Sandstone Hard Rock / Co. Derry

Right from the start, “Purging the Past” is a statement: these young men have matured as a band, and they have honed their songwriting and stylistic skills remarkably. This album is also released by Casket Records and gets brilliant reviews. No wonder LIMB MUSIC is interested in this gifted combo (being a perfect fit for their band roster): the label licenses the album right away. So, finally “Purging The Past” is released beyond Ireland – with a new artwork, remixed by the band, and remastered by Uwe Lulis (Rebellion, ex-Grave Digger). The 12 songs on the album are versatile, catchy and impress you with classy songwriting.

After the critical success of second CD ‘Purging the Past’ described by Bruce Dickinson as “the most promising thing to come out of Ireland in years”, Sandstone raised the bar with their 3rd release. ‘Cultural Dissonance’ depicts a band that is not afraid to grow and evolve both as performers and as songwriters: Still apparent is Sandstone’s hallmark, dynamic and emotive lyrics and meticulously crafted melodies, but now with a new directness and technical intensity. They had finally found a way to forge their diverse influences and creative ideas into one coherent style that somehow manages to be ballad-like and heartfelt yet bone-crushingly heavy at the same time. The album was a great success for the band and the press rewards the band with fantastic reviews, describing the alum as ‘A small masterpiece’ and ‘an album that can combine the fast and melodic elements of Power Metal, with complexity of Progressive, into a mixture that has no weak points’.