Live Review: Witchrider / White Miles / Truckfighters @ Sound Control, Manchester, UK. 11th November 2014

Truckfighters Live Review
Sound Control 11^th November 2014
Support from White Miles and Witchrider

In the basement of Manchester’s Sound Control, things are eerily quiet. Outside traffic revs, people bustle, a train thunders past, rattling along the tracks. Inside however, Ozo and a smattering of other tour crew members mill about, almost in complete silence, casually arranging the merch stand and loading gear onto the make-shift stage. It’s only an hour or so before the doors are flung open and fans – and a shivering draft – flood into the basement, a room usually reserved for club nights.

Tonight a stage has been assembled in one corner of this humble room, with the Truckfighters’ drum kit perched high above the rest of the stage slotted in the only real place there’s room for it. Pillars stand throughout the room, a small sound desk positioned towards the back with a bar running adjacent to the stage.

By the time Witchrider take to stage, the room still feels very much empty. There was no real rush of people as the doors opened, but those who did arrive early are treated to a solid set from the Austrian occult-tinged rockers; a band who are showing a real, distinct promise. Embarking on their first tour outside of their homeland, they deliver their set with a confident but never cocky swagger, front man Daniel conveying that same, striking bolshiness ever-prevalent in Josh Homme.

Their songs are wrapt in an aura, as hazy as it is nightmarish, that is simply impossible to ignore. From the gorgeous and melodious peaks of ‘Far From You’ sung with real heart - to the frantic fuzziness of ‘She Devil’ and the hip-shaking strut of ‘Witch-Hunt’, you find yourself wrapped around their sound. Guitarist HP peppers leading nuances atop clever stoner rock rhythms; these are songs that are tailor made to be blared out in a whisky stained strip club. One of 2014’s finest new acts.

Fellow Austrians – although they’ll lead you to believe that they’re from Madagascar for some unknown reason – White Miles pick up where Witchrider left of, albeit to a much fuller room. A two piece consisting of guitarist/vocalist Medina Rekic and drummer Hansjörg Loferer, they come bursting from the seams with an unbridled energy surpassing that of a birthday party of sugar-addled children. Medina launches herself across the stage, wrestling with her Telecaster as if it was trying to kill her. Hansjörg meanwhile pummelled the living crap out of his kit.

Sonically they were raw and unkempt. Feedback, a dirty tone and the harshness of the vocals only added themselves admirably to the chaos of it all. It was like getting attacked by sandpaper, it was rough and it really fucking hurt, but in a sadistic way you bloody loved it.

Their energy was infectious. By the time they stumbled off stage, their limbs flopping about like strawberry laces, smiles beaming on their faces, you couldn’t have been any more pumped for the main attraction.

The Truckfighters’ Fuzzomentary that tells the story of how the band turns into fuzz monsters every time they step out on stage, as it turns out, isn’t quite the work of fictitious wonder you lead yourself to believe. Bare-chested, guitarist Dango looks like the evil twin brother of Airbourne’s Joel O’Keefe, a twin brother they locked away from civilised eyes in the attic, where he became feral, living off mice and whatever other unlucky sods crawl about up there. Drummer Enzo looks like a giant behind his kit. He is a true entertainer too, spinning his sticks, whipping out little bits of wizardry throughout the show. Ozo is a little bit more composed, more serene, delivering his vocals with a slightly more unassuming passion. Collectively, you can tell their one and a half decades together have seen them grown tighter than a duck’s arse.     

Set opener ‘Desert Cruiser’ is a huge surprise, with most expecting to hear something from ‘Universe’ first. It delighted every single fucker in the room, turning the place into a party at the flick of a switch. What unfurled for the next hour or so was fuzz rock majesty.

‘The Chairman’ and ‘Get Lifted’ were astounding, the crowd firmly behind every note. You couldn’t keep Dango still as he ran rampantly around the stage, into the crowd, pulling crazy faces and, in all, proving, for those dismissive of academia and expansive research, that we are all indeed descended from apes.

It was fun, messy, energetic and, just as it was with White Miles, completely and utterly infectious. Ebola has absolutely nothing on Truckfighters. What a night.    

Words: Phil Weller
Photos: Phil Goddard



'Riding The Witch' – In Conversation with Witchrider

Witchrider with Phil Weller (M)

Darkness is closing in. The shadows of the trees that surround you, stalk you in this dense, blackened and chilling woods stand like cold-blooded killers all around. You search hopelessly for a light or any redeeming sign of human life in which to run to. The howling is getting closer. The trees themselves now seem to be closing in on you too, scraggly branches reach out like withered, clutching hands, yet strike against you with menacing intent. They scratch against your skin, leaving a swarm of tiny cuts etched upon your arms and face. Leaves and dead twigs crunch under your feet. Still the howling fills the air, hunger and despair rasping their calls. Then at last, hope. Mercy has come calling. A cabin amongst the trees, so out of place, like a soap in a dirty war. You race towards it, breathing heavily, dejectedly. You make yourself at home inside; you slam the door shut and fall upon it landing in a heap of the floor with a sigh of hollow relief. The howling grows louder yet still and you know, somehow – a sixth sense perhaps – you know that no one has ever made it out of here alive.

