Release Date: March 25th 2022. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
The Weight Of Death - Tracklisting
OTTR
The Blackened Fee
The Weight Of Death
Autonomous Deprivation
Fire & Ice
Mr. Miserum
Review
Sludge/Stoner Metallers Witchpit debut album The Weight Of Death is an interesting album with the band focusing upon the heavy grooves that High On Fire are known for but adding a Post-Metal element inspired by Neurosis in places. The album also masquerades as a moody 70s Classic Rock and modern day Stoner Metal album but with a blackened outlook on life.
Opening song OTTR shines a light to bands such as High On Fire, Black Tusk and Mastodon with the band standing their own creative ground against those giants of Sludge/Stoner Metal. The song is quite bleak with the vocals but Witchpit inject a Classic Rock/Hard Rock atmosphere with their guitars. OTTR has elements of both fast-paced aggressive riffs and slow-paced Psych Stoner Rock. The atmosphere can be quite jagged in places but Witchpit are made up of accomplished musicians and this song highlights this with impressive tempo changes and superb instrumental work that allows this album to be a truly captivating listen if you dig your Sludge/Stoner Metal on the bleak side of life but with catchy grooves to match.
Second song The Blackened Fee is a "LOW & SLOW", "AMPLIFIER RIFF WORSHIP" and "WEEDIAN" style song with the band easily avoiding the pitfalls those styles of music bring for a fresh take on the classic and modern day Stoner Metal riff. The vocals are superbly aggressive whilst remaining clean and approachable. There are shades of Relapse Records style Sludge/Stoner Metal but still allowing Witchpit to do their own cool thing. The psychedelic moments are understated allowing the gloomier sounds to rule the roost. The sound is quite abstract but still being quite loud at the same time.
Third song The Weight Of Death is your standard Sludge/Stoner Metal track but with less time to play, Witchpit holds back from the more progressive sounds that appeared on the opening two songs. This has a Motorhead approach in places and ends up being one of the best tracks on the album. The snarling almost Punk Rock vibe allows the band to play perhaps the most fast-paced and aggressive track on the album.
The second half of the album sees Witchpit bring that Neurosis style element to the forefront for a heavier style of music. The songs have a similar tone and delivery of the first half but here Witchpit play the heaviest parts of the album right here especially on Autonomous Deprivation and Mr. Miserum. The biggest surprise is how Witchpit merge the classic hard rock element to the harsher modern day gloomy sound. As the album sounds like a classic hard rock album and a brutal modern day Sludge/Stoner Metal release at the same time.
With this being released on Heavy Psych Sounds, you know it's going to sound fantastic from start to finish. As the production values are first rate allowing the band to exist in the Classic Hard Rock, Sludge Metal and Stoner Metal circles.
The Weight Of Death builds up to a thrilling climax allowing Witchpit to devour anything and everything in their sight for an album that delivers everything you could possibly want from a brilliant Sludge/Stoner Metal album.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR. The Weight Of Death will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from March 25th 2022.
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