Release Date: April 21st 2023. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Margarita Witch Cult - S/T: Tracklisting
1.Diabolical Influence 04:17
2.Death Lurks At Every Turn 02:09
3.The Witchfinder Comes 04:54
4.Be My Witch 03:44
5.Annihilation 01:41
6.Theme From Cyclops 01:33
7.Lord Of The Flies 05:20
8.Aradia 03:44
9.Sacrifice 03:59
Review
Margarita Witch Cult debut album is a collection of Proto-Metal sounds that has a classic and modern quality throughout. The band fuse Doom, Stoner, Psych, Hard Rock and even Sludge Rock elements to their music. The end result is a record that has a “troublemaker” or “rebel” quality to it all. The sound is mostly powered by Proto-Doom grooves with a muscular Psychedelic presence.
The seedy attitude of the album shines through on the excellent opening track Diabolical Influence which sees the band play a vintage blend of Stoner and Doom with a slightly Sludge based Psych sound that has elements of classic “Twin Guitars” on the later stages of the track.
Second track Death Lurks At Every Turn is a Heavy Punk/Sludge Rock number where the band play some of the fastest sounds on the album. The song has a “Speed Metal” feel which screams 1980’s Heavy Metal with perhaps Motorhead being a main influence. The subtle WEEDIAN grooves have a more gloomier feeling but the song remains catchy throughout and with the short running time, Margarita Witch Cult play some of the most interesting moments on this track alone.
Third track The Witchfinder Comes is the band full on Doom Metal mode with heavy Occult and Proto-Metal grooves working wonderfully with the kick-ass vocals and superb lyrics. The track will appeal to fans of 1970’s Heavy Metal era that has moments of Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult inspired music appearing here and there. The song has a cool sounding Classic Hard Rock flow and the later stages moves into slightly Stoner based territory with fantastic Guitar Shredding being one of the best parts of the song.
The next few songs Be My Witch, Annihilation and Theme From Cyclops sees Margarita Witch Cult switch things up a bit with more Heavy Metal ideas appearing but still being within the Proto-Doom or Proto-Metal mindset that allows Be My Witch and Theme From Cyclops being more standout tracks on the album to lookout for. The vocals on Be My Witch have a classic Punk Rock energy with more gloomy attitudes spilling over into Annihilation.
The final stages of the album follows the same creative template as the other tracks with perhaps a more seedier attitude appearing within the music that allows Lord Of The Flies being my favourite track off the whole album.
There is a buoyant and vibrant energy within this album and that’s mostly helped by the band’s addictive and fast-paced grooves. The lyrics are downright seedy at times and Margarita Witch Cult expertly play a mixture of great classic sounds from the hey-day 1970’s Doom Metal and 1990’s Psychedelic Stoner Metal and giving it a slightly contemporary feeling.
Margarita Witch Cult have teamed up with Heavy Psych Sounds for this album and you know with that powerhouse label’s backing, the album is going to sound wonderful. The production values are off the chart that allows Margarita Witch Cult to release an album that delivers all the goods where the grooves are concerned.
Check out this great album now.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Margarita Witch Cult self titled debut is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds (Europe) and Heavy Psych Sounds (USA)
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