Enter The Haggis
Album: The Modest Revolution
Label: Firebrand Entertainment
Tracks: 12
Website: http://enterthehaggis.com

You may be forgiven for expecting Enter the Haggis to be a Scottish band, but actually they are a Canadian indie/folk/rock group mixing these three genres together to get something quite unique. Using your average rock instruments like guitars and drums along with more stereotypically folk instruments like bagpipes.

The band has been playing since 1996 so are well established on the music scene all over the world. The music is not Celtic in style (apart from maybe 'Balto'), even though it has bagpipes in, but it is very catchy non-the less. In fact, each individual track is very unique and brings a fresh perspective on the band.

The subtle use of instruments such as the trumpet and bagpipes really helps give a lift to the music and make it stand out from other bands. We see this the most with tunes such as 'Can't Trust The News' and 'Scarecrow'.

The band's experience really comes through with powerful and confident singing along with experienced musicians playing in such a way that the listener knows to just close their eyes and feel the music.

The rock/indie aspect of this album fits in perfectly with everything else currently in the genre, adding a good mix of calming songs and more passionate stories that could rival even contemporary bands in the mainstream.

Tracks such as 'Pardon' and 'Hindsight' gives us quick examples of how adaptable the band is to different styles of playing and different uses of their arrangement.

A great album, defiantly worth a listen.

Paul Rawcliffe