Horslips
The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony


4.5
superb

Review

by NightmareCinema16 USER (36 Reviews)
March 5th, 2013 | 61 replies


Release Date: 1976 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Prepare for a nostalgic journey…

When people talk about progressive rock, United Kingdom is the country that is most mentioned. They are heralded for having King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, Soft Machine, Caravan, Pink Floyd, and such...but what about its neighbor, Ireland? This country often came unnoticed with music but still has its heroes. A group by the name of Horslips began to work with the prog rock genre but also pioneered something new…something that would give Ireland the credit it deserves. This new genre would become known as celtic rock, a genre that helped both Horslips and Ireland stand out in the 1970s as a worthy act.

When you look at each of the band members, every one of them seems to know what they’re playing, and play their music exceptionally. The traditional instruments in this album blend especially well with the rock genre in general and give you the feeling that you’re in Ireland. This is thanks to Charles O’Connor and Jim Lockhart, whose playing of the mandolin, violin, concertina, keyboards, flute, pipes, and slide guitars is truly sublime. There is also a brilliant display of newer rock elements brought forward by the rest of the band. This mix of new and old blends so well, making The Book of Invasion one of Horslips’s best team chemistries in their band career.

The lyricism used in The Book of Invasions is fun, light, and the most Irish-oriented out of any Horslips album. But there is something more amazing than the lyricism: how well it is extended out by Charles O’ Connor, Jim Lockhart, John Fean, and Barry Devlin. The four vocalists, who collaborate with each other on The Book of Invasions, are especially great at having their vocals be flexible with most listeners, making this album an enjoyable experience. There’s also a hint of Irish gusto to each of the vocalists, adding something ethnically seasoning.

What’s most unique about this album is the peak form of Celtic rock, which goes beyond roots and deep into tales of the Irish homelands. This had never been experimented with as vigorously in any other album produced in Ireland’s history before; a highly revolutionizing step in the 1970s. Similar in a concept style to that of English counterpart, the Moody Blues’s Days of Future Passed, Horslips goes through some of Ireland’s old, traditional tales and stories made into an entire legend. One major advantage to this concept is that it’s guaranteed to be new to any listener, Irish or not. Being new, the concept is also original. This is another key point to this album being a success.

As far as The Book of Invasions goes, it is composed of three forms of success. One: the success of being progressive very well. Horslips does a great job doing that after carrying the genre rather subtly for quite a few albums. Two: the victory of creating a truly ethnically enjoyable and original sounding Celtic rock album. Horslips put huge amounts of emphasis on that. And three: they created their most successful album to date. That’s what made The Book of Invasions a work of art.



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user ratings (43)
4.1
excellent
other reviews of this album
e210013 (4)
One of the best Irish prog albums, if not the best....



Comments:Add a Comment 
NightmareCinema16
March 5th 2013


2016 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Happy to meet, sorry to part.

JamieTwort
March 5th 2013


26988 Comments


Awesome album. Good job, glad to see this finally has a review.

wacknizzle
March 5th 2013


14555 Comments


Sounds interesting, will check

NightmareCinema16
March 5th 2013


2016 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Thanks, man. This was a review I personally enjoyed.

MeatSalad
March 5th 2013


18661 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

You should give your review a quick proofread, there's some mistakes here and there you can easily clean up. Awesome that you reviewed this though.

MeatSalad
March 6th 2013


18661 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Horse lips

Atari
Staff Reviewer
March 6th 2013


28009 Comments


another cool summary

NightmareCinema16
March 6th 2013


2016 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I can see what small edits are necessary.

Jethro42
March 6th 2013


18281 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Whoa I'm so happy you did that one, Nightmare. Gonna read it later.

Jethro42
March 6th 2013


18281 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Check out at the 3rd para;

But what is more amazing than the lyricism is how it is how well it is extended out


Great review dude.

NightmareCinema16
March 6th 2013


2016 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I'll check it out very soon, Jethro. I made some other small, but necessary edits as well. Also, thanks, man.

NightmareCinema16
March 6th 2013


2016 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Fixed. Have to thank everybody else, or I wouldn't have caught it all.

Jethro42
March 6th 2013


18281 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

hey hey only 10 votes, my my

JamieTwort
March 6th 2013


26988 Comments


I need to give this another listen at some point, it's been a while since I last heard it.

JamieTwort
March 14th 2013


26988 Comments


4.5'd

JamieTwort
March 14th 2013


26988 Comments


I've heard Summereve, Winterthrough and the new album from Hostsonaten but haven't heard Springsong, I'll check it out. Great band, Summereve and Winterthrough are both excellent.

Nagrarok
March 18th 2013


8656 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Oh yeah this rules hard.

manosg
Emeritus
April 4th 2013


12710 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Great album and an excellent review. The guys blend the various elements they use incredibly although I had the feeling in the beginning that this was going towards a country music direction.

Jethro42
April 4th 2013


18281 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Agreed. Band is so unique.

@Nag, glad to see you digging them.

JamieTwort
April 4th 2013


26988 Comments


Rules.



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