Release
date: September 13th
2018. Label: DHU
Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Homestead
– Tracklisting
1.Wasteland
07:05
2.Swarm
03:40
3.S.L.U.
(The HIve) 06:29
4.Ngenechen
06:46
5.Sucker
Punch 04:54
6.Bog
March 01:51
7.The
Witch 07:04
Members
Curtis
Parker: Guitar/Vocals
Joseph
Eck: Drums
Coltan
Anderson: Guitar
Brian
Kim: Bass
Review
Witch
Ripper debut album Homestead takes the ferocious sounds of High On
Fire and merges it with the technical progressive riffs of Mastodon.
Now if that doesn’t get you interested then I don’t know what
will. Homestead still manages to stand on it’s own merits by
playing a melodic style of Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs that moves into
many different directions on the album.
The
twin guitar work of Curtis and Coltan is what drives Witch Ripper’s
music forward with the band adding a cool progressive and psychedelic
sound. The vocals from Curtis surprised me as I was expecting
something different. Curtis is from the old school of Sludge/Stoner
Metal vocals. Taking influence from Matt Pike at time but still
delivering his own style of vocals. Brian and Joseph add a formidable
backline for the band to deliver their music upon.
The
opening song – Wasteland – may sound eerie familiar to long-time
Sludge/Stoner Metal fans but Witch Ripper show real creativity on
this song especially on the more melodic parts of the song. As the
band switch from the raw sludge metal sound to the more friendlier
Stoner Rock sound whilst still maintaining a true heavy metal
presence. This is one of the standout songs on the album that will
have you coming back for more.
Second
song – Swarm – is a more thrashier affair and it sounds like the
guys are channelling their inner Motorheard. Perhaps even beating
High On Fire to the punch by a month with their latest album doing a
similar sort of vibe. Anyway Witch Ripper excel again on creating a
mini-progressive sludge rock style
opus
despite the short running time of the song.
Third
song – S.L.U. (The Hive) – is one of the angriest songs on the
album with Curtis on truly inspired pissed-off form. The music does
start really slowly and quietly before exploding into a heavier
sound. The music once again shifts into different directions with
Witch Ripper brimming full of confidence and you can feel that
passion and energy through their music.
The
rest of the album follows the same path as the opening three songs
with Witch Ripper continuing to impress even more especially on songs
such as Ngenechem, Sucker Punch and The Witch. With Negenechem and
The Witch being two of my favourite songs on the album and that’s
perhaps down to Witch Ripper changing the tone and direction of each
song whenever the mood calls for it.
Some
people may complain that the album doesn’t take enough creative
risks. That maybe true to a point. However for an album such as this,
Witch Ripper have still managed to deliver one of the coolest
Sludge/Stoner Metal albums of the year. If you’re a fan of High On
Fire and Mastodon then you need this album. As Homestead is an
absolute blast from start to finish and will leave you wanting more…
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Witch
Ripper and DHU Records for the promo. Homestead is available to buy
on CD/DD/Vinyl now via DHU Records.
Links:
