With 'Spawn of the Beast' Fionn Ó Lochlainn reveals an artist sometimes comically, and sometimes ruefully, observing the destructive powers of cruelty, our own superficiality, self deprecation, the relentlessness of war, neglect of culture and environment, the loss of love, the visceral experience of sexuality, the comfort of nostalgia, and the absurdity of human nature. Heady subject matter to be sure, but what rises to the surface is the pure beauty of the music, the sensory celebration of life and art. Through it all Fionn hits on something that, in my opinion, has been sorely missing from rock music: bona-fide musicianship. This album inspires me to search for more "real" music like this - Fionn delivers - he seems to have the strength and power of the masterful generation of musicians who invented the medium. With this album, he gives us not only a series of songs, but an experience. This isn't background music - you'll want to tuck in and savor it. The classical mixes with a unique inventiveness as he pulls together the bluesy with the rock, the funk, the folk and the punk. Fionn has a style all is own, defying classification, firmly routed in music history, reaching for the future - timeless. In 'Waterside' he sings "and I'd love to join with hands and hearts if I could only bring down half my guards," expressing the desire of a vulnerable individual longing to make the world a better place through the power of love and community. It's a desire that shines through many of the songs on this record. The beauty of nature is enough to satisfy in the brilliantly written 'Green of the Grass.' "Don't question me for answers, I've got none today..." It's a wistfully moving song encapsulating the confidence of a father in a son to make his way through a world with no easy solutions. The lustfulness of raw sexuality is expressed in the deep down visceral delivery of 'Zone,' a song that has all of the power of a big electric rock song like "Whole Lotta Love." This is a soulful, potent personal endeavor with a universal message - a tour-de-force in the arena of acoustic instrumentation. The raw, sometimes subtle, sometimes brazen energetic power that comes through is one of the organic world - sticks, skins, hammers, metal, wood - the vibration of the unadorned, the vibrations that exist between us all - message and music are fused. Above the masterful guitar, mandola, cello, drums, violin, uilleann pipe and piano playing, what stands out above it all is Fionn's voice. A rare gift, always clear and emotive with qualities of Drake, Plant, Bowie, and Beck. It's a big big voice, one that could stand up to stadium rock just as easily as it could whisper beguilingly closely. One has the familiar sense of a classic quality, the sense that we've heard him before - but not quite. One important quality of this record not to be missed is that Spawn of the Beast is a work in itself, meant to be listened to as it was mastered, inventively put together, one song leading into the other. It's a fully realized vision with the artwork and lyrics book beautifully tying the visual together with the aural. This is a unique and beautifully realized song cycle.

In “Spawn of the Beast” I am most impressed with Fionn’s range. He takes me on a journey – forcing me to explore deep emotions and my own sense of reality. I appreciate how he confronts social problems and current events in songs like “Blues for America” and “War Pigs”. But, also balances these dark themes with a message of hope – as in my favorite song “Green is the Grass,” or with a sense of humor – as in the amazing modern rendition (with beatboxing!!) of Frank Zappa, “Ode to FZ Part Two.” I sense that Fionn is the real thing – genuinely talented with important things to say. And, for me, this makes all the difference. True artistic expression isn’t just a catchy tune, but something that inspires me to think and strive for something higher.

It's refreshing to hear such a beautiful and original piece of art! I find that much of today’s music lacks the originality and talent that distinguishes a decent artist from a profound one, but ‘Spawn of the Beast’ proves that true artists still exist! What delights me most about ‘Spawn of the Beast’ is that each song takes the listener through a different experience; beginning to end, an artist’s work should not only inspire the listener but it should create ideas and offer a sense of understanding about who we are and the world we live in, especially during these troubling times in society today. ‘Spawn of the Beast’ does just that and is a celebration of true artistic expression whose songs provoke more thought and meaning than what you'll find on most radio stations 'top 10' lists.