Release
date: April 28th 2017. Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Witchbanger
– Tracklisting
1.Devil
2.Witchbanger
3.The Snake Queen
4.Astro Gypsy
5.Heart of the Sun
6.Bed of Nails
7.Cat's Eye
8.Tigers and
Rainbows
Members:
Tom Frank - guitar,vocals
Shaun Avants - bass, vocals
JD Shadowz - drums
Jeff Henson - guitar
Review
Duel return with their
second album - Witchbanger - and it's another heavy slice of classic
Heavy Metal carnage merged with slabs of powerful Stoner/Doom Metal.
The album has a very classic eighties heavy metal feel with the
vocals proving that this album will appeal to both the more
traditional metal-head and the more modern doom metal fan.
Opening track - Devil -
is what you expect from Duel. Fast-paced riffs that never outstay
their welcome as the band play a blend of heavy metal sounds merged
with modern sounding doom metal theatrics. The twin guitars have a
slight Thin Lizzy feel and that is always a good thing. Duel know who
they and they make no apologies for making straight-forward
Doom/Heavy Metal such as this. It’s good to see the band mixing
things up a bit on this track as it acts as the catalyst for things
to come.
Second track -
Witchbanger - carries on the vintage sound heard on the first track
but with a gloomier atmosphere. It's one of the standout tracks on
the album with creepy lyrics and pitch-perfect riffs adding a more
subtle blues rock vibe at times. I don't want to spend to long
reviewing every song on the album as I want this album to be kept as
a surprise for both fans of the band and first time listeners.
If you want a good old
fashioned Doom/Heavy Metal album where the riffs, vocals and lyrics
are equally as important as each other then. Witchbanger is the album for
you. I will admit this was the first album I've heard by Duel as I
passed their debut album by. My mistake as Duel are a serious
hard-rocking unit who have some cool and original ideas of their own
especially on the excellent third track - The Snake Queen.
This track shows how
inventive Duel can actually be with the band taking a more
psychedelic approach and influenced by the legendary sounds of Black
Sabbath and Saint Vitus. Whilst still creating their own sound. Other
great tracks to check out are: Astro Gypsy, Heart Of The Sun and
Tigers and Rainbows.
The production is first
rate throughout as Duel have done their homework here. As Witchbanger
sounds like it could have been released back in the classic heyday of
Doom Metal whilst still offering a modern Stoner based sound.
Witchbanger is an exciting wild ride into the realm of Doom/Heavy
Metal and I urge you not to pass this album by as Duel have created
another quality album.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks to Claire at
Purple Sage PR for the promo. Witchbanger will be available to buy on
CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from April 28th
2017.
Links:
