ABOUT ORYAD
Progressive Doom Opera.
For Fans Of
Blackbriar, Cellar Darling, Chelsea Wolfe, Within Temptation, Eivor

Oryad is a progressive doom opera project hailing from the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain ranges of the United States. The dreamchild of soprano and pianist Moira Murphy, this metal ensemble weaves together the multiple influences of classical music, doom, prog, symphonic metal, jazz, and alternative.
Moira Murphy’s international solo operatic and stage direction experience leads Oryad’s unique vision. Joining her is Matt Gotlin-Sheehan on drums, who brings experience as a touring metal drummer, jazz musician, and collaborator.
The June 2021 release of their debut EP, “Hymns of Exile & Decay,” was well-received across independent press in Europe and in performance in Denver’s favorite independent venues like HQ (formerly 3 Kings), The Roxy Theatre, and Seventh Circle Music Collective.

The May 2023 release of the full-length album “Sacred & Profane” marks a departure from the traditional symphonic metal format upon which the project was originally formed. The ten tracks of the debut album represent multiple genres and influences and was released in partnership with SAOL, CMM-GmbH on worldwide streaming services and in CD format.
The ensemble has focused heavily on songwriting and video creation and released a live studio concert in June 2022 in addition to visual assets to accompany the entire EP. They will continue this tradition with the release of material from “Sacred & Profane.”
With songs exploring grief, metaphysics, and the machinations of nature, Oryad is inspired by Greek and Norse mythology; the writings of Jung, Campbell, Eliade, and Camus; the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay, Stephen Crane, and Charles Baudelaire; and Moira’s Appalachian heritage.

LINE-UP
Moira Murphy
East Tennessee
Vocals, Piano/Synth, Orchestration, Lyricist/Songwriter
Matt Gotlin-Sheehan
Denver, Colorado
Drums, Songwriter
CONTACT
Booking
booking@oryad.band
Public Relations
marketing@oryad.band

RELEASES
THE MYTHOLOGY CONTINUES...
HYMNS OF EXILE & DECAY
Debut EP | June 25, 2021
SINGLES
Doxology November 13, 2020 • Hymn Of The End January 15, 2021 • Inflammatus April 2, 2021
Watch all of our videos below. Click on whichever thumbnail tickles your fancy.
REVIEWS & PRAISE
SACRED & PROFANE
93/100
Aardschok (in print)
Top 5 Albums of May 2023 + Review
Power Metal Ranger
9/10
Metal.De
10/10
Metal Zenith
8/10
Metal Temple
8/10
Rock Tribune Belgium (in print)
8/10
Bleeding4Metal
9/10
Saiten Kult
Smorg Magazine
94%
Via Nocturna
Zware Metalen
5/5
Metal Epidemic
Brutally Delicious Review
by Dark Macek
9/10
Metal Divisions
Female Fronted Power
Metal Observer
9/10
9/10
The Coroner's Report
9.1/10
Metal Factory Switzerland
“‘Sacred & Profane’ works like a synthesis of the arts: while listening, images of landscapes arise in the mind. Above it now and then a thunderstorm comes up or the sun gives comforting warmth in the next moment. If you like very well done Symphonic Metal, you can’t go wrong with this CD.”
Rock'n Force
Release of the Week
Ethereal Symphonies
New Metal Media
98%
Musika
“…we also fall for the frequent changes in tempo and rhythm that bass and drums impose. Luca’s guitar work is also absolutely top notch and knows how to charm us time and time again.”
Snaggletooth Podcast
Album Review
“Moira’s grandiose vocals ignite her dark poetry with beauty and distinction… Oryad is one of the most grandiose metal bands in recent memory…”
Release Highlight
Week 21, 2023
The Progspace
Top 10 Albums
May 2023
Heavy Debriefings
4.5/5
Metal Roos
Harbinger of DOOM
98%
Darker Side of Music
Rock The Joint Magazine
7/10
FFM-Rock
6/10
Rock Hard Italy (in print)
4.8/5
Flyctory
3/5
Toilet Ov Hell
3.5/5
Heavy Music HQ
The Median Man


HYMNS OF EXILE & DECAY




INTERVIEWS
Snaggletooth Podcast
Enjoy this in-depth and long-ranging talk between Mark and Stace of the Snaggletooth Podcast and Matt and Moira about live performances, songwriting approaches, and possible studio disasters.
The Brutally Delicious Podcast
Belgian Jasper Interview
Enjoy this talk between Moira and Belgian Jasper about Oryad’s songwriting process, our influences, and the journey from recital hall to metal club.

Metal Zenith
An interview with Moira about her view on songwriting and genre blending. Plus, which bands she's dying to play with.

Female Fronted Power
An extensive chat with creatress and soprano Moira Murphy about the concept behind the music, nature and literature as ever-present sources of inspiration and her challenges as a singer.

Rock The Joint Magazine
"...we hope to do justice to one of music’s newest and most visually expressive vocalists. The song videos we include at the end give some indication of what this band is about, but hearing the album is a bit of a must. They are intensely visual, pagan, and have elements of visual horror."
Rock On The Rise Interview

'Darkness and light can manifest in different ways'
"Most of my lyrics deal with universal topics through the lens of mythological figures or nature, so to me, it was a new way of designating the intersections of The Sacred and The Profane in life and exploring, in particular, the power of the feminine part of the soul "

''Music forms the backbone of spiritual experience"
Oryad is band that defies normal convention. From soaring operatic harmonies and excellent heavy passages that transcend the boundaries of metal, classical and gothic. It begins with the ancient ritual
From The Iceberg Radio Interview

Zwischen Metal und Mythologie
"Sacred and profane! It is this unique and unrepeatable mix that takes place in Sacred & Profane, the debut album by the American collective, Oryad."
Ranger Talk Interview
Enjoy this in-depth and long-ranging talk between Moira and The Power Metal Ranger- from musical influences, to background and education, to the genesis of the Oryad project.

Ten Questions, Ten Minutes
with John Tucker
What kind of film would Oryad music be the soundtrack for?

«...tratar de encontrar la santidad en una vida profana ligada a la tierra»
Find out who Moira's favorite singers are! Plus a chat about sacred spaces, philosophy, and the wonderful musicians who made "Sacred & Profane" possible.

Zwischen Metal und Mythologie
"Americans Oryad are now releasing their first full-length CD "Sacred & Profane". The interesting mix of hard guitar riffs, some symphonic and jazzy elements and above all the vocals of Moira Murphy, a trained opera singer, are reason enough to take a closer look at the band."

Artistic Authenticity
"We reached out to vocalist/keyboardist Moira Murphy and drummer Matt Gotlin-Sheehan to delve deeper into their musical upbringings that soon took them into heavier pastures..."