Release Date: January 29th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Witchrat - S/T - Tracklisting
1.Parallel Thoughts 01:03
2.Stalemate 06:31
3.(more) Druids 06:19
4.Bulletproof Wolf 03:47
5.We Are All Rats Now 01:19
6.Reverse Curse 07:04
7.Someone Else's Dream 01:15
8.Remote Control Warfare 02:01
Members
Rich - guitar
Kyle - bass, vocals
Drew - drums, synth, engineering
Review
Witchrat’s latest self-titled release is a collection of tracks they’ve released previously which they mention on their BandCamp page: Witchrat features updated and re-recorded versions of all the band's previously released music, 1 new song, and 3 new sonic experiences over 29 minutes.
Well I’m not going to comment on the previous versions as this is the first exposure I've had to Witchrat. Though, two members of the band used to be part of Instrumental Sludge/Stoner Metallers GIZA who I reviewed back in August 2015. So that was a cool surprise as I was a huge admirer of that band and album back in the day.
Anyway, Witchrat’s debut release is a collection of sprawling blend of Stoner, Sludge, Shoegaze, Noise, Space Rock and Post-Rock sounds. The album could have done with a couple more songs but I was impressed by Witchrat’s style of Trippy Post-Whatever sound with a cool Shoegaze effect. Perhaps not as heavy as expected but it does have adequate moments of LOUD HEAVY SOUNDS.
The album allows Witchrat to be influenced mostly from the arena of 90s Alt Rock/Metal with a stunning Stoner Rock flow. There are vocals on the album but they appear when they need to with Witchrat focus mostly on catchy and aggressive Instrumental grooves. There’s a subtle atmospheric and solitary feeling within the background of the music which you can hear on tracks such as: Parallel Thoughts, Stalemate, (more) Druids and Reverse Curse.
If you dig bands such as HUM and CAVE IN then Witchrat deliver similar hooks and grooves with a finely tuned melodic edge that even sees the band show a mean sounding aggressive side when the mood calls for this.
Let's hope there’s more to come from Wtichrat in the future. As they have an interesting sound that I would love hear more of and perhaps on a longer record. However, this is still a superb introduction to the band and folks from the underground scene should check out now.
Words by Steve Howe:
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