Waylander

Since 1993 Waylander has fused the heavy metal stylings of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Slayer with Ireland’s indigenous folk traditions, thereby advancing the narrative preservation of Celtic mythology. The quartet—brothers Ciaran on vocals and Dermott O’Hagan on guitar, joined by drummer Denis Ferran and bassist Michael Proctor—reached a settled configuration after Martin MacCormick was enlisted in 1997 to handle tin whistle/bedhran war drums. Century Media Records recognized the band’s method of merging preserved historical Irish folk elements with ’90s heavy metal and accordingly issued Waylander’s debut album, Reawakening Pride Once Lost, in 1998.