WITCHCRAFT Legend (Nuclear Blast) 2lp 25.00
NOW ON VINYL!!! With bonus track. Here's what we said a few weeks back 'bout the cd version:
Yay, at long last (five years!) the return of our/your/everyone's favorite Swedish retro-proto-metallers, Witchcraft! With this, their fourth album, they've moved on from their previous label Rise Above to a new home on bigger label Nuclear Blast. They've also altered their lineup quite a bit, though of course mainman Magnus Pelander remains at the mic (though he's not playing guitar anymore, for some reason, concentrating solely on vocals). Going through changesÉ without changing -too- much, as far as us listeners are concerned, thankfully. Even with a new drummer and two new guitarists, this still sounds of a piece with the Witchcraft of olde, certainly in part due to the distinctive, emotive, melodic vocal stylings of Pelander. We just love his voice, and he puts on a great performance here. He's got flair, the whole band does.
Musically, Legend is maybe a bit more modern and slickly produced than previous Witchcraft outings, and certainly they didn't get rawer or heavier, no. The direction they took was onwards and upwards. But the influence of such vintage greats as Black Sabbath and Pentagram hasn't exactly waned, though nowadays we'd be more likely to describe Witchcraft as being their own psychedelic, doomy, melodic, proggy, heavy rock thing. Good meaningful music, well played, with lots of both light and shade - lumbering riffs, lovely vox, great guitarworkÉ Now, someone here thought that this new Witchcraft showed signs of being "success rock", whatever that means, and someone else here (Andee) thought some of it sounded a bit like Queens Of The Stone Age (meant, he assured us, as a compliment!), and yeah sure this is perhaps geared to appeal to a bigger audience than the record collecting '70s downer rock nerds that Witchcraft themselves once were (and heck, still are - after all, the likes of "Dystopia" here sounding like something off of one of Sabbath's final few Ozzy-era albums like Never Say Die). But, whatever. At the risk of sounding snobby, very few bands who get big are really all that great, but Pelander and Witchcraft definitely deserve all their success, so we won't hold it against 'em. Longtime Witchcraft fans, you have nothing to worry about, listen to "It's Not Because Of You" ferinstance and tell us that it doesn't sound like it coulda been on The Alchemist or Firewood. Once again, we're happily enscorcelled by this Witchcraft - and hope it won't be another five years between albums, again!
MPEG Stream: "It's Not Because Of You"
MPEG Stream: "Ghosts House"
MPEG Stream: "Democracy"

WITCHCRAFT s/t (The Music Cartel) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
PERHAPS THEE BEST '70s-INSPIRED DOOM ALBUM EVER. Can't put it any plainer. This is sooo authentically old sounding, and sooo good. Sweden's Witchcraft have delved into the past through seemingly mystical means and come up with a masterpiece that sounds like it was recorded by some genius yet unknown downer-rock contemporary of Black Sabbath or Pentagram back in 1972. In a blindfold test, anyone into '70s heavy rock would be fooled for sure. Doomy retro-proto-metal full of heart-wrenching atmosphere, killer riffs, and melodic hooks galore. The mastermind behind Witchcraft, guitarist/vocalist Magnus Pellander, is obviously HUGELY into heavy '70s psych/prog rock. Doubtless he's got an extensive record collection with well-worn albums by Sabbath and a host of more obscure bands like Dust, Captain Beyond, November, Toad, Jerusalem, etc... But unlike so many other record collectors, instead of spending his time making want lists and grading LPs, Magnus *listened* to 'em, then went into the studio and wrote songs as good or BETTER than pretty much anything on those collector's platters. Literally, inspired stuff. As modern-day but '70s sounding records go, maybe only that Elope record we reviewed recently could compare in convincing us it was recorded thirty years ago -- imagine that album with heavier, fuzzier guitars and more melancholic vibrations. (Another one would be The Want album Southern Lord released a few years ago).
So we were super thrilled to hear that this band was putting out a full-length. And apparently other folks were too, 'cuz we've already sold a bunch of these in the store before even reviewing it! Kinda weird, since their only previous release, a 7" single paying tribute to two of Witchcraft main man Magnus Pelander's big heroes, Roky Erickson of the 13th Floor Elevators and Pentagram's Bobby Liebling, was a hard to find, import-only release (both tracks from which are included here, along with an obscure Pentagram cover making Witchcraft's love of Liebling even more obvious). On the strength of that single, though (and the few singles and compilation tracks recorded by Magnus's previous band, Norrsken), our anticipation for Witchcraft's debut album ran high. Well, as you've already gathered, we're even more thrilled to say that it more than lives up to our expectations! We had a handful of copies of the import vinyl as well, which includes a bonus track (another Pentagram cover), but those are sadly long gone now.
MPEG Stream: "No Angel Or Demon"
MPEG Stream: "I Want You To Know"

WITCHCRAFT s/t (Rise Above Records) lp 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
PERHAPS THEE BEST '70s-INSPIRED DOOM ALBUM EVER. Can't put it any plainer. This is sooo authentically old sounding, and sooo good. Sweden's Witchcraft have delved into the past through seemingly mystical means and come up with a masterpiece that sounds like it was recorded by some genius yet unknown downer-rock contemporary of Black Sabbath or Pentagram back in 1972. In a blindfold test, anyone into '70s heavy rock would be fooled for sure. Doomy retro-proto-metal full of heart-wrenching atmosphere, killer riffs, and melodic hooks galore. The mastermind behind Witchcraft, guitarist/vocalist Magnus Pellander, is obviously HUGELY into heavy '70s psych/prog rock. Doubtless he's got an extensive record collection with well-worn albums by Sabbath and a host of more obscure bands like Dust, Captain Beyond, November, Toad, Jerusalem, etc... But unlike so many other record collectors, instead of spending his time making want lists and grading LPs, Magnus *listened* to 'em, then went into the studio and wrote songs as good or BETTER than pretty much anything on those collector's platters. Literally, inspired stuff. As modern-day but '70s sounding records go, maybe only that Elope record we reviewed recently could compare in convincing us it was recorded thirty years ago -- imagine that album with heavier, fuzzier guitars and more melancholic vibrations. (Another one would be The Want album Southern Lord released a few years ago).
So we were super thrilled to hear that this band was putting out a full-length. And apparently other folks were too, 'cuz we've already sold a bunch of these in the store before even reviewing it! Kinda weird, since their only previous release, a 7" single paying tribute to two of Witchcraft main man Magnus Pelander's big heroes, Roky Erickson and Pentagram's Bobby Liebling, was a hard to find, import-only release (both tracks from which are included here, along with an obscure Pentagram cover making Witchcraft's love of Liebling even more obvious). On the strength of that single, though (and the few singles and compilation tracks recorded by Magnus's previous band, Norrsken), our anticipation for Witchcraft's debut album ran high. Well, as you've already gathered, we're even more thrilled to say that it more than lives up to our expectations! We have a handful of copies of the import vinyl as well, which includes a bonus track (another Pentagram cover).
MPEG Stream: "No Angel Or Demon"
MPEG Stream: "I Want You To Know"

WITCHCRAFT s/t (limited edition picture disc) (Rise Above) picture disc lp 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Now available as a SUPER LIMITED picture disc!!
PERHAPS THEE BEST '70s-INSPIRED DOOM ALBUM EVER. Can't put it any plainer. This is sooo authentically old sounding, and sooo good. Sweden's Witchcraft have delved into the past through seemingly mystical means and come up with a masterpiece that sounds like it was recorded by some genius yet unknown downer-rock contemporary of Black Sabbath or Pentagram back in 1972. In a blindfold test, anyone into '70s heavy rock would be fooled for sure. Doomy retro-proto-metal full of heart-wrenching atmosphere, killer riffs, and melodic hooks galore. The mastermind behind Witchcraft, guitarist/vocalist Magnus Pellander, is obviously HUGELY into heavy '70s psych/prog rock. Doubtless he's got an extensive record collection with well-worn albums by Sabbath and a host of more obscure bands like Dust, Captain Beyond, November, Toad, Jerusalem, etc... But unlike so many other record collectors, instead of spending his time making want lists and grading LPs, Magnus *listened* to 'em, then went into the studio and wrote songs as good or BETTER than pretty much anything on those collector's platters. Literally, inspired stuff. As modern-day but '70s sounding records go, maybe only that Elope record we reviewed recently could compare in convincing us it was recorded thirty years ago -- imagine that album with heavier, fuzzier guitars and more melancholic vibrations. (Another one would be The Want album Southern Lord released a few years ago).
So we were super thrilled to hear that this band was putting out a full-length. And apparently other folks were too, 'cuz we've already sold a bunch of these in the store before even reviewing it! Kinda weird, since their only previous release, a 7" single paying tribute to two of Witchcraft main man Magnus Pelander's big heroes, Roky Erickson of the 13th Floor Elevators and Pentagram's Bobby Liebling, was a hard to find, import-only release (both tracks from which are included here, along with an obscure Pentagram cover making Witchcraft's love of Liebling even more obvious). On the strength of that single, though (and the few singles and compilation tracks recorded by Magnus's previous band, Norrsken), our anticipation for Witchcraft's debut album ran high. Well, as you've already gathered, we're even more thrilled to say that it more than lives up to our expectations!
MPEG Stream: "No Angel Or Demon"
MPEG Stream: "I Want You To Know"

