Belgian première of an experimental Irish doom/drone folk collective (with members of Lankum)

While ØXN’s (IR) debut album Cyrm dates from 2023, Feeërieën 2025 will be this intriguing Irish doom/drone folk collective’s Belgian premiere. Together with Lankum’s False Lankum, Cyrm was one of 2023’s best alternative folk albums; an honour that the two groups gladly share and doubly deserve, as ØXN count two Lankum members among their number: singer and multi-instrumentalist Radie Peat and John ‘Spud’ Murphy (producer for Black Midi, among others). 

Cyrm (pronounced ‘cy-rum’) met with international praise. The Guardian called it “Irish folk full of unsettling dark magic. Think: grisly trad tales, striking vocals and shades of PJ Harvey. Compelling!” while The Irish Times described it as “A modern masterpiece from an Irish neofolk supergroup.” They then proceeded to elevate the album ever higher, writing “Cyrm is an even more sonically adventurous record than False Lankum. They might not have entirely invented a genre, but they’ve refined and perfected an idiosyncratic take on 21st-century neofolk that sounds like nothing else on earth.” 

The group’s name, ØXN (pronounced ‘oxen’) refers to exactly what you’d expect: castrated draft animals. Their debut album contains two remarkably radical reinterpretations that just might win you over instantly: Love Henry (a remake of the murder ballad Henry Lee, which has previously been taken on by Bob Dylan and Nick Cave & PJ Harvey) and Farmer in the City (by Scott Walker). 

Still not convinced? Or maybe you just need a tangible point of reference? We’ve got you covered: This spring, ØXN was one of the most memorable acts at the internationally renowned Roadburn Festival, where they performed ‘only’ their seventh live show ever. The Quietus described them as a mix between Richard Dawson and Sunn 0))). 

Cross our hearts: this will be a highlight of Feeërieën 2025. Enrapturement guaranteed or your money back.