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Monday 15 January 2018
ALBUM REVIEW: Witchcryer - "Cry Witch"
By: Ben Fitts
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released:
19/01/2018
Label:Ripple Music
The riffs are infectious, the grooves
hit you right in the gut and their well written songs are accentuated by
climatic dynamics and impassioned performances by all members of the band.Witchcryer have created something really
quite special on “Cry Witch”, a
debut surely worthy of addition to the doom metal cannon.
“Cry
Witch” CD//DD//LP
track listing:
1).
Cry Witch
2).
Ricochet
3).
The Preying Kind
4).
Ma Kali
5).
Embryo (Instructions)
6).
Great Divide
7).
For The Slaves
8).
Witchfinder General (Witchfinder General Cover)
9).
Lapis Philosophorum
The Review:
Do
you like fat, fuzz soaked guitar tones? What about heavy, blues based riffs with
a gloomy, vintage vibe? A singer who belts raspy, darkly melodic vocals about witches,
vengeance and fighting systematic oppression? Well if you are reading THE SLUDGELORD,
there is a pretty decent chance that you are here largely to find more bands that
do exactly what was just described above. If that’s you, then “Cry Witch”, the debut album by Austin based doom quarter Witchcryer,
does not disappoint.
Witchcryer play a form of classic
doom metal revival that owes its biggest musical debt to the bands that played
doom before there was a name for it (Witchfinder General, Black Sabbath, Pentagram).
Their chosen musical territory is far from uncharted by its very definition,
but Witchcryer
play it with so much fire that it feels fresh regardless. The riffs are
infectious, the grooves hit you right in the gut and their well written songs
are accentuated by climatic dynamics and impassioned performances by all members
of the band. Some highlights include brooding, psychedelic track “The Preying Kind” and the vicious,
gravely stomper “For The Slaves”, but
the album’s finest moment is unquestioningly its the thunderous title track. Somewhat
reminiscent of early The Obsessed, “Cry Witch” is a hard-hitting doom metal track at its finest, with
just enough punk rock muscle to give it its needed edge. Its main riff is also
an earlier contender for the best metal riff of 2018.
“Cry Witch” is the band’s first and
only release following a three-track demo titled “The Preying Kind — Demo
MMXVI” from
2016. While those familiar with their demo will recognize Witchcryer’s ear for great riffs
and knack for organic dynamic changes (as well new recordings of all three
tracks), overall “Cry Witch” demonstrates
significant growth for the band. They have grown much tighter and more
confident as a unit (some of which may be due to the recent inclusion of their
bassist, Marilyn) and have created something really quite special on “Cry Witch”, a debut surely worthy of
addition to the doom metal cannon.