industrial music for any length of time. Musically, Bhaobhan Sidhe take the minimalist approach, but the use of actual drum patterns and beats shift this out of the realm of pure "ambient". Malphas equated this to sounding a bit like old Skinny Puppy during their less frantic periods, and I'd have to agree - this is pretty much early 80s "industrial" in the Skinny Puppy/Klinik vein, although completely devoid of any vocals whatsoever (which gives the music a bit less bite, but a lot more atmosphere) and a lot simpler in construction than most Skinny Puppy material (which tends to be heavily layered). A bit on the short side (8 tracks, 24 minutes), but a worthwhile purchase for those of you seeking something non-metal that doesn't sound like either bad techno or troll polka. Bonus points for the nefariously evil death-camp motif used throughout as well...

© 2000 chorazaim