Album Type:Album
Date Released: March 21st 2014
Label: Deadlight Entertainment
S/T Album track listing:
1. Cursed Tongue of The Naga
2. Have You Never Seen The Substitute?
3. Serpenta Ritual
4. The Next Black Moon
5. Gospel of The Witches
6. Ranks Up There With The Devil
7. Priestess of Old Ghosts
Bio:
3 piece stoner/doom act from Toulouse, France.
The trio were formed at the end of 2011 by Fredrik Bolzann, leader of the avant garde black metal band Davulia and the former bassist of Fornication and Malhkebre, who recruited bassist Lo Klav and drummer Niko Lass to help him realise his doom laden dreams. Mining a very similar territory to Witchsorrow, or the first Electric Wizard album, Witchthroat Serpent sound at once refreshingly distinct and instantly familiar. We have a feeling their eerie, heavy-as-balls sound is going to make doom fanatics across the globe very happy indeed…
The Band Members
Fredrik Bolzann - Fuzz Guitar & Vocals
Niko Lass - Haze Drums
Lo Klav - Rat Bass
Review:
Witchthroat Serpent play heavy down-tempo fuzz based Doom/Stoner Metal that harks back to the earlier days of Electric Wizard. As this band feels, it was home-schooled in the riffs of that legendary band and that ain’t a bad thing. Witchthroat Serpent play at a more aggressive and faster pace on their excellent S/T debut album which should find them a dedicated following within the Doom/Stoner Metal scene.
First track - Cursed Tongue of The Naga - starts with a dark demonic chant like being played against a whirling guitar solo that has been down-tuned into painful territory. It is only a short 3 minute song and it sets the scene superbly well with the bleak occult undertones being played to a loud level. This will send chills down your spine.
2nd track starts with a pummelling bass-line before the violent fuzz based guitar takes centre stage adding to the delicious dark vibes the album possesses. Lead vocalist Fredrik vocals have a distinct mad-man like quality to them as he spins tales of the dark arts. The fuzz on this album has been amped upto volume 666 never mind 11. It has slight Black Sabbath jamming with Electric Wizard feel to it but it is a pulsating ride you cannot help enjoying. My fave part of the song has to be the drumming, as it is the constant driving force in this song. The guitars fade in and out at different times but it is the creepy drums that give this song its violent energetic soul.
Witchthroat Serpent’s sound is mainly a mammoth cocktail of heavy fuzz Doom/Stoner Metal riffs drenched in Occult Rock mythology that will make you feel that it was Halloween all year long as this is the perfect soundtrack to Halloween. Nothing much changes for the remainder of the album as Witchthroat Serpent do not experiment with their sound for the rest of the album. Why should they? – They have created a more aggressive style of Doom/Stoner Metal that will have you coming back for more punishment.
Check out excellent tracks – Serpenta Ritual, The Next Black Moon, Gospel Of The Witches and Priestess Of Old Ghosts. As the band have captured the true essence of Doom Metal on each of the epic tracks. They all have a seductive quality about them that you will find very hard to resist. Things get very loud indeed as the band deal in epic, loud and heavy riffs that will leave you in a dark hypnotic trance.
Another highlight of the album is the lyrical content as the band have written some truly creepy lyrics that make you feel your watching a long lost classic horror movie. The album oozes quality from start to finish. It took me a few listens to actually feel the full effect of the album. With each passing moment, I fell under its dark spell of majestic riffs. And if you decide to buy or listen to this album then you will be under its hypnotic spell as well.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Thanks to Alex at Deadlight Entertainment for sending me a promo to review. S/T album is now available to buy from BandCamp now.
Check The Band From Links Below
Written by Steve Howe
