WITCHCRAFT
Firewood
Rise Again Records
2005
8/10
The 1970’s, remember those years?
Probably not, but Witchcraft is determined to remind you of the grooving, evil sounds that were the precursor to modern doom and heavy metal in general.
Of course, any Black Sabbath fan will agree that Sab possessed a major blues influence. With “Firewood”, Witchcraft continues to masterfully meld that genre- defining sound with a folksy, Jethro Tull element. This crossbreed of legendary sounds results in an overall vibe which reclaims the finest moments of those storied groups of yesteryear.
This record gives off a distinctly warm aura which is at once familiar and refreshing. These guys have tapped into a vibe that is dark, yet woefully tuneful. As “Chylde Of Fire” so brilliantly shows, Witchcraft pulls those dark emotions from within and offers them up in a manner which is at once palatable and paganistic.
Guitar-wise, the riffs are quite catchy and often very melodic. “If Wishes Were Horses” fuses melody, moodiness and a shimmering guitar tone that proves you do not always need massive amounts of distortion in order to end up coming off as being monstrously heavy.
Indulging in tracks like the bluesy, soul driven “Mr Haze” or the dismal groan of “Queen Of Bees” is an enjoyably guilty pleasure, with Witchcraft being capable of reflecting the mystery that resides within those godlike giants that came before them.
Conjuring bluesy grooves like the classic-sounding “You Suffer” is a task these four pull off effortlessly, it’s tracks like this that really make you appreciate the color that is a natural characteristic of analog tone and the group’s decision to record with retro gear.
Put simply, this record is an instant classic that shows Witchcraft to be masters of glum, mystical sound.
Written By: Obee Spicoli
