Electrifying... it's Altered Hours magic!

Over the decades Cork has consistently produced acts that have a swagger, an edge, and an ability to write and create great music. The Echo 'Downtown' correspondents Eddie Kiely (FIFA Records) and Eddie Butt (bass player with Emperor of Ice Cream) profile Altered Hours.
The Altered Hours are a Cork based five-piece psych rock band, formed in 2010 and made up of members Elaine Howley (vocals), Cathal MacGabhann (vocals and guitar), Kevin Terry (guitar), Patrick Cullen (bass) and Nora Lewan (drums), and are in our view Ireland’s greatest exponents of said genre.

However, that would be oversimplifying the vastness of their sound. Their music takes on multiple configurations, which traverse through vast psychedelic expanses, mixed with a post-punk cadence added to repetitive, pulsating and driving rhythms. Live they have built up a loyal following and have become known both home and abroad for their electrifying, fervent and exhilarating performances.

2018 saw the release of the highly anticipated On My Tongue EP on Art For Blind and Penske Recordings. The band decamped to Dublin’s Bow Lane Studios to record the EP and the results saw The Altered Hours further reshape their sonic assault into something that was although still familiar was also fresh and spellbinding. As one reviewer put it: “It has subtle highlights of post-punk, psych, neo-psych, shoegaze and riotous rock & roll all bundled up into one almighty white-knuckle sonic thrill ride”.