Iroha (band)

Lore & Background

Guitarist and vocalist Andy Swan was an original member of Final, an experimental electronics outfit formed in Birmingham in 1983. Final, originally called Atrocity Exhibition, also featured Justin Broadrick, who later joined Napalm Death and Head of David before forming Godflesh. Final disbanded in 1985 with Swan as a member until the end; after that, Swan focused on the dance scene for the next decade before forming Iroha in 2008.

Bassist Diarmuid Dalton was an original member of Cable Regime and also plays bass in Jesu. Guitarist and vocalist Dominic Crane was an original member of Rumblefish, who released a self-titled album on Atlantic Records imprint East West Records in 1992 and reached No. 34 in the Indie Charts with 'Tug Boat Line'.

Iroha signed to Denovali Records in 2010. Their first release was a split EP with French artist Fragment titled 'Bittersweet', described by The Sleeping Shaman as 'a perfectly balanced, heartbreaking, yet life-affirming, piece of modern music'. Their debut self-titled album was released in February 2011, followed by a four-track EP 'End of an Era' in September 2011. Their second album, 'Shepherds & Angels', was released on 7 December 2012 via Denovali Records.

Reader's Guide

Iroha represent a notable intersection of post-metal and experimental music, drawing on the backgrounds of members who had been part of influential acts in industrial, electronic, and alternative rock. Andy Swan's history with Final connects the band to the early industrial and post-punk scene of Birmingham, while Diarmuid Dalton's work with Jesu links Iroha to the broader post-metal and shoegaze-influenced metal movement. Dominic Crane's prior work with Rumblefish brought a melodic indie rock sensibility. Their releases on Denovali Records, particularly the split EP 'Bittersweet' and the albums 'Iroha' and 'Shepherds & Angels', were well received within the underground. The band's significance lies in their synthesis of heavy, atmospheric soundscapes with emotional depth, though their activity was relatively brief, ending after 2012. Their legacy is preserved through their recorded output and the continued careers of their members in other projects.

Did You Know?

• Andy Swan was an original member of Final, an experimental electronics outfit formed in 1983 that also featured Justin Broadrick.
• Bassist Diarmuid Dalton also plays bass in Jesu.
• Dominic Crane was an original member of Rumblefish, whose single 'Tug Boat Line' reached No. 34 in the Indie Charts in 1992.
• Iroha's first release was a split EP with French artist Fragment titled 'Bittersweet'.