WITCHCRAFT The Alchemist (Candlelight USA / Rise Above) cd 14.98
The Japanese import version w/ bonus track is all gone, but now we've recieved the much cheaper, digipack'd domestic version of the new Witchcraft, here's our review...
Oh man. The third album from the Swedish prog/psych/doom wizards Witchcraft is finally here. We can barely contain ourselves. They say third time's the charm, and of course with Witchcraft it can't help but being so, since the first two times were charmed as well. This band's debut destroyed us with its incredibly authentic retro Pentagram/Sabbath stylings, with lashings of flute and folkiness too. Their second album, Firewood, captivated us with an equally early '70s heavy progressive vibe. Now The Alchemist succeeds at giving us what we want from Witchcraft -and- pushing further into the realm of melodic, folky proggy rock that stands on its own far beyond being a mere tribute to its '70s ancestors.
Guitarist/singer Magnus Pelander and his band Witchcraft have pretty much proved that the old adage "they don't make 'em like they used to" isn't always true. Witchcraft sure as hell does. That it's 2007 not 1972 isn't evident from anything on here, though it sounds as fresh as a daisy at the same time. These guys are so old school analog you halfway expect that their cd would be made out of black plastic and have visible grooves in it. We certainly could imagine some DJ's looking for breaks wanting this on vinyl real bad, you could do some badass hiphop mix with parts of "Remembered" ferinstance. Bet Andy Votel digs this band. Totally sounds like they could have gotten a deal with his favorite progressive record label back in the day (that'd be the famed Vertigo) had Witchcraft really existed in the '70s... certainly the inclusion of the sax solo (yes, a sax solo!) at the end of "Remembered" helps make it sound like something from an old Vertigo LP! Elsewhere Witchcraft get super sweet and gentle, or break out the heavy riffs Sabbath style (like you'd expect -- Sabbath originally being a Vertigo band y'know) in a blend we can't help but love.
Magnus' emotive, melodic vocals are so crucial here, one of this record's shining strengths. He still sounds a bit like a Swedish-accented Ozzy, yet with a graceful finesse, belting it out expressively or crooning with lilting loveliness. His vocals are matched by the absolutely powerful and gorgeous guitarwork throughout the disc. This album sweeps us off our feet immediately with the instant-classic opener "Walk Between The Lines", which is followed by a re-recorded version of the A-side of last year's 7" single, "If Crimson Was Your Colour", an urgent, witchy rocker embellished with some tasty Moog licks. Then there's the loping "Leva", which though Magnus sings it in Swedish, still goes straight to our soul. The Sabbath factor is ratcheted up on "Hey Doctor", a lumbering doom-riffed downer lamentation/accusation. The next track, "Samaritan Burden" combines the heavy riffs with a mellower mood and more acoustic-y moments, masterfully structured. It's followed by the aforementioned "Remembered", definitely an album-standout that's so '70s in so many ways that pretty much only Witchcraft could have done it in this day and age. And then, speaking of standouts, comes the nearly 15 minute long title track, "The Alchemist"! We'll omit description other than to say it's of course an epic mindblower, closing the album with magnificent, mesmeric, proggier than thou flourish.
Definitely a Top 10 Best of 2007 album, highly recommended. Seriously, we'd have been happy taking all day to write this review, just 'cause we love listening to this album so much.
MPEG Stream: "Walk Between The Lines"
MPEG Stream: "Hey Doctor"
MPEG Stream: "Remembered"

WITCHCRAFT The Alchemist (Rise Above) lp 28.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
NOW ON VINYL! Super limited import though, and we only were able to get a mere handful. Please be prepared to be disappointed, since we'll probably run out in about five seconds, sorry.
In case it's needed, here's our review...
Oh man. The third album from the Swedish prog/psych/doom wizards Witchcraft is finally here. We can barely contain ourselves. They say third time's the charm, and of course with Witchcraft it can't help but being so, since the first two times were charmed as well. This band's debut destroyed us with its incredibly authentic retro Pentagram/Sabbath stylings, with lashings of flute and folkiness too. Their second album, Firewood, captivated us with an equally early '70s heavy progressive vibe. Now The Alchemist succeeds at giving us what we want from Witchcraft -and- pushing further into the realm of melodic, folky proggy rock that stands on its own far beyond being a mere tribute to its '70s ancestors.
Guitarist/singer Magnus Pelander and his band Witchcraft have pretty much proved that the old adage "they don't make 'em like they used to" isn't always true. Witchcraft sure as hell does. That it's 2007 not 1972 isn't evident from anything on here, though it sounds as fresh as a daisy at the same time. These guys are so old school analog you halfway expect that their cd would be made out of black plastic and have visible grooves in it. We certainly could imagine some DJ's looking for breaks wanting this on vinyl real bad, you could do some badass hiphop mix with parts of "Remembered" ferinstance. Bet Andy Votel digs this band. Totally sounds like they could have gotten a deal with his favorite progressive record label back in the day (that'd be the famed Vertigo) had Witchcraft really existed in the '70s... certainly the inclusion of the sax solo (yes, a sax solo!) at the end of "Remembered" helps make it sound like something from an old Vertigo LP! Elsewhere Witchcraft get super sweet and gentle, or break out the heavy riffs Sabbath style (like you'd expect -- Sabbath originally being a Vertigo band y'know) in a blend we can't help but love.
Magnus' emotive, melodic vocals are so crucial here, one of this record's shining strengths. He still sounds a bit like a Swedish-accented Ozzy, yet with a graceful finesse, belting it out expressively or crooning with lilting loveliness. His vocals are matched by the absolutely powerful and gorgeous guitarwork throughout the disc. This album sweeps us off our feet immediately with the instant-classic opener "Walk Between The Lines", which is followed by a re-recorded version of the A-side of last year's 7" single, "If Crimson Was Your Colour", an urgent, witchy rocker embellished with some tasty Moog licks. Then there's the loping "Leva", which though Magnus sings it in Swedish, still goes straight to our soul. The Sabbath factor is ratcheted up on "Hey Doctor", a lumbering doom-riffed downer lamentation/accusation. The next track, "Samaritan Burden" combines the heavy riffs with a mellower mood and more acoustic-y moments, masterfully structured. It's followed by the aforementioned "Remembered", definitely an album-standout that's so '70s in so many ways that pretty much only Witchcraft could have done it in this day and age. And then, speaking of standouts, comes the nearly 15 minute long title track, "The Alchemist"! We'll omit description other than to say it's of course an epic mindblower, closing the album with magnificent, mesmeric, proggier than thou flourish.
Definitely a Top 10 Best of 2007 album, highly recommended. Seriously, we'd have been happy taking all day to write this review, just 'cause we love listening to this album so much.
MPEG Stream: "Walk Between The Lines"
MPEG Stream: "Hey Doctor"
MPEG Stream: "Remembered"

WITCHCRAFT The Alchemist (Japanese edition) (Leaf Hound / Rise Above) cd 23.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Oh man. The third album from the Swedish prog/psych/doom wizards Witchcraft is finally here. We can barely contain ourselves. They say third time's the charm, and of course with Witchcraft it can't help but being so, since the first two times were charmed as well. This band's debut destroyed us with its incredibly authentic retro Pentagram/Sabbath stylings, with lashings of flute and folkiness too. Their second album, Firewood, captivated us with an equally early '70s heavy progressive vibe. Now The Alchemist succeeds at giving us what we want from Witchcraft -and- pushing further into the realm of melodic, folky proggy rock that stands on its own far beyond being a mere tribute to its '70s ancestors.
Guitarist/singer Magnus Pelander and his band Witchcraft have pretty much proved that the old adage "they don't make 'em like they used to" isn't always true. Witchcraft sure as hell does. That it's 2007 not 1972 isn't evident from anything on here, though it sounds as fresh as a daisy at the same time. These guys are so old school analog you halfway expect that their cd would be made out of black plastic and have visible grooves in it. We certainly could imagine some DJ's looking for breaks wanting this on vinyl real bad, you could do some badass hiphop mix with parts of "Remembered" ferinstance. Bet Andy Votel digs this band. Totally sounds like they could have gotten a deal with his favorite progressive record label back in the day (that'd be the famed Vertigo) had Witchcraft really existed in the '70s... certainly the inclusion of the sax solo (yes, a sax solo!) at the end of "Remembered" helps make it sound like something from an old Vertigo LP! Elsewhere Witchcraft get super sweet and gentle, or break out the heavy riffs Sabbath style (like you'd expect -- Sabbath originally being a Vertigo band y'know) in a blend we can't help but love.
Magnus' emotive, melodic vocals are so crucial here, one of this record's shining strengths. He still sounds a bit like a Swedish-accented Ozzy, yet with a graceful finesse, belting it out expressively or crooning with lilting loveliness. His vocals are matched by the absolutely powerful and gorgeous guitarwork throughout the disc. This album sweeps us off our feet immediately with the instant-classic opener "Walk Between The Lines", which is followed by a re-recorded version of the A-side of last year's 7" single, "If Crimson Was Your Colour", an urgent, witchy rocker embellished with some tasty Moog licks. Then there's the loping "Leva", which though Magnus sings it in Swedish, still goes straight to our soul. The Sabbath factor is ratcheted up on "Hey Doctor", a lumbering doom-riffed downer lamentation/accusation. The next track, "Samaritan Burden" combines the heavy riffs with a mellower mood and more acoustic-y moments, masterfully structured. It's followed by the aforementioned "Remembered", definitely an album-standout that's so '70s in so many ways that pretty much only Witchcraft could have done it in this day and age. And then, speaking of standouts, comes the nearly 15 minute long title track, "The Alchemist"! We'll omit description other than to say it's of course an epic mindblower, closing the album with magnificent, mesmeric, proggier than thou flourish.
Definitely a Top 10 Best of 2007 album. We'd have made it Record Of The Week, but what we've got here is the somewhat pricier Japanese import edition (the domestic version is due out towards the end of the month), with a Japan-only bonus track added on at the end, "Sweet Honey Pie", a lovely, acoustic little number. Not sure when/if we'll get more, so we were wary about giving it pole position. But with or without bonus track, it's an AMAZING new effort from this fantastic band, highly recommended. Seriously, we'd have been happy taking all day to write this review, just 'cause we love listening to this album so much.
MPEG Stream: "Walk Between The Lines"
MPEG Stream: "Hey Doctor"
MPEG Stream: "Remembered"

