Albion’s second album sharpens their blend of Celtic melody and folk-rock energy, moving confidently between delicate acoustic moments and expansive, progressive arrangements.

It Was In The Month of May is the second full-length album to be released by London-based folk-rockers, Albion. The new album builds upon the dynamic and creative strengths of their debut album, Lakesongs of Elbid, yet offers a more focussed and concise approach, highlighting the band´s musical maturity.

The opening track Mis Mai is a gentle introduction, sung in Welsh - immediately rooting the album in its Celtic heritage - with delicate yet precise finger-picked acoustic guitar accompanying a soft vocal delivery. The track cleverly lulls the listener into a false sense of security before diving head first into the heavier rock sound of the second track, showing the band´s full dynamic range.

The fourth track, Eldest (Tom Bombadil), was released as a single in late March with an accompanying music video. The intro could easily pass for a traditional narrative-based folk song before kicking in with a driving folk-rock groove with soaring flute melodies giving a nod to 70s folk-rock influences such as Jethro Tull. The harmonised electric guitar solo halfway through the song even gives the song an early metal flavour - they have certainly drafted in a wide variety of influences into this track.

The album concludes with Calan Mai, a ten minute progressive epic which successfully manages to tie all their influences together with a track that has lots of forward momentum, which must surely go down a treat at live shows.

Overall, the diversity of influences on this album is well-considered and makes for an interesting listen. Although it might not be one for the traditionalists, Albion’s melodic sensibility is clearly deeply rooted in Celtic folk, yet they’ve provided these melodies a new textural backdrop - creating original expansive folk-rock anthems!

It Was In The Month of May is now available for pre-order on Bandcamp

Connect with Albion

Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Spotify