Album Review: The Wran, The Stone Man

Brothers Tommy, Danny, Seán and Stephen hail from Waterford's Comeragh Mountains, bringing a fresh voice to traditional Irish music with a psychedelic edge. 'Sullivan's John', a song popularised by The Dubliners, is completely revitalised: the storytelling remains intact, but a punky Bass VI thunders underneath, giving a song you've heard a hundred times a new depth.

It's not all reinterpretation. Originals like 'Dunford's March' and 'Fear Dearg' push the record forward, showcasing the band's songwriting as well as their musicianship. Harmonium and bodhrán weave through a signature trad-fusion sound that feels both rooted and restless.

The jackpot combination of traditional instrumentation, raw aggression and Shane MacGowan's irreplaceable vocals makes 'The Limerick Rake' a difficult song to approach. The Wran flourish, however, adding darker psychedelic textures, a galloping tempo shift and a heavy low-end that gives the track new momentum.

Set against themes of loneliness, longing and identity are moments of communal celebration. 'Some Say The Devil is Dead' and 'The Waterford Boys' showcase tight vocal harmonies and rowdy energy, leaning into the celebratory heart of Irish storytelling. Across its eight tracks, it comes alive, unruly, and unmistakably in its own place.