WITCHCRAFT The Alchemist (Japanese edition) (Leaf Hound / Rise Above) cd 23.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Oh man. The third album from the Swedish prog/psych/doom wizards Witchcraft is finally here. We can barely contain ourselves. They say third time's the charm, and of course with Witchcraft it can't help but being so, since the first two times were charmed as well. This band's debut destroyed us with its incredibly authentic retro Pentagram/Sabbath stylings, with lashings of flute and folkiness too. Their second album, Firewood, captivated us with an equally early '70s heavy progressive vibe. Now The Alchemist succeeds at giving us what we want from Witchcraft -and- pushing further into the realm of melodic, folky proggy rock that stands on its own far beyond being a mere tribute to its '70s ancestors.
Guitarist/singer Magnus Pelander and his band Witchcraft have pretty much proved that the old adage "they don't make 'em like they used to" isn't always true. Witchcraft sure as hell does. That it's 2007 not 1972 isn't evident from anything on here, though it sounds as fresh as a daisy at the same time. These guys are so old school analog you halfway expect that their cd would be made out of black plastic and have visible grooves in it. We certainly could imagine some DJ's looking for breaks wanting this on vinyl real bad, you could do some badass hiphop mix with parts of "Remembered" ferinstance. Bet Andy Votel digs this band. Totally sounds like they could have gotten a deal with his favorite progressive record label back in the day (that'd be the famed Vertigo) had Witchcraft really existed in the '70s... certainly the inclusion of the sax solo (yes, a sax solo!) at the end of "Remembered" helps make it sound like something from an old Vertigo LP! Elsewhere Witchcraft get super sweet and gentle, or break out the heavy riffs Sabbath style (like you'd expect -- Sabbath originally being a Vertigo band y'know) in a blend we can't help but love.
Magnus' emotive, melodic vocals are so crucial here, one of this record's shining strengths. He still sounds a bit like a Swedish-accented Ozzy, yet with a graceful finesse, belting it out expressively or crooning with lilting loveliness. His vocals are matched by the absolutely powerful and gorgeous guitarwork throughout the disc. This album sweeps us off our feet immediately with the instant-classic opener "Walk Between The Lines", which is followed by a re-recorded version of the A-side of last year's 7" single, "If Crimson Was Your Colour", an urgent, witchy rocker embellished with some tasty Moog licks. Then there's the loping "Leva", which though Magnus sings it in Swedish, still goes straight to our soul. The Sabbath factor is ratcheted up on "Hey Doctor", a lumbering doom-riffed downer lamentation/accusation. The next track, "Samaritan Burden" combines the heavy riffs with a mellower mood and more acoustic-y moments, masterfully structured. It's followed by the aforementioned "Remembered", definitely an album-standout that's so '70s in so many ways that pretty much only Witchcraft could have done it in this day and age. And then, speaking of standouts, comes the nearly 15 minute long title track, "The Alchemist"! We'll omit description other than to say it's of course an epic mindblower, closing the album with magnificent, mesmeric, proggier than thou flourish.
Definitely a Top 10 Best of 2007 album. We'd have made it Record Of The Week, but what we've got here is the somewhat pricier Japanese import edition (the domestic version is due out towards the end of the month), with a Japan-only bonus track added on at the end, "Sweet Honey Pie", a lovely, acoustic little number. Not sure when/if we'll get more, so we were wary about giving it pole position. But with or without bonus track, it's an AMAZING new effort from this fantastic band, highly recommended. Seriously, we'd have been happy taking all day to write this review, just 'cause we love listening to this album so much.
MPEG Stream: "Walk Between The Lines"
MPEG Stream: "Hey Doctor"
MPEG Stream: "Remembered"

WITCHERY Don't Fear The Reaper (Century Media) cd 12.98
We were always big fans of Swedish blackened thrash/speed metal outfit Witchery, which makes sense considering that the group includes members of The Haunted, Seance, Satanic Slaughter, Brujeria, Arch Enemy, Nifelheim, Bloodbath, Spiritual Beggars, Mercyful Fate, etc. etc. it's like a Swedish metal supergroup, and recently, Legion joined the band, he of the mighty Marduk, but back in 2006 when this one came out, they still had their old vocalist and were trafficking in blasting, thrashing classic sounding occult blackened metal, that we dug big time. The weird thing is, the last few Witchery records got totally slagged, seemed like everybody hated 'em, especially this one, but we just realized we had a handful of these stashed away, and since we actually DO like it, we figured some of you might too. What's not to like, it's super heavy and thrashing, darkly atmospheric, the riffs are killer, it IS super polished, tight as all get out, a killer blend of modern black thrash, and retro speed metal, wild leads, plenty of midtempo groove, and some serious blasts of lightning speed thrashing that definitely verges on full black metal brutality, revisiting this again, we have to say we still dig it a LOT, and anyone into Swedish metal, black, thrash, speed or otherwise, should definitely check this one out. And pretty soon we'll review the new Legion-led 2010 Witchery as well, Witchkrieg, which we just got in stock...
MPEG Stream: "Disturbing The Beast"
MPEG Stream: "Stigmatized"

WITCHERY Symphony For The Devil (Necropolis) cd 14.98
Reports of the Necropolis label's demise were premature it seems, as they've bounced back with this new release from Sweden's top blackened rock n' rollers, Witchery! Their third full-length is yet another storming example of their ability to synthesize all the best headbangin' techniques of metal masters past and present, from rasping black metal vox to classic '80s riffing to thrash-velocity speed... They even have a macabre cover art mascot in the tradition of Maiden's Eddie and Megadeth's Vic Rattlehead! Hellishly catchy, fun stuff: if you like metal, this can't be denied. It's nothing new, yet it sounds fresh. In case you don't know, Witchery features members of The Haunted and Mercyful Fate. This disc includes two re-recordings of songs by the pre-Witchery band Satanic Slaughter as US-only bonus tracks.
RealAudio clip: "Omens"
RealAudio clip: "Wicked"

WITCHERY Witchburner (Necropolis) cdep 9.98
This much hyped Swedish retro-rockin black/thrash metal combo (starring members of The Haunted, Satanic Slaughter, and Mercyful Fate) might in fact be the best thing on Bay Area black metal label Necropolis, or at least, the most fun. On this ep they pay homage to their roots, covering tunes by Accept, WASP, Priest and Sabbath (plus there's three new 'uns). Probably worth it for their version of "Fast As A Shark" alone, especially the clever intro.

WITCHERY Witchkrieg (Century Media) cd 12.98
Oh man is this good. Total classic riff heavy Swedish blackness, thrashing, chugging, blasting, from one of our favorite long running Swedish hordes, who seem reinvigorated, with this, their first record in more than 4 years, and their first with new vocalist Legion, he of the mighty Marduk (and the legendary Ophthalamia), which only adds to the group's already pretty bad ass musical pedigree: Satanic Slaughter, Arch Enemy, Nifelheim, Illwill, Dismember, Mercyful Fate, Bloodbath, Seance, the Haunted, Brujeria. And if that wasn't enough, on this album they've also enlisted a serious cadre of metal guests: Kerry King from Slayer, Gary Holt and Lee Altus of Exodus, Hank Shermann of Mercyful Fate, Jim Durkin of Dark Angel, and Andy LaRoque of King Diamond!
Which all should give you an idea of what you're in for with Witchery circa 2010, super tight, ultra heavy, uber polished, blackened thrash, not raw or grim or fucked up or even kvlt, this is seriously well crafted heaviness, with incredible riffs, killer drumming, super memorable melodies, complex arrangments, BIG choruses, and some fucking fantastic guitar playing, from chugging churning black hole riffage, to soaring melodic leads, to total classic Maiden style harmonizing, and as much as we dug the old vocalist, Legion really cranks things up a notch, his hellish bellow, so powerful and intense, yet somehow still strangely melodic, not to mention how bad ass he looks in the band photo, complete with flaking rotting red skinned devil face and huge blood red devil horns.
Needless to say the metalheads around aQ have ben LOVING this shit, but be warned, as mentioned above, this is in no way underground or ultra raw or really all that black, instead, it's just seriously well crafted riff-ed out heaviness, that totally slays, so if you're in the market for some kick ass metallic crush, and love big riffs and heavy guitars, and don't mind a bit of melody and a decent production, then dig in. Definitely a new fave!
MPEG Stream: "Witchkrieg"
MPEG Stream: "Wearer Of Wolf's Skin"
MPEG Stream: "The God Who Fell From Earth"

WITCHES AND DEVILS At The Empty Bottle (KnitMedia) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Tribute to Albert Ayler by a band formed by some Chicago jazz scensters, led by reedsman Mars Williams, and including the ubiquitous Ken Vandermark (tenor sax). Also with cellist Fred Lonberg-holm, bassist Kent Kessler, and others. A very capable group indeed, and they do justice to the following Ayler tunes: "Truth Is Marching In", "Angels", and "Bells". Plus an Ayler-inspired sax/piano improvisation.

