Release Date: January 21st 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Witchcraft, Rituals and Funeral Dirges - Track Listing:
1.False Magick Propaganda 07:32
2.No Mercy 06:28
3.Snake Eyes and Devil´s Lust 06:44
4.Hexes & Maledictions 05:39
5.Funeral Dirges 05:43
6.Midnight Sorcerer 05:28
Members
Hector Gonzalez - Vocals
Siniestor - Drums
Alain Toledo - Guitars
Lucas Bravo - Bass
Review
Witches, Rituals and Funeral Dirges is the new live album from Chilean Doom/Stoner Metallers Hallow’s Victim who take their name from the classic SAINT VITUS album. You can hear a deep love, respect and admiration to Saint Vitus on this album alone with nods to other legendary bands such as Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard. The record has a rough sounding and quite seedy appeal with the whole album being recorded live. The majority of these tracks located here are from the bands 2023 release False Magick Propaganda.
Hallow’s Victim weave a classic Proto-Doom and Occult Rock based groove into their overall sound with a firm emphasis on LOW & SLOW gloomy mechanics that is from the Black Sabbath old school of AMPLIFIER RIFF and GUITAR REVERB which is present throughout the whole album. The songs are mostly powered by classic DOOM METAL instrumental passages with a firm reliance on Sludgy guitars with a subtle WEEDIAN influence coming through the AMPS.
The opening tracks of False Magick Propaganda and No Mercy are superbly heavy with a classic style of Proto Doom which touches upon areas of Classic Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and even seedier FUZZ based moments which adds a dark level of cynicism to the mix. The vocals from Hector Gonzalez are perfectly suited to Hallow's Victim style of music as he brings a passionate Doom Metal style persona to the role which is perhaps inspired by the likes of WINO and Jus Osborn at times.
Hallow’s Victim play their way through a great selection of tracks that stays true to the rules of the classic Proto-Doom Metal sound with some cool sounding riff-centric grooves on tracks such as Snake Eyes And Devil’s Lust, Hexes & Maledictions and Midnight Sorcerer with those tracks being the standout moments of the whole record.
Witches, Rituals and Funeral Dirges is an excellent record that allows Hallow’s Victim to play to their creative and musical strengths which should gain them some notice within the underground scene.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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