Release Date: July 18th 2025. Record Label:Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Strung Out In Hell - Tracklisting
1.Crawl Home To Your Coffin
2.Scream Bloody Murder
3.Conqueror Worm
4.Witches Candle
5.White Wedding (Billy Idol cover)
6.Mars Rover
7.Dig Your Way Out
8.The Fool
9.Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm
Members
Scott Abbott - Vocals & Guitars
James Brown - Bass, Vocals, Synth, Mellotron, Guitars
George Caswell - Drums & Vocals
Review
Well, Margarita Witch Cult actually did it. They actually FUCKING did it. They’ve released an absolute unmissable record with their second album Strung Out In Hell. They may have actually made a deal with SATAN himself. This record flat out rocks with its spectacular use of Fuzz, Doom, Psych, Sludge and Stoner Metal surroundings. Throw in a contemporary style of Heavy Metal with a seedy level of fun that allows the band to grow out of the shadows from their musical heroes in creating their own style of Distorted Fuzz Metal with a sense of Psychedelic danger lurking in the midst.
Margarita Witch Cult received some great acclaim with their 2023 self titled record but the band aim for BIGGER, HEAVIER and FUZZIER movements that delivers with a sense of classic NWOBHM and PROTO METAL throwback energy whilst keeping with a seedy modern flow. The record opens with Crawl Home To Your Coffin, Scream Bloody Murder and Conqueror Worm which sees a dark POPPY effect being added whilst adding some much needed classic HARD ROCK grit with a sense of SATANIC quality appearing with the vocals and lyrics.
The record is downright mean in places but all done in the best possible DEVIL ROCK taste with a classic style of AMPLIFIER HEAVINESS paying homage to the likes of Saint Vitus, Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard. With Uncle Acid sadly missing in action recently, Margarita Witch Cult are more than capable of taking their place with the standout tracks of Conqueror Worm and WItches Candle conjuring up a shit-ton of demonic based grooves down your spine.
Though, I’m going to say one of my favourite tracks on the album is a brilliant cover of the Billy Idol classic track White Wedding. Sure, this song has been covered multiple times before but this is one of the best versions I’ve heard of that track. As Margarita Witch Cult make it their own by adding multiple layers of GLOOMY feedback with that SATANIC presence whilst keeping the core essence of the original track. The screeching guitars and kick-ass vocals is PURE DYNAMITE.
The second half of the album does become quite spaced out with SYNTHS and MELLOTRON appearing out of nowhere which does add a true WTF crazed energy to the whole album though Margarita Witch Cult keep on the right side of Doom/Stoner Metal credibility. Songs such as Mars Rover, Dig Your Way Out and Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm generate a ton of seedy instrumental passages and highly energetic aggressive melodies that crackle with violent FUZZ ROCK attitude for the underground masses to fully appreciate.
Strung Out In Hell is the type of record that could elevate Margarita Witch Cult to greater heights against fellow Occult Doom Rockers GREEN LUNG in the next twelve months or so. The band are working with the amazing Heavy Psych Sounds again and it’s a perfect fit with this album being expertly produced with the right amount of Doomed Out coming for you at all angles for a record that’s on course to be considered on of the best underground albums of the year.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Strung Out In Hell is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.
Links
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