WITCHES, THE Universal Mall (Fall of Rome) cd 14.98
Don't be fooled by the pretty purple cake on the cover. This is some whisky-swillin', psych-y, space-y slow-to-mid-tempo blues with ragged vocals. Sort of Husker Du-esque.

WITCHFINDER GENERAL Buried Amongst The Ruins (Nuclear War Now! Productions / Buried By Time And Dust Records) cd 11.98
Holy shit. Doom fiends rejoice, for NWN! and BBT&D have unearthed *another* disc of rarities from the most Sabbathy of NWOBHM bands, the illustrious, infamous doom metal pioneers Witchfinder General. Like the live cd that came out last year this one is again material from the archives of original guitarist Phil Cope, who provides liner notes in the cd booklet (which is also filled with vintage photos and graphics) discussing the music herein, which consists of tracks from Witchfinder General's 1981 debut 7" single ("Burning A Sinner" b/w "Satan's Children") and their 1982 12" single Soviet Invasion (three songs: "Soviet Invasion", "Rabies", and a live one, "R.I.P."), along with four further live tracks recorded at a pub in Birmingham circa '81. The songs from the 7" and 12" are all raw, riffy, heavier-than-thou tunes bearing all the hallmarks of the material we know and love from the General's subsequent classic albums Death Penalty and Friends Of Hell. "Burning A Sinner" (which Cope mentions was often referred to as "Burning A Singer") was later re-recorded for their first full-length Death Penalty, but the other songs remained available only on those original two hard-to-find single releases -- until now. Reason enough for most Witchfinder General fans to want this! In addition, the rather rough-sounding live stuff here is a headbanging hoot, singer Zeeb Parkes charmingly and so obviously a (drunken) pupil of Ozzy's in the stage banter dep't. and vocal style too... and also they do a totally unreleased composition, "Phantasmagorical", never heard elsewhere. So definitely a bit of history there, and all the more reason that this collection of early tracks is essential for all true fans of the band and old school doom metal in general! In fact, considering that currently we can only seem to sporadically get copies of the reissue of Friends Of Hell, but almost never Death Penalty, this is all the more welcome of a release, being a good place as any to start for anyone keen on hearing what this cult doom band was all about.
MPEG Stream: "Soviet Invasion"
MPEG Stream: "Phantasmagorical (live)"

WITCHFINDER GENERAL Buried Amongst The Ruins (Nuclear War Now! Productions / Buried By Time And Dust Records) lp+7" 23.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
How does Nuclear War Now! do it? So many releases, all of them in eye popping over the top ultra deluxe packaging. This one is no different. Super deluxe gatefold sleeve, printed in silver ink, pressed on thick vinyl, inside a 12" x 12" full color booklet, and since the cd version was a collection of singles and 12"s, the vinyl version, includes the single tracks as an actual 7", in a sleeve that is a reproduction of the original release! Pricey, but when you see it (and hear it) you'll understand why. Well well worth it!
Here's what we said when the earlier cd edition was released: Holy shit. Doom fiends rejoice, for NWN! and BBT&D have unearthed *another* disc of rarities from the most Sabbathy of NWOBHM bands, the illustrious, infamous doom metal pioneers Witchfinder General. Like the live cd that came out last year this one is again material from the archives of original guitarist Phil Cope, which consists of tracks from Witchfinder General's 1981 debut 7" single ("Burning A Sinner" b/w "Satan's Children") and their 1982 12" single Soviet Invasion (three songs: "Soviet Invasion", "Rabies", and a live one, "R.I.P."), along with four further live tracks recorded at a pub in Birmingham circa '81. The songs from the 7" and 12" are all raw, riffy, heavier-than-thou tunes bearing all the hallmarks of the material we know and love from the General's subsequent classic albums Death Penalty and Friends Of Hell. "Burning A Sinner" (which Cope mentions was often referred to as "Burning A Singer") was later re-recorded for their first full-length Death Penalty, but the other songs remained available only on those original two hard-to-find single releases -- until now. Reason enough for most Witchfinder General fans to want this! In addition, the rather rough-sounding live stuff here is a headbanging hoot, singer Zeeb Parkes charmingly and so obviously a (drunken) pupil of Ozzy's in the stage banter dep't. and vocal style too... and also they do a totally unreleased composition, "Phantasmagorical", never heard elsewhere. So definitely a bit of history there, and all the more reason that this collection of early tracks is essential for all true fans of the band and old school doom metal in general! In fact, considering that currently we can only seem to sporadically get copies of the reissue of Friends Of Hell, but almost never Death Penalty, this is all the more welcome of a release, being a good place as any to start for anyone keen on hearing what this cult doom band was all about.
MPEG Stream: "Soviet Invasion"
MPEG Stream: "Phantasmagorical (live)"

WITCHFINDER GENERAL Buried Amongst The Ruins (Nuclear War Now! Productions / Buried By Time And Dust Records) lp+7" 23.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
How does Nuclear War Now! do it? So many releases, all of them in eye popping over the top ultra deluxe packaging. This one is no different. Super deluxe gatefold sleeve, printed in silver ink, pressed on thick vinyl, inside a 12" x 12" full color booklet, and since the cd version was a collection of singles and 12"s, the vinyl version, includes the single tracks as an actual 7", in a sleeve that is a reproduction of the original release! Pricey, but when you see it (and hear it) you'll understand why. Well well worth it!
Here's what we said when the earlier cd edition was released: Holy shit. Doom fiends rejoice, for NWN! and BBT&D have unearthed *another* disc of rarities from the most Sabbathy of NWOBHM bands, the illustrious, infamous doom metal pioneers Witchfinder General. Like the live cd that came out last year this one is again material from the archives of original guitarist Phil Cope, which consists of tracks from Witchfinder General's 1981 debut 7" single ("Burning A Sinner" b/w "Satan's Children") and their 1982 12" single Soviet Invasion (three songs: "Soviet Invasion", "Rabies", and a live one, "R.I.P."), along with four further live tracks recorded at a pub in Birmingham circa '81. The songs from the 7" and 12" are all raw, riffy, heavier-than-thou tunes bearing all the hallmarks of the material we know and love from the General's subsequent classic albums Death Penalty and Friends Of Hell. "Burning A Sinner" (which Cope mentions was often referred to as "Burning A Singer") was later re-recorded for their first full-length Death Penalty, but the other songs remained available only on those original two hard-to-find single releases -- until now. Reason enough for most Witchfinder General fans to want this! In addition, the rather rough-sounding live stuff here is a headbanging hoot, singer Zeeb Parkes charmingly and so obviously a (drunken) pupil of Ozzy's in the stage banter dep't. and vocal style too... and also they do a totally unreleased composition, "Phantasmagorical", never heard elsewhere. So definitely a bit of history there, and all the more reason that this collection of early tracks is essential for all true fans of the band and old school doom metal in general! In fact, considering that currently we can only seem to sporadically get copies of the reissue of Friends Of Hell, but almost never Death Penalty, this is all the more welcome of a release, being a good place as any to start for anyone keen on hearing what this cult doom band was all about.
MPEG Stream: "Soviet Invasion"
MPEG Stream: "Phantasmagorical (live)"

WITCHFINDER GENERAL Death Penalty (Heavy Metal Records) cd 19.98
Death Penalty is one of the lost metal albums from the early '80s, falling victim to its own indecisiveness, not that such is a bad thing. Never really staying "true" either to the glam metal of Hanoi Rocks, Fastway, and Motley Crue or to the shocking horror shows of Ozzy and Iron Maiden, Witchfinder General alternated between both worlds, with the first half of Death Penalty being rowdy party numbers about drinking beer and dropping acid. These songs followed standard blues based rock; but as Witchfinder General was pretty amped up on the aforementioned substances, they were quite a bit more distorted and quick tempoed. By the time Witchfinder General gets to their anthemic "Witchfinder General," this album takes an impressive turn down the dark path of mythologically laden proto-doom metal, loaded with super-heavy (for 1982) Sabbathy grooves and aggro lyrics mostly about killing witches. They also throw in some grave robbing, just to prove how evil they are. A confused classic, recently reissued in the US. One of Jim's (!) favorite metal bands!
MPEG Stream: "Free Country"
MPEG Stream: "Witchfinder General"

