KILLER DEBUT ALBUM AVAILABLE NOW !!
-'fret-melting
guitar work and pounding drums......excellent bass work and a gutsy
vocal......has thankfully slotted into his own groove and could be a
real contender....'
(Hotpress)
- 'although
singer/songwriters are ten a penny these days, occasionally a Goldmine
of talent like this comes along'
(www.irishunsigned.com)
-
'tracks leave the listener with a hearty glow and a nod of admiration
to an artist doing things for himself - and thriving...'
(Fingal Independant)
KILLER CEOL is a singer/songwriter from Portmarnock in Dublin. He uses a guitar, harmonica and tambourine in his live shows but his newly released debut album sees KILLER take
charge of vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass, drum beats
and harmonica in the studio. The finished product sounds like a full
band which gives a very big sound to his first self-titled album. To
contact KILLER e-mail: killerceol@gmail.com
**KILLER CEOL ON RADIO NOVA** 'LOCALS ONLY' SHOW Presented by Carol Dooley (SUNDAY 6TH MARCH '11)
For more info check out his:
youtube page:www.youtube.com/killerceol
bandpages page:http://www.bandpages.ie/original/killer-ceol
Album available from:
- ITUNES - http://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/killer/id405332987
- RAGE- 16b Fade street, Dublin
- WAYNES MUSIC WORLD- Unit 1 Coachyard WayForester Way, Swords, Co. Dublin
ALBUM REVIEW
by Jackie Hayden - Hotpress Vol 35, Issue 02, pg 36. Feb 9th 2011
KILLER CEOL is from the
Dublin suburb of Portmarnock, and he now has his ubiquitously titled
album on the loose. 'Planets (You're the Reason)' is a fast paced
rocker with KILLER's vocals showing his '50's pop sensibilities.
'Before I Reach my Prime' is driven by KILLER's fret-melting guitar
work and pounding drums, while 'The Magic Door' has some excellent bass
work, more rampaging guitars and a gutsy vocal on a track that at times
has a Doors-like menace. KILLER CEOL has thankfully slotted into his own
groove and could be a real contender if he gets it together on the
marketing front.
ALBUM REVIEW
by Robin Kiely - Fingal Independant (9-11-10)
The first time I spoke to Killer he told me of his musical journey, one that had taken him from being in a band, to playing in every corner of the globe. Fast forward a few years and the man otherwise known as Killian Feehan has come full circle and with that return to form comes his self-titled debut album. Etched with echoes and memories of his time abroad, it is a guitar ladened mix of contrasting emotions and styles, each crafted in their own unique way.
Opening with the uptempo 'Planets (You're the Reason), Killer expresses his adulation to the individual who is the reason he 'plays guitar' and has 'come so far', while in the vain of Mundy, Bob Dylan or Tom Petty. The guitar hook of 'Before I Reach my Prime' - a song appropriately about getting back to what he loves doing most - and bass opening of 'The Magic Door' highlight the Portmarnock man's undoubted musical ability - indeed bar the drum programming, he played every other instrument.
Fans of Irish 90's music will certainly have a soft spot for the latter, a track which could slot nicely onto Tom Dunne's next compliation, while fans of early 90's TV may spot a veiled tribute to the puppet Bosco, as Killer borrows the lines from the cartoon segment of the same name which featured on the classic RTE show.
The artist is perhaps most comfortable - and indeed accessible - in acoustic mode, a trait no doubt honed on the gigging circuit, and the likes of 'Wishing Well' with its summary vibes and real highlight in 'Slow Right Down' change the pitch nicely. Describing how he is 'feeling so alive' and 'glad to be back', 'Wishing Well' could be a reference to his return to Ireland, or more aptly, his return to writing music, while the following track is a real song of hope, it's pleasant plucking over a simple beat dovetailing nicely.
'I am Music' and 'Brand New' go back on the roacky road, the latter verging onto jazz, added with more than a hint of The Bluetones - 90's fans will again appreciate it - while the dark undertones of 'Grey Street' convey the story of life in Melbourne's red light district.
But Killer has perhaps saved the best for third last, in the instantly appealing 'Smith O' Brien's Cottage', another stripped back acoustic offering. Led by a bluesy but warm meandering , the song, one guesses, tells the story of Irish patriot William Smith O' Brien and his struggle for independance who was banished to Tasmania as punishment. Given he thanks both Australia and Tasmania in his sleeve notes, it is safe to assume O' Brien's story struck a particular chord with Killer, and his response and interpretation is a fine tribute, one that wouldn't be out of place in pub ballad sessions in years to come.
Closing with the melancholic 'The Longest Day', the sunny positivity of earlier tracks leave the listener with a hearty glow and a nod of admiration to an artist doing things for himself - and thriving...
ALBUM REVIEW
by Angela Macari O’Looney (www.irishunsigned.com) 4-1-11
Named after its creator, this ten track debut album is entertaining
from start to finish. Acoustic/Punk/Rock singer Killer has an abundance
of imagination, is a multi musician and writes upbeat songs well suited
to his own vocals.
Hailing from North County Dublin, Killer has had a colourful musical
career to date, beginning at the tender age of sixteen. Originally a
member of a band called Ubiquitous who later became Guiltrip, he played lots of Dublin bars and venues.
