Auld Blue Eyes, the moniker of Ian O’Callaghan, emerges from the shadowy corridors of Irish hardcore with a solo debut that’s both a departure and a deep dive into the artist’s evolving sound. Known for his intense presence as the frontman of the now-defunct band Horse and more recently Uncultivates—a blackened hardcore collective featuring members of God Alone and Worn Out—O’Callaghan’s solo work offers a fresh, introspective take on the genre.

His first solo album, Drop An Anchor, navigates the turbulent waters of screamo and post-hardcore, interspersed with post-rock influences. It promises listeners a journey through O’Callaghan’s raw, soaring vocals, nasty guitar work, and lyrics that grapple with themes both personal and poignant: aging, the struggle to keep houseplants alive, and the bittersweet nostalgia of a summer spent lifting weights and playing Tekken 3 in a basement.

Meticulously crafted over four years, the album’s creation was punctuated by a car accident earlier this year, which inadvertently became a catalyst for its completion.

Drop An Anchor kicks off with a burst of energy from O’Callaghan that recalls the unrelenting drive of Andrew WK if only he was a bit more hardcore. This intensity quickly gives way to recent single “The Other Way” a track where driving bass and O’Callaghan’s guttural vocals dominate. “We Weren’t Meant to Look Like This” veers into a more contemplative, post-rock territory, while “Pointless Cells” unleashes a torrent of chunky riffs and visceral fury. “A Pointless Jig” merges ominous, brooding post-metal with staccato drums and synths, adding a layer of dark complexity. “How’s Life” emerges as the album’s experimental centerpiece, showcasing intricate finger-tapping and high-energy riffs. The closer, titled “Bad News” turns the focus inward with a more somber, screamo tone, concluding with O’Callaghan’s raw declaration: “This is the end” and with that the journey is done.  

You can check it out HERE