Waylander

Waylander is an Irish Celtic folk metal group from Armagh, active since 1993. The band mixes Irish folk music with extreme metal and is associated with black metal, Celtic metal, folk metal and pagan metal.

Early releases and style

The group forms in 1993 and issues its debut demo, Once Upon An Era, in early 1995. A second demo, Dawning of a New Age, follows in 1996 after the addition of a full-time tin-whistle player. That release helps establish the band in the early folk metal scene.

Albums and label history

Waylander signs to Century Media and releases its debut album, Reawakening Pride Once Lost, in 1998. After line-up problems and label issues, the band later signs with Blackend Records and releases The Light, the Dark and the Endless Knot in 2001. The debut album is later re-released by Midhir Records on CD, with a vinyl edition also planned.

Performances and line-up changes

The group plays a small number of shows to support its debut album, and later deals with internal conflict and several line-up changes over a number of years. Despite this, it performs at Bloodstock Festival and Day of Darkness festival, and shares bills with Ancient Rites, Cathedral, Return to the Sabbat and Skyforger.

Members

The listed members are Dave Briggs, Gareth Murdock and Michael Procter.