WITCHFINDER GENERAL Death Penalty + Friends Of Hell (Buried By Time And Dust) 2lp box set 38.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Oh yeah! We've been eagerly awaiting this ever since we heard Buried By Time And Dust was putting it out. A deluxe box set containing 180g vinyl reissues of this cult NWOBHM band's original two full-length albums, 1982's Death Penalty (featuring classics like "Free Country" and "No Stayer") and 1983's Friends Of Hell (equally cool, with such songs as "Love On Smack" and the under-rated "Music"). Part Sabbathy doom, part psychedelic punk, and part party metal. Initially best known for their risque album covers, featuring topless witches/wenches in tableaus that combined "historical reenactment" with Page Three Girl cheesecake, WfG's lasting legacy has more to do with their Sabbathy sound, they being one of the first (and few) bands in the '80s to so overtly worship Ozzy, Tony and Co., and establish the "doom metal" genre, along with Saint Vitus, Trouble, Pentagram, and Candlemass.
With this collector's set, you get not just the two lps, and nice box to keep 'em in, but also a huge 20 page booklet featuring unpublished outtakes from those infamous album cover photo sessions, plus full lyrics, liner notes from guitarist Phil Cope, newspaper clippings, and more previously unseen photos (live and promo shots), making this quite a treat for all true WfG fans.
Here's what AQ's Jim Haynes (not our usual metal reviewer!) had to say about these two albums when we first listed compact disc reissues some years ago...
Death Penalty is one of the lost metal albums from the early '80s, falling victim to its own indecisiveness, not that such is a bad thing. Never really staying "true" either to the glam metal of Hanoi Rocks, Fastway, and Motley Crue or to the shocking horror shows of Ozzy and Iron Maiden, Witchfinder General alternated between both worlds, with the first half of Death Penalty being rowdy party numbers about drinking beer and dropping acid. These songs followed standard blues based rock, but as Witchfinder General was pretty amped up on the aforementioned substances, they were quite a bit more distorted and quick tempoed. By the time Witchfinder General gets to their anthemic "Witchfinder General," this album takes an impressive turn down the dark path of mythologically laden proto-doom metal, loaded with super-heavy (for 1982) Sabbathy grooves and aggro lyrics mostly about killing witches. They also throw in some grave robbing, just to prove how evil they are. A confused classic... Witchfinder General's second album Friends Of Hell picks up right where Death Penalty left off, with an album split evenly between the party rock elements from the New Wave of British Metal back in 1983 and their undeniable influence from Sabbath. Just as bipolar (between comical and evil) as the first album, and just as great. One of Jim's (!) favorite metal bands, and that goes for most of the rest of us here at AQ too.
Not that probably if you're in the market for this, you need US to tell you that Witchfinder General is great. Though, we were shocked, shocked, to find out not long ago that one of our good friends and customers, who shall remain unnamed, had not only never heard any Witchfinder General but had never heard OF them, despite being a huge fan of Sabbath specifically and stoner, doom, black and other metal music in general! We were like WTF? How can you not know WfG??! What are you, -not- high?
MPEG Stream: "Free Country"
MPEG Stream: "Witchfinder General"
MPEG Stream: "Love On Smack"
MPEG Stream: "Shadowed Images"

WITCHFINDER GENERAL Friends of Hell (Heavy Metal Records) cd 16.98
Witchfinder General's second album picks up right where "Death Penalty" left off, with an album split evenly between the party rock elements from the New Wave of British Metal back in 1983 and their undeniable influence from Sabbath. Just as bipolar (between comical and evil) as the first album, and just as great. One of Jim's (!) favorite metal bands!
MPEG Stream: "Love On Smack"
MPEG Stream: "Shadowed Images"

WITCHFINDER GENERAL Live '83 (Nuclear War Now! Productions) cd 11.98
This one is for fans only. You know you're a fan if you saw the words Witchfinder General above and your heart sort of skipped a beat at the thought of a Witchfinder General record you didn't know about. Witchfinder General were pretty much the only NWOBHM band to base their entire sound on Black Sabbath, thus making them pioneers prior to pretty much all doom to follow: Candlemass, Cathedral, through to Witchcraft today. This disc, recorded live in 1983, is an awesome testament to just how kick ass the 'General were. The recording quality however is not. Thus, the for-fans-only disclaimer. The band sounded great, and the songs of course are totally killer, but as with most live records recorded from the sound board, the vocals dominate, the guitars are not as loud as they should be, and the drums sometimes get lost, but like the recent Bedemon release reviewed elsewhere this list it sort of just adds to the underground vibe (though Bedemon is recorded better than this, for sure). And who gives a shit about sound quality, this is mother fucking Witchfinder General!! Live!!! In 1983!!! It sounds a little bit like actually being at the show, but maybe hearing them from the dirty bathroom beside the stage. The way all real metal was meant to be heard! Regardless, this is an amazing (re)discovery, and along with the Bedemon disc we have been in blown out lo-fi stoner fuzz doom heaven!
ULTRA LIMITED! We only have about 20 copies and this is supposedly already out of print, so act fast!
MPEG Stream: "Burning A Sinner"
MPEG Stream: "Witchfinder General"

WITCHFINDER GENERAL Resurrected (Buried By Time And Dust) cd 14.98

WITCHSORROW s/t (Rise Above / Metal Blade) cd 13.98
Rejoice O Doomlords! From the venerable Rise Above comes this heaving slab of UK true doom, the debut from Witchsorrow, an immediately classic sounding hunk of lumbering heaviness, of downtuned mournful melodies, of plodding rhythmic thud, totally raw stripped down monolithic doooooooooom.
Channeling the spirit of Cathedral, Candlemass, Saint Vitus and other doom purveyors, into a sound that falls quite close to that of their sonic brethren (and sistren) in Electric Wizard, Witchsorrow don't go so much for groove or Sabbathy swing, as they do for churning crush. Occasionally, like on the 6 minute "Hail To Guy Fawkes", they crank up the tempo, and unleash something that sounds more like Trouble or Acid, a sort of doom-ed speed metal, but even then it's peppered with bits of slow motion dirgery. And there are moments where the distortion gets dialed back a bit, leaving a bit of mopey meander, but it never lasts, an avalanche of crumbling distorted doom-ed riffage is never far away.
No reinventing the wheel, nothing super fucked up and far our, Witchsorrow traffic in TRUE doom, for true doomlords, who just need it to be slow and heavy and epic and majestic, all of which this most certainly is.
MPEG Stream: "The Agony"
MPEG Stream: "The Trial Of Elizabeth Clarke"

WITCHY POO Public Works (5RC) cd 12.98
Witchy Poo is the on again off again project featuring Slim Moon and Steve Fisk along with an ever expanding cast of Olympia, Washington, musicians and friends. While this record must have been a lot of fun to MAKE, upon first LISTEN it sounds more like a snickering in-joke, with silly synth interludes between the covers of Melvins, Paul Simon, the Cars, Mel Brooks(?).

WITH THROATS AS FINE AS NEEDLES Czechoslovakia (Celebrate Psi Phenomenon) cd-r 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
What a great band name. Conjures up visions of all sorts of thrashing brutal metallic heaviosity for sure. Or perhaps it just reflects this duo's (not so) secret obsession with metal and their desire to constantly confuse and confound? Either way you won't bee finding any sort of metal here. This might be HEAVY but in a totally different way. This is some seriously deep listening, from the momentous meeting of Mr. Birchville Cat Motel / Celebrate Psi Phenomenon himself, Campbell Kneale, and Mr. Pseudoarcana Antony Milton. Extended fluttering organ drones, shifting like sonic sand dunes, elemental forces dragging melodies and chords out over thousands of years, the glacial flow of sound, warm and dreamy, recorded live in old bunkers and tunnels, these two tracks of primieval ur-drone, reverberate and shimmer, like clouds of crystal shimmer, meditative and tranquil, a gorgeous almost static haze! Some more perfectly pristine drone music from these two masters! SUPER LIMITED AS ALWAYS!! NOT SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET MORE WHEN THESE ARE GONE!
MPEG Stream: "Czechoslavakia 1"

WITH THROATS AS FINE AS NEEDLES s/t (Digitalis) cd 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Everyone hates the term supergroup. But sometimes a group is SO super, you're really left with no choice. Check this out: Campbell Kneale (Birchville Cat Motel, Black Boned Angel, Celebrate Psi Phenomenon head honcho), Antony Milton (AM, Mrtyu, Nether Dawn, PseudoArcana head honcho), James Kirk (Sandoz Lab Technicians, Gate) and Richard Francis (Eso Steel). With a pedigree like that we'd be happy to just sit outside their studio and listen to the guys talk about the weather. As cool as that would maybe be, this is most definitely a lot cooler. A massive sprawl of organic drone all recorded in the great outdoors using battery-powered instruments. A thick swirling fog of sound, warm drifts of drone and rumble, shimmery and soft focused. This is far from the recent spate of metallic sludge some of these dudes have been slinging, instead this is dark and delicate, crystalline and so completely gorgeous. Whispery ambient whirls, subtle pulses, all sort of blurred and dreamlike, with lots of natural reverb, and subtle intrusions form the world around them. So goddamn beautiful.
Packaged in a plastic sleeve with a sleeve made from the most gorgeous paper we have ever seen, a soft cottony blend of blacks and reds and purples and yellows, sort of like a soft oilslick rainbow. Nice!
MPEG Stream: "One"
MPEG Stream: "Two"

WITH THROATS AS FINE AS NEEDLES + NEW FAIRFIELD PARKS AND RECREATION Hong Kong (Pseudo Arcana) 3" cd-r 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.


