Northern Oak (band)
Encyclopedia
Northern Oak is a "progressive" "folk metal
" "band" from Sheffield
, England
. The band formed in 2006 and their debut album, Tales From Rivelin came out in 2008. The band then released two live studio EPs entitled Into The Attic, 28th July 2009 and Northern Oak, before releasing their second full-length album Monuments in December 2010, to acclaim from a number of underground music publications such as Metal Hammer Magazine, Zero Tolerance Magazine, and Terrorizer Magazine
Northern Oak use traditional instruments alongside a modern heavy metal
instrument setup (electric guitar
, bass guitar
, drums
), with flautist
Catie Williams utilising the flute
, the alto flute
and the recorder
in various songs. They also use a keyboard to synthesize other traditional instruments such as harpsichord
, church organ and bagpipes
. The band's name comes from their location (in the North of England
) and the English Oak
tree, which is symbolic of their appreciation for nature and the English countryside.
The band performed their first gig in 2007. Shortly afterwards the band was joined by another new member- flautist
Catie Williams. At this point the band began to explore a much more folk-heavy sound, due to Williams' experience of and participation in the English folk music
scene.
Soon afterwards, recording began on what would become the band's debut album, Tales From Rivelin. During this period the band played their second show at Under the Boardwalk, this time bidding farewell to Loughran, who left the band due to leaving Sheffield. As the band worked on getting the album finished and printed, some other line-up shifts occurred - a new drummer (Jesse Harrison) and bassist (Kimberley Sears) joined the band, as did a new vocalist (Carl Aspinall). Aspinall's tenure was short-lived due to his other commitments, however, and he was soon replaced by a long-time friend of the band, Martin Collins.
The debut album, Tales From Rivelin, was released in March 2008 and garnered some positive press, including two positive reviews from Terrorizer magazine and Zero Tolerance magazine. One of the tracks from the album, 'Madness of the Feral Moon', also appeared on Iron Age Records' Volume 1 compilation alongside bands such as Shieldwall, Oakenshield and No Remorse. Having played a number of shows to promote the album and spread their name and reputation, Northern Oak began working on new material for the next recorded work and to increase their repertoire of songs. They began to perform live much more frequently, playing six gigs in 2008 compared to two in 2007, including a slot at the 2008 Gathering of the Clans festival where they were introduced by Martin Walkyier
of Sabbat and The Clan Destined fame.
In March 2009, progress on new material was slowed by the departure of drummer Jesse Harrison and bassist Kimberley Sears. The band recruited another longtime friend, bassist Richard Allan, and a new drummer in the form of Paul Whibberley, conga player in the salsa band Cuatro de Diciembre with Williams. Work continued on material for a follow-up to Tales From Rivelin, and in a short time the band’s setlist had expanded considerably. The first live practice EP, Into The Attic, 28th July 2009 was released to give the band's fans a taster of the new material, and soon afterwards, discussions with Aled Pashley of the Welsh band Annwn
led to Northern Oak signing to independent label Mynydd Du records. A second live practice EP, Northern Oak, was recorded in August 2009 and provided another lo-fi preview of the band's new songs.
2009 also saw the band playing more shows across the country, performing at Highland Fire Festival in Edinburgh and Gathering of the Clans 2009 in Leicestershire, as well as a large number of shows in Sheffield
.
In 2010, the band began recording their second full-length album, Monuments. Recruiting Travis Smith
to create some cover artwork for the album, Northern Oak began recording at the Sheffield University Soundhouse in May and concluded in October that year. On 11 December 2010, the band released the album at a masquerade-themed launch show at Sheffield Corporation
, with support from their friends in Old Corpse Road and the Secrets of the Boudoir Burlesque troupe. Following the launch gig, founding keyboardist Elliot Sinclair left the band due to a lack of time brought about by his relocation to London.
As of late February 2011, the band have been training up a new keyboardist, Digby Brown, and are planning to gig extensively across England in 2011 in support of Monuments.
On June 7, 2011, Northern Oak were one of the first bands announced for the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock Open Air
Festival 2011. Their gig on August 13, 2011, at the Jagermeister stage at Bloodstock was the band's first acoustic set.
In November 2011, the band will be doing a mini tour (called The Great Exhibition) in the UK with Old Corpse Road, The Prophecy
and Eibon La Furies
.
