Witnesses are one of Doom Metal’s most overlooked bands. In 2020 they released Doom II which might be the best modern Doom album.
Songwriter extraordinaire Greg Schwan is back with Joy (Self-Released). The strength of the 2020 album was the bleakly urgent mood of the songwriting and vocalist Kody Ternes, who was not a Metal singer, and brought a different skill set to the table.
But things change, now this album finds Simon Bibby from Seventh Angel handling the vocals. In keeping with Schwan’s past creative choices, Bibby still thinks outside of the Power Metal box, which some Doom singers lean toward.
This album might not be as dark as previous work, since the lyrical theme is self-actualization. There is a highly emotive current running through the songs to invoke the atmosphere with dynamic riffing allowing the vocals to often soar above it. Schwan stated the band took inspiration from British Doom bands in this regard, so one might assume Paradise Lost or My Dying Bride when it comes to the heavier section where the drum cranks up like a motor beneath the guitar.
The second song starts as a ballad and kicks into a groove that holds a Katatonia-like vibe. The drums get more aggressive, and stunning choices are made in the arrangement that allows Bibby’s voice to shine. “Beyond The Sound Of My Voice” takes a step in an even heavier direction as the drumming gains more thunder. There are some interesting production choices, where previous albums were more spacious to create a darker ambiance. Here everything is forward in the mix and warmly intimate. “The Endings” touches on a more mournful sound. Biddy has a unique voice in how he uses his lower register. The way he croons from it in this song is very effective. He even goes into an almost Sisters Of Mercy-like baritone by the end of the song.
The last song “Safety In Me” moves with a Progressive Rock-like grace, winding into a mid-tempo groove that compliments the vocals. This is the main strength of this project; vocals are never an afterthought or just the icing on the cake but are integral to the song. Most of this album is not as depressive as what might come to mind when you think of Doom, yet they are true to the genre without having their hands tied by it.
The female vocals added at the end are an interesting touch to give a different sonic color. Overall this album works by once again going above and beyond what most Doom bands do to present a fully conceptualized work. If you are a Doom fan who enjoys melody then this album is a must. Don’t let this one fly under your radar as it might be the year’s best Doom release, now that Pallbearer is a Shoegaze band.
Buy the album here:
https://witnesses-nyc.bandcamp.com/album/joy
9 / 10
WIL CIFER
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