MPEG Stream: "excerpt 1"
MPEG Stream: "excerpt 2"

WITHER s/t (Turannum) cd ep 9.98
In terms of DOOM CRED, you really can't do much better than a split with legendary German doomlords Worship, and that's pretty much the only thing these Australians had on their doom resume before this here brand new ep.
Two long-ish songs (the cd version adds a couple short tracks, an intro and an outro), not as bleak and heavy as Worship or lots of other doom outfits, instead Wither do a sort of washed out and weary melancholic blackened doom, falling somewhere between the abject plod of ultra doom, and the shimmery black drift of suicidal depressive black metal. It's a pretty nice mix. The guitars buzz and shimmer, raw and lo-fi and not at all heavy, instead, they drone in the background, beneath a skeletal rhythm, and a echo drenched rasped vocal. The pace is indeed glacial, or at the very least, on the low side of midtempo, the melodies are melancholic, miserable, forlorn, but also surprisingly pretty. Strip the vocals away, and you'd almost have something bordering on shoegazey, and definitely some nocturnal soporific dronemetal drift.
The second of the two tracks is the blacker, the guitars a bit more jagged, the howls a bit more hellish, but again, it's dark and sorrowful and pretty in that looking-at-a-cloudy-sky-through-eyes-full-of-tears way. Suicidal black metallers (fans of Make A Change fer instance) will dig this big time, as well as all you depressive doomsters.
The extra tracks on the cd are brief but lovely, the intro very Factory Records sounding, with reverbed clean guitars, streaked with high end synths, while the outro is all harmonized guitars, and majestic melody, stretched out into a sprawling albeit brief classic doom sounding instrumental.
MPEG Stream: "Metropolitan"
MPEG Stream: "Anthropolitan"

WITHER s/t (Turannum) 7" 7.98
In terms of DOOM CRED, you really can't do much better than a split with legendary German doomlords Worship, and that's pretty much the only thing these Australians had on their doom resume before this here brand new ep.
Two long-ish songs (the cd version adds a couple short tracks, an intro and an outro), not as bleak and heavy as Worship or lots of other doom outfits, instead Wither do a sort of washed out and weary melancholic blackened doom, falling somewhere between the abject plod of ultra doom, and the shimmery black drift of suicidal depressive black metal. It's a pretty nice mix. The guitars buzz and shimmer, raw and lo-fi and not at all heavy, instead, they drone in the background, beneath a skeletal rhythm, and a echo drenched rasped vocal. The pace is indeed glacial, or at the very least, on the low side of midtempo, the melodies are melancholic, miserable, forlorn, but also surprisingly pretty. Strip the vocals away, and you'd almost have something bordering on shoegazey, and definitely some nocturnal soporific dronemetal drift.
The second of the two tracks is the blacker, the guitars a bit more jagged, the howls a bit more hellish, but again, it's dark and sorrowful and pretty in that looking-at-a-cloudy-sky-through-eyes-full-of-tears way. Suicidal black metallers (fans of Make A Change fer instance) will dig this big time, as well as all you depressive doomsters.
The extra tracks on the cd are brief but lovely, the intro very Factory Records sounding, with reverbed clean guitars, streaked with high end synths, while the outro is all harmonized guitars, and majestic melody, stretched out into a sprawling albeit brief classic doom sounding instrumental.
MPEG Stream: "Metropolitan"
MPEG Stream: "Anthropolitan"

WITHERS, BILL +'Justments (Reel Music) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Issued on cd for the first time since its original 1974 release, soul singer Bill Withers' final record for the Sussex label, +'Justments finally sees the light of day. It's a record that bears the weight of the world on its shoulders, recorded at a time when both his personal and professional relationships were falling apart. Fatigued from touring and fighting against label pressures to become more of a high-production showman, Withers created a more introspective and often melancholic soul folk record closer in spirit to Terry Callier than to Marvin Gaye. It's both been lauded as one of the major lost soul records of the seventies and dismissed as a critical disappointment, as it didn't have any of the winning singles previous releases had such as "Ain't No Sunshine", "Lean On Me" or "Use Me". And it pretty much sounded the death knell for the Sussex label that folded shortly after its release, which probably meant it didn't get as much promotion as his other releases did. It's a shame too, because as a whole, it's a really great record. Even though it's proven just to be as polarizing here in the store with some of us loving it and some of us hating it, though those of us who do love it are arguably bigger fans of soul, disco, and R&B than those who don't. Granted, it is a record that focuses on softer and bittersweet soul qualities rather than funk and groove, but it never ever gets treacley. So this may not be the heavy-hitter soul crossover record you are looking for, but for those who like to venture into classic soul's more obscure corners, this one yields plenty of rewards. A great rainy day record!
MPEG Stream: "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh"
MPEG Stream: "You"
MPEG Stream: "Green Grass"

WITHERS, BILL Just As I Am (4 Men With Beards) lp 22.00

WITHERS, BILL Still Bill (Columbia) cd 5.00
**SALE **SALE* *SALE** (well, the cd is on sale, the vinyl isn't.)
Bill Withers' second album Still Bill was not only one of the essential soul/funk records of the seventies with hits like "Use Me", "Lean On Me", and "Who Is He (And What Is He To You?)", but "Use Me" and "Kissing My Love", it's also been sampled on endless hip-hop records from Eric B. & Rakim, Jungle Brothers, Scholly D., Dr. Dre, Jamal-Ski, WC & The Maad Circle just to name a few. Stoned soul jams rarely get better than this. Compact disc version available at the **SALE **SALE* *SALE** nice price of just 5.00, or you freespending turntable types can get the freshly reissued 180 gram vinyl version!
MPEG Stream: "Use Me"
MPEG Stream: "Kissing My Love"

WITHERS, BILL Still Bill (4 Men With Beards) lp 19.98
**SALE **SALE* *SALE** (well, the cd is on sale, the vinyl isn't.)
Bill Withers' second album Still Bill was not only one of the essential soul/funk records of the seventies with hits like "Use Me", "Lean On Me", and "Who Is He (And What Is He To You?)", but "Use Me" and "Kissing My Love", it's also been sampled on endless hip-hop records from Eric B. & Rakim, Jungle Brothers, Scholly D., Dr. Dre, Jamal-Ski, WC & The Maad Circle just to name a few. Stoned soul jams rarely get better than this. Compact disc version available at the **SALE **SALE* *SALE** nice price of just 5.00, or you freespending turntable types can get the freshly reissued 180 gram vinyl version!
MPEG Stream: "Use Me"
MPEG Stream: "Kissing My Love"

WITTWER, STEPHAN Streams (Grob) cd 12.98
Swiss experimental, improvising "jazz" guitarist Stephan Wittwer presents his first solo disc in eleven years. It's guitar, both live and digitally processed, that's been layered into a dense and abstract sound-shimmer. Droning, noisy, rhythmic, skronky, ambient: he does it all! Another great Grob label release, for those into difficult, avantgarde styles of guitar manipulation.
RealAudio clip: "Convolution Drive"

WITTWER, STEPHEN World Of Strings (Intakt) cd 19.98

WITTWER, STEPHEN / MARTIN SCH†TZ / PAUL LOVENS Choice-Chase (Intakt) cd 18.98

WIZAR'D, THE Follow The Wizard (Rusty Axe) cd 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
It's hard not to love the Wizar'd. C'mon, "Wizar'd"??? Exactly. What the fuck? Is it a verb, like "you'll get Wizar'd?" Or is it just some ancient spelling of Wizard, taken from some old dusty book of spells. Is Wizar'd darker and more evil and mysterious than the tired old traditional Wizard? Either way, the Wizar'd traffic in classic epic old school doom. Or according to the cd booklet "Crushing Gothic Slime". Massive plodding true doom from down under. The Aussies explore their inner Sabbath, each track rife with plodding tempos, mournful minor key melodies, slow motion downtuned riffs, soaring clean vocals, folky acoustic breakdowns, stonery grooves, psychdoom guitar leads, even some soaring King Diamond-ish wails, tons of reverb and loads of haunting dark ambience, think Witchfinder General, Candlemass, Reverend Bizarre, Trouble and of course Black Sabbath. The first time we listened to this, it sounded a bit too doom derivative, and the vocals were really strange, almost TOO strange, but the more we listen to this, the more we find ourselves returning again and again and again, and now those weird vocals, sort of Ozzy meets the chantlike drone of Om are quite possibly our favorite part. Recommended for the demented and doomed!
MPEG Stream: "The Devil In The Woods"
MPEG Stream: "Life Eternal"

WIZAR'D, THE Infernal Wizardry (Rusty Axe) cd 8.98
Can we write a Wizar'd review without mentioning the weird unexplained apostrophe in their name? No we can't!
With that behind us, here's what we think about the latest lethargic lamentation let loose by these lords of lo-fi doom metal, down n' out and drowned in sorrow Down Under. Their new album, Infernal Wizardry (hey, shouldn't that be Infernal Wizar'dry??) features eight new, agonized outpourings of distorted dirge. Eight Sabby slabs of fuzz filled sludge, with spacey psychedelic lead guitar, trudging beats, and misery-evoking vox that vary from an Ozzyish warble to a deep slowed-down mumble to a more punkish shout. Fans of Saint Vitus, Reverend Bizarre, Electric Wizard and of course Black Sabbath are of course the sort of folks likely to become ensorcelled by the oozing audio of this Wizar'd. At least, those that can appreciate true, traditional doom at its most raw and primitive.
As serious and sincere as their music sounds (tracks like "Witchwither" and "Depressive Holiday" are truly moving, morose monuments), the Wizar'd obviously have a (drunken?) sense of humor too, judging by their slightly silly pseudonyms: Ol' Rusty Vintage Wizard Master is the vocalist and lead guitarist, Blackie the Crimson Heretic Of A Thousand Eyes plays bass, Iron Tyrant is on the drums, and Sir Nunn Piss handles the other guitar parts. Heck you've gotta have *some* fun, when you otherwise seem as negative and dejected as these suffering dudes do!
They pick up the pace a bit on the aggressive "Crushing Gothic Slime" (which, as we now realize, is NOT how they label their music, but rather an expression of animosity toward Goths) but mostly this is glacial and gloomy... culminating in the nearly 13 minute epic "The Megalomaniac". What we really like about these guys (besides the apostrophe) is how their poverty-stricken sound works towards the dual goals of doominess and drugginess. What Wizar'd lack in production, they make up for in feeling. It's old school doom done with the same fucked up aesthetic of our favorite bizarre, far underground black metal. Utterly, wretchedly recommend'd.
MPEG Stream: "Witchwither"
MPEG Stream: "Plague Ship Of Doom"

