I always love a good rock song I can bang my head to. While I love screaming to ragers from groups like System of the Down, I still enjoy singing along to calmer bands like The Strokes. But sometimes, I just need a middle ground. That is when I turn to Dea Matrona.

Dea Matrona, named after the divine mother goddess in Celtic mythology, is an Irish rock band from Belfast with two members, Orláith Forsythe and Mollie McGinn. They began their career at a school music competition, transitioned to busking and then started producing their own music. 

McGinn’s younger sister Maggie used to be in Dea Matrona, but she departed in 2022 to focus on college. However, Forsythe and McGinn covered brilliantly for the loss of their third member. 

Both women play multiple instruments and alternate between playing guitar, bass, drums and vocals. The duo’s versatility makes them come alive on stage and broadens the range of their music.

The band’s music often focuses on themes of love and resistance, often infused with Biblical or Irish folklore. These themes give their music a unique touch, which sets them apart from other rock groups.

Dea Matrona favors a dirty guitar, and both Forsythe and McGinn’s edgy voices complement the instrument perfectly. Their songs do not have any frills, and they get to the point with both their lyrics and music.

“For Your Sins,” Dea Matrona’s most recent album release, perfectly showcases this ability to be direct.

For example, the edgiest song on the album, “Red Button,” centers around who is going to wipe out the world, and whether or not they want to accept it or fight on. The juxtaposition in the chorus, “Who’s gonna hit the red button? / Knock us down, wipe us out / Who’s gonna save us?” clearly depicts this conflict.

The chorus features beautiful vocal harmonization from Forsythe and McGinn, alternating with spicy guitar riffs. The formula is minimalistic, but I can bang my head to this song for hours.

While they embrace their dark and edgy side in many albums, Dea Matrona also has some quirky tracks, especially in earlier albums such as “Away from the Tide.” Songs from the album “Car Boot Sale” lean heavily into chromatic scales, and the rhythmic “shoo-bop sha wop wop” adds levity to the track and distinguishes their music from later releases.

Additionally, Forsythe and McGinn are also not afraid to embrace a more intimate feel. For example, their recent acoustic session releases showcase stunning vocals without their usual brash electric guitar and drums in the way. 

My favorite acoustic cover is by far “Stuck on You.” The original track sounds angrier, but the acoustic version is almost mournful. The gentle guitar makes the duo’s harmonies pop and highlights the song’s dark lyrics.

If you want gorgeous vocals, simple instrumentation and edgy music, Dea Matrona is the perfect band for you. If you “Just Wanna Rock,” give this talented duo a listen, and I promise you will not be disappointed.