The invasion of this band from Ireland to Wolverhampton and Bradford in January, earned them a few brownie points with punters this side of the Irish Sea. A fairly new band but the idea has been around for 10 years, led by DJ O’Sullivan on vocals and guitar, this project eventually came to light in 2022/23 when DJ finally decided it had been lingering on the shelf for far too long. DJ states ‘our producer Ed Hannigan and I envisioned a musical venture that blended our influences, ranging from Hindustani classical to pop to metal and everything in between’.
With influences stretching from Alter Bridge, Alice in Chains to Daughtry and Tremonti and with the band being made up of experienced and innovative musicians, XIII Doors have combined all their talents to produce this album. Judging by the sold out shows in their native isle and the huge amount of media following them, not to mention being managed by Greg Dean at TowerRok, this year looks set to be a major milestone for them. Let’s go through ‘Into The Unknown’ track by track.
‘Unleash The Beast’ certainly holds no punches, arriving with a heady rumble. It’s dark and mysterious, full of trepidation and the riff crashes with monstrous evil. I’m liking this already. ‘Sorceress Of Lies’ rolls like its predecessor. The vocals by DJ howl between the chugging guitars and there’s a sense of doom that sends shivers. The guitar solo is haunting and flies above the rhythm, while the lyrics are delivered with no remorse. There’s an exotic flavour on ’Make A Life Again’ with the addition of distant cries and traditional Eastern sounds. A change of direction with this composition, the chugging comes in again and the ‘Perry Farrell’ type of wailing is incredible. ‘Lead The Way’ reverts to the rapid slogging of guitars and this is more fast flowing than previous tracks. Uplifting and with a higher pitch it excels during the chorus and hits you with its unrelenting stomp.
‘Face The Truth’ revolves around the guitar excellence of ‘Flash Murphy’ and the dynamics of bassist Pat “Pablo” Byrne, these two gel with magnificent ability. The solo play by ‘Flash’ simply screams and as he sways in and out of focus, he’s replaced by the turbulent lower notes. Then the track intensifies with the passionate voice of DJ. The title track is next and I feel ’Into The Unknown’ is the perfect description of what I’m hearing. Screeching over the demonic rhythm, DJ fires all he possesses into the mix. It’s another with shuddering riff making and ground absorbing chords, this is XIII Doors in their element and signifies what they are about, 100%. ’See How You’ve Come Along’ is slower and has a mellow drop. Simple chords along with the drums of ‘Cian “Whoasley” O’Sullivan’ bring it in and the gentle washing over of notes, allows us to witness another side to this band. ‘Flash’ produces more of his tasteful string bending and it’s a like breeze on a humid day, wonderfully written. They leave with ‘Inside’ which steps back into the whirling and wheeling.
All 8 tracks capture your awareness and it’s unrivalled in content. The fusion on this debut album works so well, I’ve heard bands before that have toyed with mixing heavy rock and traditional music, but never with the perfection and density that these guys produce. The idea has paid off and XIII Doors bring something thoroughly different to the rock table, a blend of Middle Eastern music meeting Irish metal.
‘I’ve heard bands before that have toyed with mixing heavy rock and traditional music, but never with the perfection and density that these guys produce’.
HIGHLIGHTS – Make A Life Again, Lead The Way, Into The Unknown.
Track Listing – Unleash The Beast. Sorceress Of Lies. Make A Life Again. Lead The Way. Face The Truth. Into The Unknown. See How You’ve Come So Far. Inside
Credits: Recorded at Red Lake Sound Studios; Produced/Mixed: Ed Hannigan & Mastered: Brad Blackwood
Artwork Credit: Cairn Creeper
Album Release Party FEB 22ND
There will be an album release party on Saturday at Dolan’s Kasbah, Limerick , tickets are selling fast !
Ticket Link HERE
Main support is from fellow TowerRok Band Management stable-mates The Hot One Two.
SUPPORT TO MICHAEL SCHENKER ANNOUNCED !
The band are delighted to announce that they will be opening for the mighty Michael Schenker on his upcoming Dublin and Belfast dates in May !
SEE POSTER BELOW
𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗨𝗣: HERE
XIII DOORS, ARE
DJ O’Sullivan – Vocals / Guitar
Flash Murphy – Guitar
Pat “Pablo” Byrne – Bass
Cian “Whoasley” O’Sullivan – Drums
BIO –
XIII Doors emerged from the vision of singer and multi-instrumentalist DJ O’Sullivan. Hailing from the west of Ireland, DJ was raised in Shannon, County Clare, in a musical family that inspired his creative journey. Over the course of his career, DJ’s musical endeavours have included numerous bands and theatrical productions, granting him the privilege of touring across Europe, the UK, the US, and the Middle East. DJ conceived XIII Doors with a clear purpose: to ignite inspiration in others and encourage them to pursue their dreams.
The musical essence of XIII Doors draws from a diverse range of influences, blending the sounds of Alter Bridge, Alice in Chains, Daughtry, and Tremonti, among others. This fusion of hard rock and heavy metal is further enriched by flavours of world music, particularly (but not limited to) Irish, Arabic, and Hindustani traditions.
At the forefront of this powerhouse stands DJ himself, on guitar and vocals. By his side is Flash Murphy, also on guitar and vocals. A Drogheda native, Flash has been touring and playing for years, bringing a wealth of experience to the group – not to mention the best beard in the band. Holding down the low end, Pat “Pablo” Byrne commands the bass guitar and vocals, drawing from years of navigating the music industry. Endorsed by Warwick Basses and Ampeg Amplification, Pablo adds a solid backbone to the group’s sound. On drums is Cian “Whoasley” O’Sullivan, the newest hard-hitting member of the band. Whoasley has been involved with the project on the sidelines since its inception and injects boundless energy into the group. The band is endorsed by Rotosound Strings.
Blending hard-hitting riffs and memorable choruses, XIII Doors stands on the verge of delivering a sonic experience that is both evocative and transformative. Their story is just beginning, and XIII Doors is ready to carve their name into the annals of music history.
XIII DOORS – ONLINE FACEBOOK Official Website
For further information, please contact TowerRok on:
Greg Dean : Tel: +44 7968 111078, TowerRok Band Management, Booking and P.R.
Recent gig photos from The Giffard Wolverhampton thanks to Ruskin Roader