Killer eventually decided to go it alone and concentrate on writing and
gigging as a solo musician/songwriter. His first CD was a self titled
six track demo, which proved a huge success. Guest appearances with
Lisa Quinn on Near FM and Mike Hogan’s open Mic Show on FM104 followed.
He also played support to The Coronas
and has travelled around the Globe with his music, using his experiences to enrich and enhance his style and stage presence.This collection of songs begins with a fast moving, upbeat number.
Planets (You’re the reason)
Opening up with a thumping punk beat and a touch of harmonica, this
number is charged with NRG and spark. The melody line is catchy;
guitars are distortion packed. The key change for the chorus lifts it
up another notch. A bit of harmony filters through for the second
chorus and that harmonica riff is a perfectly placed feature throughout.
Before I reach my Prime
Explosive intro, superb guitars and loads going on in it, this is one
of my favourites. Lead guitar is brilliant, with a wonderful riff intro
that’s repeated throughout. Baseline is vibrant and very effective. You
hear this astounding wall of sound, amazing twin guitar bits in a song
that is heavy rock at its best. And the most impressive thing about
this full sound is that all of the instruments are played by one man
apart from beats and programming.
Opening with a seductive baseline, followed by a lead guitar riff that’s spectacular, the third song on the album is The Magic Door. It has a fab rock n roll beat, a superb guitar solo and the chorus is one you’ll be singing along with!
Wishing Well
Acoustic, with a three four tempo, this is a pretty number and is laid
back but has a cheerful melody line and lyrics are poignant.
Hey
won’t you tell me what I want to hear/ Let me know when you finish your
beer/Cause you know every saint has his sins/Lights are on but there’s
nobody in.
Backing vocals are splendid in this song which has a divine lead solo taking it to a close.
With a trickling guitar intro and choppy percussion, the next number
Slow Right Down is a song that would bring to mind for me one of the most inspirational singer/songwriters of our time; Kat Stevens. Acoustic guitar notes and chords throughout are totally hypnotic, as Killer pours out the beautiful but sad lyrics.
Conveyer
belts of people lift/ As the tides they rise and shift/ Children sing
Row Row your boat/Cause down here we don’t walk, we float.
It seems
to be about a flood and how water can be so powerful and devastating.
And in the disaster, the way he describes children’s reactions is
brilliant;
A little girl stands on a stairs/ And asks why God ignored her
prayers/ Screams at the water to stop it’s theft, from the town and
people with nothing left.
Guitar creates a wonderful sense of movement, trickling like water and finally finishes with a big jazzy chord!
I Am Music
Killer reminds us here of his ability to divert from the easy going
acoustic numbers back to Rock music, with sexy baselines and distortion
packed electric guitar chords. Lead riffs are scorching, as he
personifies music in lyrics. Infused with subtle key changes, the
melody line is seductive in this song and chord combinations are
excellent.
Upbeat and slinky, Brand New is a love song with
elaborate guitar riffs and an appealing moodiness about it. Chords
combinations are catchy and Killer uses flanger for his solo, which is
superb.
Smith O’Brien’s Cottage
This number is slow with lovely guitar throughout. Melody is gorgeous
and soulful. It’s a sad story about Smith O’Brien, a political
prisoner, who eventually was granted a pardon. Descriptions are very
sad, harmonica lending to the atmosphere of the song.
The cottage first stood as a lonely stable/ Wasn’t allowed visitors but
he was still able, to feed the free pigeons and tend to his garden/
But he vowed to escape so wasn’t given a pardon.
With an acoustic intro, the next number Grey Street is moody with lots of minor chords and amazing guitar throughout. Fast
moving, it has a sense of drama about it. Killer’s delivery is
excellent in this song about the tragedy of prostitution in Melbourne
and a hopeless girl, who sold her soul to satisfy her material needs.
Last but not least,The longest Day is dedicated to
the memory of Stephen J. Byrne 1953-2005. Acoustic guitar notes are
beautiful; Killer sings this lovely ballad with conviction and soul.
It’s fascinating how his vocals can be soft and meaningful one minute
and belt out blasting Punk/Rock numbers the next. The words reflect
what goes on in the minds of people who mourn and that helpless feeling
that those left behind are left with permanently, when a loved one is
gone.
The cover art of Killer’s album depicts scenes from his songs and
things which inspired them. Smith O’Brien’s cottage, the sign post for
Grey Street, a door that’s illuminated; the magic door and on the back
of the cover, the instruments used in the recording. This fascinating guy performed all of the parts of each number, apart
from the drum programming and Loops provided by Mark Reddy. Harmonica,
bass, Acoustic and electric guitars, lap slaps and drumbeats,
percussion are all done by the man himself. A key note mentioned on the
back cover is that this album was made without using pitch correction
software. So no artificial correction is used. What you hear is the
real deal!
Killer is a one man band with a difference indeed and he proves it with
this memorable CD. It took him seven days of recording over a period of
months to arrive at his destination. But it was worth it and although
singer/songwriters are ten a penny these days, occasionally a Goldmine
of talent like this comes along.
