ALBUM REVIEW: Witchsorrow, "Hexenhammer"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 25/05/2018

Label: Candlelight Records |

Spinefarm Records

“Hexenhammer” is surely one of the most talked about doom releases of 2018, more focus, more weight, more riffs... and better songs, once again confirming the band's status as one of the UK's premier doom acts.

“Hexenhammer” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Maleficus
2. Hexenhammer
3. The Devil’s Throne
4. Demons of the Mind
5. Eternal
6. The Parish
7. Like Sisyphus

The Review:

Witchsorrow are one of the handful of bands that play doom in the UK; not sludge, not sludge doom, not stoner doom, not stoner rock: just doom. Firmly from the Electric Wizard school of tempos and grooves, but with a little more in the way of songs.

On this record, the band have improved again; this is undoubtedly their best album yet. A very weighty production job combines with the best song craft from the band to date. After a suitably portentous intro, it's down to business with the title track, which is more dynamic than you might expect from the Witchsorrrow of yore. The record certainly sounds like a Skyhammer recorded production- deep drums with a nice tone, thick guitars and the whole thing is well mixed with the vocals occupying a pleasing slot in the centre of the soundscape.

Witchcraft themes abound as the band lurches from slow and leaden to downright brisk on “The Devil's Throne”, which has a great NWOBHM feel.  The album knocks anything from their debut into a neatly cocked hat. It is more concise and focused, the band play in a very assured manner and sound as if they have found a musical groove which really works for them.

There is very weighty material on this release; “Demons of the Mind” is a fine example of the band lumbering into a dark groove with full force. At seven tracks, the album does not outstay its welcome- even with several songs running past seven minutes. In fact, the final three offerings to the gods of doom play really well and go by without anyone having to look at their watch. Such is the power of Witchsorrow in 2018; more focus, more weight, more riffs... and better songs.

Whether it be the creepy riffing of “The Parish” or the epic closing statement of “Like Sisyphus”, the album delivers consistently and powerfully. This is a huge step up from their self titled debut and a consolidation of the improvements made on “No Light Only Fire”. “Hexenhammer” is surely one of the most talked about doom releases of 2018 and it once again confirms the band's status as one of the UK's premier doom acts. Doom on.

“Hexenhammer” is available here

Band info: facebook