Theigns & Thralls

Theigns & Thralls is the brainchild of Skyclad’s vocalist and songwriter Kevin Ridley. Originally, it was intended to be an ‘occasional band’ to perform songs from the writers back catalogue (Skyclad songs, solo album songs, covers etc) working around Skyclad’s touring plans. However, early in 2020 the global pandemic struck, and everything changed.

Being stuck in lockdown, the project became a collaborative recording project building on a few demo ideas. At first, friends were contacted to add a bit of violin here and a whistle there. But then things gathered momentum and friends of friends were also asked and players across Europe were asked to contribute.

The response was, to say the least, overwhelmingly positive and, in the end, twenty-five musicians from bands such as Korpiklaani, Ensiferum, Cruachan, Waylander, Celtibeerian and Metal De Facto as well as solo musicians (new and old acquaintances) contributed everything from drums, bass, guitar, violin, whistles, bagpipes to hurdy gurdy and vocals.