Then you awaken, but not with a jerk that pulls you upright with a stark, aggressive inhalation. You can’t move. You lay motionless and terrified. In Zimbabwean Shona culture, it is believed that this happens when a witch, an evil, crooked spirit tries to gain control of your body. They believe that witches can only truly harm when possessing the body of someone close to the victim. It is referred to as ‘riding the witch.’ This would, by complete chance, form the basis of what Witchrider stand for.  

“I suffered from it a few years back,” states guitarist HP matter-of-factly. “It was a coincidence actually, we realised that it means that after we chose the name. Initially this band was just going to be a whole jam session with different musicians on every song, like the Desert Sessions. But when we recorded our first three songs we decided that this will only work as a complete band. So we were called Desert Mountain for about two weeks. But riding the witch - it’s just an interesting concept really because our music tends to be quite dark and the idea of riding the witch is living a nightmare so much it feels real. It’s interesting because it blends in with our music. In some songs we go to darker places so it fits into our concept.”

The Austrian band, recently signed to Fuzzorama Records for the release of their exceptional full-length debut, ‘Unmountable Stairs’ are sat beside back stage at Sound Control. The winter darkness has closed in outside, like a nightmare of its own. Inside though, things are much more tranquil. Vocalist Daniel sits with a can of Carlsberg listening intently to HP. Bags, clothes, laptops and all manner of tour gear scatters the floors and tables of their shared area with Truckfighters.

Talk had veered towards their ‘occult rock’ tag, one which they are more than welcoming of. In fact, speaking to Truckfighters earlier that evening, when Dango had queried what occult rock actually was, Witchrider drummer Michael had appeared at the door cupping his hand to his ear.

“Whaaaatt?” he mused with a smile, all eyes turning upon his unexpected entrance. Dango echoed his question.

 “It’s what we do, it’s our sound,” was his short but simple answer.

“You do the rituals?” quizzed Ozo light-heartedly.

“Yeah, we do the rituals…I think it’s much about the lyrics. The lyrics have a lot of deep meanings.”

“We all really love horror films,” continued HP as I later pressed the band on the matter. At this point Daniel revealed that ‘The Cabin’ and ‘The Fog’ are probably the two most prominently horror inspired songs off the new record. Then HP said “The idea was to create little horror stories in the songs. The video for ‘The Fog’ definitely has that kind of surreal, nightmarish quality to it. It’s alienating, the whole experience. But I think sometimes in life that’s how it feels when you’re trying to find your way. Sometimes it gets weird, with your own situation, your own thoughts and I think the video fits together with the story of the song.”

Witchrider are a do-it-yourself kinda band. When it came to creating visuals for a track off ‘Unmountable Stairs,’ they kept it all in house.

 

Says Michael: “Daniel and I have really wanted to make a stop motion video for a long time. At one point when we needed a new music video we sat down and said ‘okay, let’s learn how to do it.’ We began watching video tutorials, figured out a story line and made the video.

“We still had the Photoshop files of the Wolfman from the cover so we used it for the video. Then we were just fooling around with other characters and ideas like Pig Man, Carrot Man and the Dog Detective,” reflected Daniel.  

HP: “Snake man. There’s some really weird creatures.”

“Snake man’s definitely my favourite character. You only see him for a few seconds but he’s very vital to the video,” adds Daniel to a surge of laughter. How many beers had you had at this point, Daniel? “I didn’t count.”

Further proof of their DIY aesthetics can be heard on ‘Unmountable Stairs.’ Self-produced at the home in which all members bar HP share in their hometown of Gratz – HP lives 1km away – over the first half of the year, it bore both practical and comfortable benefits.

 

“We could just get up in the morning and start working on an idea, start recording different instruments,” said Michael. “If we did that in a studio we’d end up with a bill for about €5000 or something like that. We started recording in January and finished it in June. Some songs were written late on, we couldn’t afford a studio for that long, you know?  It’s really nice to have that set up because when you’re working on a song or new parts you can record right away. You don’t have to go anywhere.”

 

Daniel, you’re quoted in the press release Daniel as saying “I don’t know how to make music on purpose,” so you’re obviously a very jam orientated band, so what is a jam session with you guys like?

“It tends to be that we start off with someone’s idea and build on that. But the idea itself Isn’t on purpose. We just sit down with the guitars and fiddle around until we get something good. It’s a pretty long process but it’s worth it in the end.”

You’ve got to have a really strong chemistry as a band for that to work and Witchrider couldn’t be a tighter unit. 

