
London-based folk doom band Cruel Mother are due to release their debut EP on Friday 12th April 2024. Cruel Mother take their lyrical inspiration from printed broadsides and tradition folk music, particularly the rich tradition of English murder ballads. Cut Down For The Earth is comprised of six tracks inspired by songs contained in The Roud Folk Song Index, infused with the band’s signature combination of heavy riffs, crunchy grooves and the melancholic lament of the fiddle.
This follows a great international reception to their first two singles, John Barleycorn and My Name Is Death, and incredible crowds at their debut performance at Maryland Metalfest III hosted by Retribution Alive earlier this year. Cruel Mother logo by Lawrence Crow, Cut Down For The Earth artwork by Robert Maltby.
Cruel was first conceived in 2022 and has existed in its current form since spring 2023. Over the past year, they’ve refined their soundto create a doom concept band unlike any other. They combine a playful approach to making music with a solemn respect for the real history and human lives at the heart of the ballads they revive. Cruel Mother is made up of Becky (bass, vocals and main composer), James (guitar and vocals), Kirstie (guitar), David (violin) and Dan (drums). The five musicians bring an unusual and interesting mix of talent to the melting pot, with a wealth of combined experience spanning classical, metal, punk and ska music. Blending English folk with stoner doom, this project is most influenced by Skyclad, Green Lung and 70s English folk like Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, Pentangle (and, of course, Black Sabbath - they are still a doom band).
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