Album Notes

"You'll never go anywhere playing that type of music with a band name like that..."

....was a common refrain heard by the members of St. Paul based metal band, Cwn Annwn (pronounced, Coon-uh-NOON, loosely translating as The Hounds of Hell in Welsh mythos.) Their music was outdated. It didn't sound like what was popular. But deaf to the criticism, Cwn Annwn diligently and painstakingly honed their craft. Naysayers slowly but surely became supporters as Cwn Annwn's intense live performances led to capacity crowds at First Avenue, Triple Rock Social Club, Station 4, and other venues throughout the region. Their vision of metal was validated through direct support for established national acts, including Trivium, All That Remains, Exodus, 3 Inches of Blood, Chimaira, Prong, Testament, Divine Heresy, Crisis, Five Finger Death Punch, Watch Them Die, Gojira and others.

Cwn Annwn's music, while decidedly metal, combines a wide array of musical influences to form a sound that is familiar, yet unique. Guitarist and original frontman Neil James' solos and harmonies evoke classic Maiden and Metallica, while bassist Mike Strohkirch's quirky Primus influenced basslines give Cwn Annwn's riffs their distnctive quality. Guitar player Harry Rostovtsev brings a technical aspect derived from Dream Theater prog and Gothenburg pioneers At the Gates. In 2005, drummer Jake Stone joined the group, replacing longtime drummer Marty Allison, incorporating his passion for the complex arrangements of Rush and Tool.