Release Date: October 04th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD
Witch’s Mirror - Track Listing:
1.Control 05:23
2.Cherry Moon 04:00
3.Solstice 05:50
4.Triage 07:15
Members
Kristin Eliason (vocals)
Carni Klirs (guitar)
Matt Cohen (bass)
Brandon Korch (drums)
Review
Sludge/Stoner Metallers Witch’s Mirror hail from Washington, DC, where they fuse Grunge, Punk, Doom, Sludge and Stoner grooves with a metallic hardcore theme into their music. Blending the Post-Metal aggression of NEUROSIS with the sludgy grooves of KYLESA for a sound that has a world-weary DOOM & GLOOM essence where the band aren’t afraid to focus their sonic energy into a Blackened Metal approach which comes into full effect with the excellent opening track Control.
Control sees Witch’s Mirror refine their Stoned Metal sound with a demonic LOW & SLOW vibe where the heavy instrumental passages are built around lead vocalist Kristin Eliason PISSED OFF vocals that you can feel influenced by local Washington DC Punk Rock and Hardcore scenes. Kristin does show a more haunting side to her vocals which moves into Doom & Gloom territory which will appeal to fans of Chelsea Wolfe and Dorthia Cottrell from the mighty WINDHAND. There’s a bleak GRUNGE aspect which is perhaps the “GATEWAY” for the band to play their all conquering style of Sludge/Stoner Metal that has a certain DESTRUCTIVE and ABRASIVE quality to it all.
Second track Cherry Moon is a stripped back Doom Rock song with an almost solitary sound with slow paced grooves with Post-Rock dynamics slowly transforming into heavy KYLESA based sounds. The music becomes quite riff-focused and complex melodic textures allow Witch’s Mirror to operate with a confident Post-Metal swagger. This reminds me of KOWLOON WALLED CITY in places which adds a seedier element to the band’s music.
The final two tracks of Solstice and Triage sees Witch’s Mirror operate with a more Gloomy aspect to their music with an intense 1990’s based Alt Rock energy appearing within Solstice with a twinge of Occult and Gothic based lore before the band move further into the LOW & SLOW void of intense metallic grooves once again.
The final track Triage is the other standout track on the EP with a despairing GRUNGE and STONED out aspect allowing to perform the heaviest and bleakest parts of the record. Kristin’s vocals are emotional and full of heartache yet again that reach impressive loud levels of intense volume.
Witch’s Mirror debut release is an exquisite and beautifully realized creative vision that is wonderfully dark and superbly melodic with an aggressive sludgy appetite to match. This is one record you shouldn’t pass you by.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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