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Witchery: Witchkrieg
SWitchery Witchkrieg new music review

Witchery: Witchkrieg

Heavy/Thrash Metal
Rating: 4.5/5.0

Century Media Records
www.myspace.com/witcherytheband
www.witchery.se
Review: Miguel Blardony,  06.14.2010

If a fiery union of blasphemy and thrash metal is your thing, then go take a bite off Witchery's latest Witchkrieg for ultimate satisfaction. This being the Swedish supergroup's sixth album in 12 years, Witchkrieg hardly shows their age as the band let loose an avalanche of riffs, numbing percussion, and enough melody to raise the dead. But what has always set the quintet apart from your run of the mill thrashers is the vocals. On Witchkrieg ex-Marduk vocalist Eric ‘Legion' Hagstedt has the unholy privilege to scream about demons and ravenous beasts. Such incantations come thick and venomous on the opening title track, The God That Fell From Earth, The Devil Rides Out, and this writer's personal favorite The Reaver, where the Gary Holt-Lee Altus tandem (Exodus, duh) cameo for a little twin guitar devilry.

Alas, it's pretty obvious that devils, witches, and anti-religion is what's on the menu for most of the album, which also features choice contributions by guitarists from Slayer (Kerry f*cking King!), King Diamond and Dark Angel. Since the whole effort is a solid effort, Witchery stay consistent throughout even when they change the pace a bit. A perfect example would be the title track followed by its sibling Wearer of Wolve's Skin that's basically an extension of its predecessor. Just when you think the band are going to continue in the same vein, the grooves come pouring forth from your speakers on the spiteful The God That Fell From Earth whose mid tempo pace makes for an addictive three minutes. Never to peddle the same goods twice over, Witchery turn a new leaf on Conqueror's Return, this time dishing out mammoth riffs before the furious thrash barrage The Reaver kicks you right in the family jewels.

From black n roll to tried and true heavy metal is the variety to be expected for the remainder of the album. Once the addictive chorus of From Dead To Worse is done spinning inside your brain, brace yourself for the stomping Devil Rides Out and One Foot In The Grave. By the time the speed metal of Witch Hunter is racing to an abrupt finish, you're grateful for the reprieve. Witchery have been around for the better part of this decade but age doesn't seem to be a consideration in their music. In not so many words, Witchkrieg is the devil's thunder in ten parts.

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In Short

Witchery have been around for the better part of this decade but age doesn't seem to be a consideration in their music. In not so many words, Witchkrieg is the devil's thunder in ten parts.

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