THE BOOK OF INVASIONS - A CELTIC SYMPHONY

The Book of Invasions is one of the best albums by the Irish Rockers Horslips. It's very difficult to place this melodic Celtic rock album alongside any of the prog masterpieces of the era like Yes' Close To The Edge or Selling England By The Pound by Genesis as Horslips were just not that type of electric/symphonic prog group. However, The Book Of Invasions does have many prog motifs such as it's concept of Celtic mythology driven battles and a sense that the music might just jump head long into long improvisations even if it never quite reaches that musical apex. But a stellar collection of anthemic rockers that showcase lead guitar and flute melodies playing together to create an eerie other worldly hybrid on "Trouble With A Capital T", a charging B3 driven organ riffing on "The Power And The Glory", along with the weariness felt after a battle that's expounded in the dreamy ballad "Sideways To The Sun", all puts one in mind of the grandeur that can only be found in progressive rock music.

But make no mistake, The Book of Invasions is full blown Celtic rock that owes as much to it's heritage as Fairport Convention owes to British folk music. The music of Horslips' forbearers is just so entwined that even a full blown rock song like "The Rocks Remain" cannot help but exhibit the echo of traditional melodies from Irish folk songs, reels and slip jigs. If you enjoy Jethro Tull's Songs From The Wood then the Book Of Invasions is right up your alley, Or bog. 4 stars as the album's production is also top notch.