" "guitars" and "screamed", black metal
vocals. The band uses traditional instruments including the flute
, the alto flute
and the recorder
in their music, and synthesizes a number of other traditional instruments using a keyboard. The folk melodies incorporated into their songs have been drawn from flautist
Catie William's knowledge of traditional English folk tunes- some are direct transcriptions of folk melodies (as in the songs 'Only Our Names Will Remain', which features the melody of the folk song The Snows They Melt the Soonest
and 'The Scarlet Lady', which features an altered version of the melody from the folk song King of the Faeries), while others were created with that style in mind. The band's lyrics have a philosophical tone and focus on questions of mortality and existence, often through a naturalistic, historical or mythological framework.
Folk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
" "band" from Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The band formed in 2006 and their debut album, Tales From Rivelin came out in 2008. The band then released two live studio EPs entitled Into The Attic, 28th July 2009 and Northern Oak, before releasing their second full-length album Monuments in December 2010, to acclaim from a number of underground music publications such as Metal Hammer Magazine, Zero Tolerance Magazine, and Terrorizer Magazine
Northern Oak use traditional instruments alongside a modern heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
instrument setup (electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), with flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
Catie Williams utilising the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, the alto flute
Alto flute
The alto flute is a type of Western concert flute, a musical instrument in the woodwind family. It is the next extension downward of the C flute after the flûte d'amour. It is characterized by its distinct, mellow tone in the lower portion of its range...
and the recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
in various songs. They also use a keyboard to synthesize other traditional instruments such as harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
, church organ and bagpipes
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
. The band's name comes from their location (in the North of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) and the English Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
tree, which is symbolic of their appreciation for nature and the English countryside.
History
The band was founded late in 2006 by Chris Mole, original keyboardist Elliot Sinclair, original vocalist James Harris and founding drummer Daniel Loughran. Over several months of practicing and development, the band began to assemble a setlist and swiftly produced their first demo, entitled Rivelin.The band performed their first gig in 2007. Shortly afterwards the band was joined by another new member- flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
Catie Williams. At this point the band began to explore a much more folk-heavy sound, due to Williams' experience of and participation in the English folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
scene.
Soon afterwards, recording began on what would become the band's debut album, Tales From Rivelin. During this period the band played their second show at Under the Boardwalk, this time bidding farewell to Loughran, who left the band due to leaving Sheffield. As the band worked on getting the album finished and printed, some other line-up shifts occurred - a new drummer (Jesse Harrison) and bassist (Kimberley Sears) joined the band, as did a new vocalist (Carl Aspinall). Aspinall's tenure was short-lived due to his other commitments, however, and he was soon replaced by a long-time friend of the band, Martin Collins.
The debut album, Tales From Rivelin, was released in March 2008 and garnered some positive press, including two positive reviews from Terrorizer magazine and Zero Tolerance magazine. One of the tracks from the album, 'Madness of the Feral Moon', also appeared on Iron Age Records' Volume 1 compilation alongside bands such as Shieldwall, Oakenshield and No Remorse. Having played a number of shows to promote the album and spread their name and reputation, Northern Oak began working on new material for the next recorded work and to increase their repertoire of songs. They began to perform live much more frequently, playing six gigs in 2008 compared to two in 2007, including a slot at the 2008 Gathering of the Clans festival where they were introduced by Martin Walkyier
Martin Walkyier
Martin Walkyier is an English singer who began his career with thrash metal band Sabbat in the late 1980s, releasing two albums. After leaving Sabbat in 1990 due to differences with other band members, Walkyier teamed up with guitarist Steve Ramsey to form a heavy metal band with strong folk...
of Sabbat and The Clan Destined fame.
In March 2009, progress on new material was slowed by the departure of drummer Jesse Harrison and bassist Kimberley Sears. The band recruited another longtime friend, bassist Richard Allan, and a new drummer in the form of Paul Whibberley, conga player in the salsa band Cuatro de Diciembre with Williams. Work continued on material for a follow-up to Tales From Rivelin, and in a short time the band’s setlist had expanded considerably. The first live practice EP, Into The Attic, 28th July 2009 was released to give the band's fans a taster of the new material, and soon afterwards, discussions with Aled Pashley of the Welsh band Annwn
Annwn
Annwn or Annwfn was the Otherworld in Welsh mythology. Ruled by Arawn, or much later by Gwyn ap Nudd, it was essentially a world of delights and eternal youth where disease is absent and food is ever-abundant. It later became Christianised and identified with the land of souls that had departed...
led to Northern Oak signing to independent label Mynydd Du records. A second live practice EP, Northern Oak, was recorded in August 2009 and provided another lo-fi preview of the band's new songs.
2009 also saw the band playing more shows across the country, performing at Highland Fire Festival in Edinburgh and Gathering of the Clans 2009 in Leicestershire, as well as a large number of shows in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
.