WIZAR'D, THE Pathways Into Darkness (Barbarian Wrath) cd 14.98
Now on compact disc! We listed the Buried By Time And Dust vinyl version not long ago, at the time we'd had no luck getting the cd import, but now here it is, at last... here's what we said about it before, all we'd add, after listening to it lots more since then, is that there's a definite Manilla Road influence present in the vocals, and elsewhere, on this album that we should have mentioned before...
Our favorite apostrophe'd doomsters from Down Under return! With Pathways To Darkness, their second full-length, Tasmania's most Sabbathy DIY doommongers offer up a crude, yet catchy album that posers will doubtless despise. Normal folks will find the vocals too weird and nasal, the riffs too raw and remedial. But those that don't mind their doom a little damaged and psychedelic, ought to dig this wretched and rockin', emotional and eccentric, seven song opus. Less murky than some past recordings, this is, in fact, perhaps The Wizar'd at their poppiest. Seriously, slumberously.
There's lots for the True (and Truly Demented) Doom fan to love here... The slo-mo pop of "Living Dead". The melancholic triumph of "Rainbow's End". The almost gothic epic "Frankie's Dungeon". The tearful trudge of "Some Like It Dead". The spooky, droning Hammer Horror keyboards that herald "Disease From The East"... You gotta delve in, and revel in the sheer doominess of it all, that in its own outsider, down under way, retardedly rivals Electric Wizard, Reverend Bizarre, and Saint Vitus. Folks who enjoyed the recent, ridiculous, Sabbath-centric Furze might also find this to their liking as well.
By the way, there's been a few lineup changes for The Wizar'd since their previous album from 2008, with rhythm guitarist Sir Nun Piss having left the band, causing bassist Blackie The Crimson Heretic Of A Thousand Eyes to move over to guitar, alongside vocalist and lead guitarist Ol' Rusty Vintage Wizard Master, with Iron Tyrant on drums, and new bass recruit Tangerine Dream holding down the low end (of which there's plenty). Yes, those are their stage names, and aren't they great?! (Turns out Tangerine Dream is a girl, still neat she's called that though it it were a dude we'd be even more impressed.)
Ultimately, though, even with the obvious sense of humor such names convey, we suspect that any such frivolity on the part of the The Wizar'd is part of a "sad clown" scenario, y'know? This is DOOM to the core, in the truest sense. Feel it, folks.
MPEG Stream: " Pathways Into Darkness "
MPEG Stream: "Rainbow's End "
MPEG Stream: "Some Like It Dead "

WIZAR'D, THE Pathways Into Darkness (Buried By Time And Dust) lp 19.98
Our favorite apostrophe'd doomsters from Down Under return! We've had a heck of a time tracking down the compact disc version of this, haven't been able to get it in yet (their supposed US distro won't email us back, helloooooo?), but thankfully Buried By Time And Dust just put the album out on deluxe vinyl, we got it from them along with Solstice's New Dark Age reish we reviewed last list. Usually BBTAD do reissues of classic doom (Witchfinder General, Pagan Altar, etc.) but they decided to get ahead of the curve here and release what simply sounds like something they'd eventually be reissuing anyway, if they're still doing this in 20-30 years.
With Pathways To Darkness, their second full-length, Tasmania's most Sabbathy DIY doommongers offer up a crude, yet catchy album that posers will doubtless despise. Normal folks will find the vocals too weird and nasal, the riffs too raw and remedial. But those that don't mind their doom a little damaged and psychedelic, ought to dig this wretched and rockin', emotional and eccentric, seven song opus. Less murky than some past recordings, this is, in fact, perhaps The Wizar'd at their poppiest. Seriously, slumberously.
There's lots for the True (and Truly Demented) Doom fan to love here... The slo-mo pop of "Living Dead". The melancholic triumph of "Rainbow's End". The almost gothic epic "Frankie's Dungeon". The tearful trudge of "Some Like It Dead". The spooky, droning Hammer Horror keyboards that herald "Disease From The East"... You gotta delve in, and revel in the sheer doominess of it all, that in its own outsider, down under way, retardedly rivals Electric Wizard, Reverend Bizarre, and Saint Vitus. Folks who enjoyed the recent, ridiculous, Sabbath-centric Furze might also find this to their liking as well.
By the way, there's been a few lineup changes for The Wizar'd since their previous album from 2008, with rhythm guitarist Sir Nun Piss having left the band, causing bassist Blackie The Crimson Heretic Of A Thousand Eyes to move over to guitar, alongside vocalist and lead guitarist Ol' Rusty Vintage Wizard Master, with Iron Tyrant on drums, and new bass recruit Tangerine Dream holding down the low end (of which there's plenty). Yes, those are their stage names, and aren't they great?!
Ultimately, though, even with the obvious sense of humor such names convey, we suspect that any such frivolity on the part of the The Wizar'd is part of a "sad clown" scenario, y'know? This is DOOM to the core, in the truest sense. Feel it, folks.
Being on BBTAD, it's a nicely done 180 gram vinyl slab, packaged with a booklet and a giant obi, AND they've included 3 live bonus tracks not on the cd version: "Crushing Gothic Slime", "Burned Lord", and "Smouldering Sinners"!
MPEG Stream: " Pathways Into Darkness "
MPEG Stream: "Rainbow's End "
MPEG Stream: "Some Like It Dead "

WIZAR'D, THE Smouldering Sinners (Rusty Axe) 7" 5.98
The return of our favorite apostrophe-added true dooooom overlords, Wizar'd! We've yet to figure out why exactly that apostrophe is in there. All we can figure is that the band name is actually a verb, as in "You have been Wizar'd!!!!"
Regardless, these guys rule, fans of classic doom, Sabbath, Pentagram, and the like need to be into this band. After a brief organ intro, complete with creepy guitar harmonics, the band launch into "Smouldering Sinners" [sic], total classic old school doom, killer riffing, really strange vocals, nasal and whiney, but super distinctive and cool, in much the same way Ozzy's vocals always were. Plus the recording is bizarre as well, making the drums sound a bit like a drum machine. The flipside is their theme song "The Wizar'd" and is more of the same, plodding classic true metal doom, the vocals less whiney, but just as cool.
And if there's any question as to where these guys are coming from, the liner notes offer up the dedication to the "masters of metal: Manilla Road, Pagan Altar and Death SS." Hell yeah!

WIZARD Head of the Deceiver (Limb) cd 15.98
Normally, you can assume it's Andee or Allan reviewing the metal offerings around here. But Jeff was so unexpectedly entranced by this new disc (their fourth, we're told) from German speed metal outfit Wizard, that he had to have a go... With songs like "Drink The Magic Potion" and "True Metal", it's difficult to distinguish whether these guys are serious or not. Judging by their neck-breaking rhythms and crushing riffs, not to mention their technical changes and high pitched, Bruce Dickinson-esque vocalist, you'd think they'd be taking the metal world by storm, alongside huge acts like Children Of Bodom or Blind Guardian. But their goddamn ridiculous lyrics (which I kinda like, by the way) aren't gonna get them anywhere, except maybe when you're drunk and want a good laugh (which I did, along with my roommates -- who both love metal, it's not just an ironic thing). It's like when you sing along to triumphant metal songs, but would be embarrased to hell if anyone heard or saw you. Here's a sample lyric: "We play more metal than most people can take / Bad reviews and fat ass critics we don't care / We play metal for all metal heads / And not for rotten poser rats." So this fat ass poser critic says this is a great record, musically, but beware of really dumb lyrics. Of course, dumb lyrics and cool lyrics are often one and the same, at least if you're into metal, so don't get me wrong. If you like Manowar, you can deal with Wizard!
RealAudio clip: "Magic Potion"

WIZARD PRISON II (Gravelvoice) cd 8.98
ATTENTION SUN CITY GIRLS FANATICS!!!
Apologies to Wizard Prison for beginning the review like that, but it strikes us that fans of the late great Sun City Girls would definitely dig the strange sounds found on this disc, no huge surprise as half of Wizard Prison is none other than occasional SCG collaborator and producer Scott Colburn.
Not that II is any sort of SCG rip off, in fact, in most ways it doesn't actually sound like SCG at all, but the vibe and the mood, are quite similar, a sort of alien world music, modern instrumentation channeling old world sounds. The disc begins with what first appears to be an electronic trip hop jam, but quickly reveals itself to be a bizarre krautrock style jam, simple and propulsive, peppered with electronic bits and a young girl singing and speaking in some other language. It's a bit Portishead, if they put out a record on Abduction. The second track is similar, a sort of electronic rhythmscape, that quickly begins to sound less specifically electronic, and more -electric-, a pulsing tone over simple drumming, a relentless pulse hovering over strange growling animal sounds and subdued low end melodies, again, it doesn't -sound- like it, but it somehow reminds us of the Butthole Surfers, not sure if it's the strange slowed down vocals, or just the vibe again, but it's dark and damaged and haunting, but also strangely hypnotic and groovy. Until the end where it suddenly transforms into some impossible Melvins / Harvey Milk style stop start dirge Jam, with haunting female vocals and all srots of strange slounds lurking beneath the murching riffage.
The rest of the record is a series of simple rhythms and looped melodies, mesmerizing, repetitive and hypnotic, most songs with a single riff, a sole part repeated over and over, but with a constantly shifting backdrop of strange sounds and disembodied voices. Almost like a more alien lo-fi Circle, or a more krautrock Nurse With Wound, or like some DJ took their favorite Sun City Girls parts and looped them into endless jams. Some of the tracks are super dark and heavy, others are more murky and mysterious, all seem to have some strange drifting electronic element to them.
The second to last track stands out as super creepy and cinematic, and sounds a bit like Goblin, with haunting minor key melodies draped over slow shuffling rhythms and atonal guitar fragments, and the final track is super spare, and sounds as if it was cobbled together from radar, sonar and the Conet Project, minimal and mysterious.
Plus the whole record is a concept album (the story is printed inside the booklet), and you should know by now how much we love concept records...
Really fantastic, and a nice surprise. Not at all what we expected (not sure what we expected really), but definitely recommended. A new favorite around these parts...
MPEG Stream: "Gogon's Family Conference"
MPEG Stream: "Sao Palo"
MPEG Stream: "The Word Of The Imaginary Vision"

