Witchery is back with more furious blackened thrash full of tales of demonic nightmares, unexplainable pregnancy, and witchcraft. It’s fun for the whole family. The band’s eighth studio album is their first attempt at creating a concept album. Nightside (Century Media) is another solid release from one of the best in Swedish blackened extreme metal.
Wasting no time, the album kicks off with the blistering and crushing track, ‘Witching Hour’. While the song is at its roots thrash, you can feel that slight influence of black metal that gives the song some much-needed venom that makes the song just that much darker.
‘Storm of the Unborn’ starts out in a grandstanding fashion with thunderous drum haunting solos. The track further stands out with some really impressive delivery from vocalist, Angus Norder. ‘Popecrusher’ is another furious blackened thrash assault with chugging guitars and some really impressive harmonious melodies.
About halfway through the album Witchery changes gears and slows things down with the title track. The song has a slower groove, with even more eerie and haunting vocals. ‘Left Hand March’ is just that, a slow and crashing march of a track.
‘Don’t Burn the Witch’ brings the sound back to a full on thrash assault. With some impressive bass work by newcomer Victor Brandt and more killer guitars by founding members Patrik Jensen and Richard Rimfalt this track is an absolute banger. It sounds like the love child of Venom and Midnight.
Witchery expertly closes out the album with ‘A Forrest of Burning Coffins’ featuring the guest vocals of none other than the legendary Jeff Walker (Carcass). It’s a blistering track that is worth the price of admission alone.
While I may not have been able to follow the story for this concept album (that’s what lyric sheets are for), it is still a solid listen. Witchery offers plenty of variety in their sound instead of straight full speed thrash. Sure, the story may be full of misery and woe but it sure is fun to listen to.
Buy the album here:
https://centurymedia.store/product/Y4CE616COMBO/witchery-nightside-black-lp-digital-download
8 / 10
ANDREW RISCH