In 2010, the band began recording their second full-length album, Monuments. Recruiting Travis Smith
Travis Smith
Travis Smith is the name of:* Travis Smith , fictional character in the TV series Oz* Travis Smith , ex drummer of Trivium* Travis Smith , former Major League Baseball player* Travis Smith , heavy metal graphic artist...
to create some cover artwork for the album, Northern Oak began recording at the Sheffield University Soundhouse in May and concluded in October that year. On 11 December 2010, the band released the album at a masquerade-themed launch show at Sheffield Corporation
Corporation (nightclub)
The Corporation is a nightclub and venue located in city centre of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Originally based in the north of the city centre, on Bank Street near Castle Market, it moved to a nightclub previously known as the Unit in the early 2000s, which is located in the Devonshire...
, with support from their friends in Old Corpse Road and the Secrets of the Boudoir Burlesque troupe. Following the launch gig, founding keyboardist Elliot Sinclair left the band due to a lack of time brought about by his relocation to London.
As of late February 2011, the band have been training up a new keyboardist, Digby Brown, and are planning to gig extensively across England in 2011 in support of Monuments.
On June 7, 2011, Northern Oak were one of the first bands announced for the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air is a heavy metal festival held annually at Catton Hall in Walton-upon-Trent, England, since 2005. Previous line-ups have included bands such as Opeth , Children of Bodom , Nightwish , Cradle of Filth , Testament , Arch Enemy , Europe and Twisted Sister .Originally on one stage...
Festival 2011. Their gig on August 13, 2011, at the Jagermeister stage at Bloodstock was the band's first acoustic set.
In November 2011, the band will be doing a mini tour (called The Great Exhibition) in the UK with Old Corpse Road, The Prophecy
The Prophecy (band)
The Prophecy is a progressive doom metal band from Yorkshire in England.- Biography :The Prophecy was formed in autumn of 2001 when Greg O'Shea and John Bennett from "The Local Family Butcherers," as the band was known at the time, met up with vocalist Matt Lawson, in the now demolished Empress pub...
and Eibon La Furies
Eibon la Furies
Eibon la Furies are an English black metal band inspired by Victorian themes, especially the occult side of Victorian Society. Their sound has always been experimental - with an early leaning towards industrial but this has become more progressive since a full live band has developed.The band was...
.
Characteristics
"Northern Oak" combines "traditional" English "folk" melodies with "progressive metalProgressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
" "guitars" and "screamed", black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
vocals. The band uses traditional instruments including the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, the alto flute
Alto flute
The alto flute is a type of Western concert flute, a musical instrument in the woodwind family. It is the next extension downward of the C flute after the flûte d'amour. It is characterized by its distinct, mellow tone in the lower portion of its range...
and the recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
in their music, and synthesizes a number of other traditional instruments using a keyboard. The folk melodies incorporated into their songs have been drawn from flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
Catie William's knowledge of traditional English folk tunes- some are direct transcriptions of folk melodies (as in the songs 'Only Our Names Will Remain', which features the melody of the folk song The Snows They Melt the Soonest
The Snows They Melt the Soonest
"The Snows They Melt the Soonest" is a British folk song dating back at least as far as 1821. It was mentioned, along with the lyrics, in Blackwood's Magazine of that year.-History:...
and 'The Scarlet Lady', which features an altered version of the melody from the folk song King of the Faeries), while others were created with that style in mind. The band's lyrics have a philosophical tone and focus on questions of mortality and existence, often through a naturalistic, historical or mythological framework.
Current members
- Martin Collins - vocals, spoken wordSpoken wordSpoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
(2009–present) - Chris Mole – acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2006–present) - Catie Williams – fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, alto fluteAlto fluteThe alto flute is a type of Western concert flute, a musical instrument in the woodwind family. It is the next extension downward of the C flute after the flûte d'amour. It is characterized by its distinct, mellow tone in the lower portion of its range...
, recorderRecorderThe recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
(2007–present) - Richard Allan – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2009–present) - Digby Brown – keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- BASS, (2010–present) - Paul Whibberley – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2009–present)
Former members
- Elliot Sinclair – keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(2006–2010) - James Harris – vocals (2006–2008)
- Carl Aspinall – vocals (2009)
- Jesse Harrison – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2008–2009) - Kimberley Sears – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2008–2009)
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Tales From Rivelin | Unsigned |
| 2009 | Into the Attic, 28 July 2009 | Unsigned |
| 2009 | Northern Oak | Mynydd Du Records |
| 2010 | Monuments | Independent |
Studio albums
- Tales From Rivelin (2008)
- Monuments (2010)
Compilation Albums
- Iron Age Records: Sampler 1 (2008)
Videos
- Gawain (2010)
- Live performance of Arbor Low (2010)