“I think it’s really important that you can get along with each other. If you want to take it seriously and travel around I don’t think it’s that much fun if you hate each other’s guts,” laughs HP.

“We’re just enjoying ourselves, you know?” remarks Daniel, rounding things off. “We’re really grateful for this opportunity so why be angry about anyone on the tour bus and ruin your time?”

Their first jaunt outside of their home country may not be one that makes huge ripples in the ocean that we call life, but for this group of musicians, it’s simply a great opportunity. It keeps their dreams at a touching distance. These are the humble beginnings of a band I truly believe can do great things, they just need the world to sit up and take note.

Words and interview by: Phil Weller

Photographs: Phil Goddard



You can read Phil’s review of ‘Unmountable Stairs’ here



Witchrider - Unmountable Stairs (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/10/2014

Label: Fuzzorama Records

‘Unmountable Stairs’ CD/DD/LP track listing:

1. OCD

2. One For Five

3. Black (album version)

4. I'm Outta Breath

5. Far From You

6. SP

7. The Cabin

8. The Fog

9. Unmountable Stairs

10. Witch-Hunt

11. Styx

The Band:

Daniel Dorninger

Hans-Peter Leitner

Michael Hirschmugl

Bernhard Weigl

Review:

There are not enough bands like Witchrider. ‘Unmountable Stair’s is a beautiful amalgamation of straight laced, good time fuzz n’ roll with darker, doom-tinted flavours haunting each and every one of these songs like the ghost of a restless soul. Instantly accessible and gratifyingly groovy yet understated and uncluttered, it doesn’t try to be anything it isn’t. Rather, this is unabashed fuzz heaven streamlined for success.

Their first full-length record, with a self-titled EP and split EP with Truckfighters – whom they have the honour of supporting on their forthcoming UK tour – already to their name, it is a rock solid effort. It has a really graciously uplifting atmosphere to it, the choruses and crackling fuzz harmonies sound like they could turn grey drizzle-sodden skies blue, and put a smile on even the most miserable bastard’s face.

From ‘Black’s moving chord progressions and addictive licks, to ‘1 for 5’’s ingenious harmonics riff, via the demented ‘The Fog’.  There is plenty of stoner rock musicality and atmospherics to immerse yourself in. But there is an added alternative rock styled edge protruding from the mix. Think of the melodicism of QOTSA and Foo Fighters with added weed, heaviness and darkness and you’ll find yourself traipsing through the kind of murky, mercurial territory that Witchrider have so brilliantly established for themselves.

‘I’m Outta Breath’ gives their shadowy aesthetics a more prominent role, taking on an occult like musical texture before ‘Far From You’, pleasingly redolent ode to the crunching, as-much-fun-as-you-can-have-with-your-pants-on riffology of Fu Manchu. ‘The Cabin’ meanwhile was born to be blared out in a smoky room full of sweaty rockers, all just the wrong side of stoned, to headbang in any form of co-ordinated manner – but having the time of their lives nevertheless.  Come to think of it, the song was probably conceived in an environment remarkably similar. The apple hasn’t fallen from the tree you could say.

Their slot as main support to Truckfighters on their jaunt across our fine island next month is an ideal opportunity to further increase their fan base. A legion of Truckfighters fans, a band with whom this Austrian quartet bear many a resemblance to, await to be hypnotised by their narcotic mysticism. For this is the kind of record that doesn’t merely play out of your speakers or headphones in the hope that someone may listen up and take note. This is the kind of record that wraps its sweet yet sullen self around you; it absorbs you.  

Moreover, it is one of those records impossible to pick a definitive single from. Not because it lacks commercial viability – it has oodles of that – but because every track is equally as persistent and ultimately successful at drilling itself into your head.  Like a devil on your shoulder tempting you to take another filthy gulp.

‘Witch-Hunt’ evokes Lullabies… era QOTSA with its burrowing riff and sassy composure while album-closer ‘Styx’ is a simply irresistible long goodbye. With the fuzz temporarily toned back, its bouncing rhythm and well-scattered intricacies – vocal ‘ooh aahs,’ and bittersweet, crying harmonies – it climaxes like fireworks at the chiming of midnight on a new year: Bright, colourful, breath-taking and commodious, it lights up the skyline with a innate sense of hope and promise for the future. 

Words by: Phil Weller

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

http://www.witchrider.com/

https://www.facebook.com/witchriderband

http://witchrider.bandcamp.com/releases

https://twitter.com/Witchriderband

WITCHRIDER LIVE (as main support to Truckfighters):

Nov 10 – Brudenell LEEDS
Nov 11 – Sound Control MANCHESTER
Nov 12 – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut GLASGOW
Nov 13 – The Basement NOTTINGHAM
Nov 14 – O2 Academy Islington LONDON
Nov 15 Hard Rock Hell – PWLLHELI
Nov 16 – Oobleck BIRMINGHAM