Lyriel

Lyriel formed in the early 2000s around singer-songwriter Laura Vargas, with guitarist Gus Ehsaan and violinist Fred Fried among the musicians who joined. The group's debut album came out in 2004, titled 'The Road Not Taken' after the Robert Frost poem. That song became a signature piece for them.

Their music pulls from folk and Celtic traditions, with violin lines weaving through the arrangements. Other tracks like 'Dust To Dust' and 'Falling Skies' show the same blend of acoustic textures and atmospheric production. The sound has drawn both listeners and some criticism from those who prefer more traditional approaches.

Lyriel kept recording after that first album, building a catalog that stays rooted in those early influences. They haven't shifted toward more conventional styles, working instead within that particular blend of instruments and moods.