The Scratch

The Scratch is a Dublin based four-piece metal band that draws a fair amount of inspiration from traditional Irish music. For a long time, their calling card was that they played acoustic with the guitars and the cajon, keeping only the bass as their electric instrument. The effect was very much along the lines of the work of fellow metal musicians, Rodrigo y Gabriela, except they had a more extroverted feel and irrepressible exuberance. This changed in 2023's Mind Yourself, where they plugged in the guitars and turned up the amps as they began to explore atmospheric textures. The music is still outgoing and lively, acoustic instruments are still a part of their sound, but now they are more obviously an Irish-metal combo.