WIZARD RIFLE Speak Loud Say Nothing (Seventh Rule) cd 11.98
This is another one of those cases, where we were sort of obsessed before we even heard a note of music. They're called Wizard Rifle, which is simultaneously the raddest and stupidest band name ever, they claim to play 'scrap metal', they have songs with titles like "Tears Won't Soften Steel" and "Leathery Gentlemen", they even have a song named for legendary fantasy artist Frank Frazetta, and then there's the band photo, which has one guy dressed like and old timey dandy in a rocking chair holding a rifle, while the other guy is wearing zebra print spandex, is wearing hand made wings, is painted all over and is brandishing a scythe, that band photo could have gone either way actually, but when combined with all the other stuff, we had a feeling...
And holy shit, sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover, and these Portland scrap metallers totally destroy, taking their cues from groups like Karp, that sort of relentlessly pounding metallic churn, and Lightning Bolt, that sort of frenzied hyper prog bombast, in fact, in some ways, that's the perfect equation to describe these guys, Karp plus Lightning Bolt. BUT, and this is critical, they take those two sounds, and totally make them their own, they're definitely as frantic and mathed out as Lightning Bolt, and maniacally metallic as Karp, but they've created something even more poppy and proggy, and totally wild and fucking over the top fun. One of those rare bands that sound like they just might be one of the funnest bands to see EVER. We'd happily base that on the first track along, the 6+ minute hyper-pop-prog-metal workout that is "Tears Won't Soften Steel", which begins with a little flurry of hazy guitar, which is then joined by some furious drum pound, all wreathed ins swirling bleeps and bloops, the guitar offering up shards of angular riffage, soaring and squiggly, before finally launching into some seriously Karp-ed out krunch, but here wedded to some crooned Torche-like pop song vox, a weird combination that kills, the Karp-ness at times is uncanny, but then the band will explode into crazy mathiness, or some weird sing along start-stops, or some doomy metallic chug and churn, and then some awesome harmonized guitars that make this sound like the heaviest pop record of all time, the sort of part that sends you diving for the rewind button the second it finishes, thankfully, the band hammer away at that part, soaring and melodic and so catchy, before the final super rocking sing along finish.
And while the opener might be our favorite, the rest of the record is fast catching up, "Frazetta" has the coolest heaviest opening, before locking into some swirling dizzying pop infused metallic mayhem, there are samples too, and the band seem to flit from part to part at the drop of a dime, so tight, so heavy, and yeah, so totally fun. From there on out, the band dip their toes into some brooding minimal shimmer, only to see it splinter into a slithery sludge pop groove, with some haunting harmonized vocals, while elsewhere they take frantic frenzied blasts of metal and pepper them with progged out breakdowns, and wrap them in surprisingly poppy vox, and finally, they finish things off with "Leathery Gentlemen" which in some ways sounds basically like a culmination of everything that came before, grinding metallic crush, blasting sludge pop bliss, soaring harmonized vox, wild dueling guitars, mathed out progginess, and a surprise bit of swirling psychedelic backwards guitar flecked drift, only to explode into a blastbeat driven stretch of soaring metal majesty, that might be the most furious part of the whole record, only to devolve in the last minute into a warped woozy, increasingly dizzying noise pop freakout.
MPEG Stream: "Tears Won't Soften Steel"
MPEG Stream: "Frazetta"
MPEG Stream: "Megatherium"

WIZARD RIFLE Speak Loud Say Nothing (Seventh Rule) lp 13.98
NOW PRESSED TO VINYL!! Here's what we said when we highlighted the cd version a few months ago...
This is another one of those cases, where we were sort of obsessed before we even heard a note of music. They're called Wizard Rifle, which is simultaneously the raddest and stupidest band name ever, they claim to play 'scrap metal', they have songs with titles like "Tears Won't Soften Steel" and "Leathery Gentlemen", they even have a song named for legendary fantasy artist Frank Frazetta, and then there's the band photo, which has one guy dressed like and old timey dandy in a rocking chair holding a rifle, while the other guy is wearing zebra print spandex, is wearing hand made wings, is painted all over and is brandishing a scythe, that band photo could have gone either way actually, but when combined with all the other stuff, we had a feeling...
And holy shit, sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover, and these Portland scrap metallers totally destroy, taking their cues from groups like Karp, that sort of relentlessly pounding metallic churn, and Lightning Bolt, that sort of frenzied hyper prog bombast, in fact, in some ways, that's the perfect equation to describe these guys, Karp plus Lightning Bolt. BUT, and this is critical, they take those two sounds, and totally make them their own, they're definitely as frantic and mathed out as Lightning Bolt, and maniacally metallic as Karp, but they've created something even more poppy and proggy, and totally wild and fucking over the top fun. One of those rare bands that sound like they just might be one of the funnest bands to see EVER. We'd happily base that on the first track along, the 6+ minute hyper-pop-prog-metal workout that is "Tears Won't Soften Steel", which begins with a little flurry of hazy guitar, which is then joined by some furious drum pound, all wreathed ins swirling bleeps and bloops, the guitar offering up shards of angular riffage, soaring and squiggly, before finally launching into some seriously Karp-ed out krunch, but here wedded to some crooned Torche-like pop song vox, a weird combination that kills, the Karp-ness at times is uncanny, but then the band will explode into crazy mathiness, or some weird sing along start-stops, or some doomy metallic chug and churn, and then some awesome harmonized guitars that make this sound like the heaviest pop record of all time, the sort of part that sends you diving for the rewind button the second it finishes, thankfully, the band hammer away at that part, soaring and melodic and so catchy, before the final super rocking sing along finish.
And while the opener might be our favorite, the rest of the record is fast catching up, "Frazetta" has the coolest heaviest opening, before locking into some swirling dizzying pop infused metallic mayhem, there are samples too, and the band seem to flit from part to part at the drop of a dime, so tight, so heavy, and yeah, so totally fun. From there on out, the band dip their toes into some brooding minimal shimmer, only to see it splinter into a slithery sludge pop groove, with some haunting harmonized vocals, while elsewhere they take frantic frenzied blasts of metal and pepper them with progged out breakdowns, and wrap them in surprisingly poppy vox, and finally, they finish things off with "Leathery Gentlemen" which in some ways sounds basically like a culmination of everything that came before, grinding metallic crush, blasting sludge pop bliss, soaring harmonized vox, wild dueling guitars, mathed out progginess, and a surprise bit of swirling psychedelic backwards guitar flecked drift, only to explode into a blastbeat driven stretch of soaring metal majesty, that might be the most furious part of the whole record, only to devolve in the last minute into a warped woozy, increasingly dizzying noise pop freakout.
MPEG Stream: "Tears Won't Soften Steel"
MPEG Stream: "Frazetta"
MPEG Stream: "Megatherium"

WIZARD'S HYMN Hymnal (Majestic Rock) cd 15.98

WIZARDZZ Hidden City Of Taurmond (Load) cd 14.98
Hidden City Of Taurmond is like an all out caffeine attack that only grows more furious as it all plays out. In it's first few minutes things start pretty sweet, simple, driving and propulsive, kind of like Apparat Organ Quartet's tougher older brothers bringing some extra melody with their keyboards and more spastic rhythm with their drums, always with a can of red bull ready and waiting. As the record unfolds the pace grows faster and the rhythms get bigger and badder and the drummer, wow the drummer just totally loses control in the best of ways. Which makes sense when you realize that the drummer is none other than Brian Gibson of Lightening Bolt fame. Teamed up with the fun keyboard sounds of Rich Porter, they make sounds equally influenced by prog rock, 70's soundtracks, 80's electro, video games and that crazy carnival down the block that your mother would never let you visit. Hidden City Of Taurmond is an adrenaline rush that you never want to end. Think Trans Am in full rock mode, after a case of pixie sticks and something to prove. We can't stop listening to this, there's just something so full on and wildly charged about these songs that make us get all bouncy and launches us into a wickedly fun frenzy.
MPEG Stream: "Glimpse Of The Hidden City"
MPEG Stream: "Lady Dragons"
MPEG Stream: "Sea Battle At Orkusk"

WOBBLE / LASWELL Radioaxiom (Axiom) cd 16.98

WOBBLE, JAH & DEEP SPACE Five Beat (30 Hertz) cd 15.98
With AQ fave Philip Jeck in the band!

WOBBLE, JAH & THE INVADERS OF THE HEART English Roots Music (30 Hertz) cd 15.98