Rockshots Records has announced their latest signing of Theigns & Thralls for the release of their self-titled debut album due out April 8, 2022.

Theigns & Thralls is the brainchild of Skyclad vocalist and songwriter Kevin Ridley. Originally, it was intended to be an ‘occasional band’ to perform songs from Ridley's back catalogue of songs from Skyclad and his solo album while working around Skyclad’s touring plans. However, when the 2020 global pandemic struck, his plans changed. Being stuck in lockdown, the project became a collaborative recording project building on a few demo ideas. At first, musician 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 joined to contribute. The response was, to say the least, overwhelmingly positive and, in the end, 25 musicians from bands such as Korpiklaani, Ensiferum, Cruachan, Waylander, Celtibeerian and Metal De Facto as well as solo musicians (new and old acquaintances of Ridley) contributed everything from drums, bass, guitar, violin, whistles, bagpipes to hurdy gurdy and vocals.

"I think that, because of lot of the album was written and recorded in a fairly short space of time, there is certain feel and continuity to it. There is a blend of Celtic speed-punk, folk-metal and classic rock influences. Added to that, in terms of lyrical content, there is a strong appreciation of history, literature and humanism that comes together," adds Ridley.

The name Theigns & Thralls (which basically means masters and servants) was settled on and it was also decided to make an eponymous album so that Theigns & Thralls was the band’s name, the name of the album, and the name of one of the songs. This was to help clarify the band’s ’mission’ or ‘raison d’etre’.

As well as putting out the album and videos, the next phase of the band’s evolution will be to put together a ‘touring band’ when permitted, not only to do what was originally intended, but also to perform the new original songs - perhaps with a few guest artist appearances - and to become a force in their own right.

Theigns & Thralls is recommended for fans of Skyclad, Cruachan, Fiddlers Green, Flogging Molly, and Volbeat.

Theigns & Thralls is:
Kevin Ridley (Skyclad), vocals, guitar and mandola
John Ryan (ex-Cruachan), violin, Cello and backing vocals
Dave Briggs (Waylander), guitar, whistles and backing vocals
Arjon Valk, bass and backing vocals
Mike Verhof, drums