Charnel Crown - People Like You Music Debut Video Release
- IED
- May 4
- 3 min read
There is a specific kind of buzz that hums through the Dublin metal scene when familiar faces from the local circuit join forces to start something new. It’s the sound of the community evolving. Today, that interest centers on Charnel Crown, a project uniting a lineup of musicians respected across the city’s dive bars and rehearsal rooms: Dean Donnelly (Vocals), Stephen "Stitch" Egan (Guitar), Spencer O’Brien (Bass), and Adam Sculthorpe (Drums).
Having spent time in bands such as, Unmaker, Saint Slaughter, and Call To Arms, these lads have plenty of history in the trenches. But Charnel Crown isn’t about looking backward; it’s a masterclass in proactive hustle. While many new outfits spend their first year hiding in a shed, Charnel Crown has hit the ground running by dropping a music video for their debut single, "People Like You."
Filmed at Pirate Studios in Finglas and directed by Oscar Hackett of Never Meant, the video avoids over-the-top theatrics to focus on raw energy. "We wanted to show that we are just four lads jamming our hearts out," explains bassist Spencer O’Brien. "The standout moment was when we were all playing together and just losing our minds."
The band draw heavily from groove metal, citing Pantera, Black Sabbath, and Killswitch Engage as key influences. The track reflects the reality of life in Dublin in 2026, touching on the "box room" housing crisis and the grind of balancing long work weeks with creative passion.
"If you’re a single man with only one income, it’s a death sentence," says guitarist Stitch Egan. "It’s either live poor and rent or live with your parents and pray the prices don't go up by the time you’ve saved. It’s a sad state of affairs."
Vocalist Dean Donnelly penned the lyrics during a hospital assessment, turning a moment of vulnerability into a mantra of resilience. "It tells the story of the working man and woman," Dean says. "It can be hard, but we cannot let ourselves become a victim. We have to keep moving."
That raw honesty translates directly to the track’s production. Recorded with Josh Robinson at JSR Audio in Belfast, the band leaned into the industrial atmosphere of the Blackstaff Estate. The highlight of the session? A spontaneous, one-take spoken-word bridge that caught the rest of the band off guard.
"I went out for a cigarette and came back in and was like, 'WTF is this?'" drummer Adam Sculthorpe recalls. Dean adds: "I asked for a radio announcement effect on my voice. When I recorded it, the guys were jumping around. I knew the song had hit another level."
For these four, the band isn't an escape; it’s an extension of the same "graft" mentality they bring to their day jobs in trades, finance, and government. Influenced by heavyweights like Pantera, Black Sabbath, and Killswitch Engage, Spencer O’Brien describes their collective sound as a mix of classic heavy metal and tight, rhythmic bass work inspired by the likes of Rex Brown and Justin Chancellor.
"There were times after my other bands where I wanted to give up," Spencer admits. "But music is my life. I use those past memories as my driving force to make new ones with Charnel Crown."
It is rare to see a new project emerge with this much drive and identity right out of the gate. We’ll be keeping a close eye on Charnel Crown as the year progresses, and we look forward to catching up with the lads later to see how their journey unfolds.
Coming Soon: Charnel Crown's debut EP, Such Is Life, is scheduled for release in late Summer 2026.
Follow: Stay updated on upcoming gigs via Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. All the photography in this piece was done by Down The Rabithole Photography
Comments