Exclusive Album Premiere Of Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers ELK WITCH Debut Album AZIMUTH Out via Majestic Mountain Records

A magnificent release from the mountainous high desert landscapes of Southern Oregon, Elk Witch bring the thunder with "Azimuth', their second full length album to life and MMR is pleased to be able to give it the Majestic treatment.  We hope you enjoy this deeply chugging slice of the Oregon high desert stoner doom in all it's heavy glory and we thank you for tuning in, turning on and riffing out with us.

You can listen to the album below thanks to the awesome folks over at Majestic Mountain Records:

Elk Witch emerged into heavy consciousness in 2019, founded by guitarist/vocalist Deven Andersen, bassist Darren Wostenberg, and drummer Joe Coitus. The three united to combine their influences into hazy expressions of classically blazing Stoner/Doom with elements of Prog/Rock. Full of raw energy and a seamless blending of modern Stoner/Doom metal rooted in classic 70s and 90s Metal and Rock. 

Elk Witch critics have noted that fans of legendary bands such as Black Sabbath, The Sword, The Obsessed and Freedom Hawk will be captivated by Elk Witch's burly, riff-driven profile.

Their debut EP "The Mountain," released in 2019, was followed by an expansion on the theme as Elk Witch went back to the studio in 2021 completely re-producing the release while adding two new tracks. "Beyond the Mountain," released in 2022 continued on the theme set in motion while also featuring two new tracks. Two placings on the mighty Doom Charts later, the band's reach extends far beyond Oregon, and now in a partnership with Majestic Mountain Records, Elk Witch is poised to release their second album “Azimuth."

From the band:

“It’s a surreal feeling to be able to call Majestic Mountain Records home. MMR was on our minds from the get-go of making our second record. It seemed like a natural home for our band for too many reasons to list. There's this undeniable vibe about MMR that resonates with us, and we're genuinely psyched about what it represents in the heavy underground scene. Marco is a cool dude, and he has built something awesome with MMR. 

We feel honored to be among all the incredible bands on the MMR roster, and the prospect of adding our sonic fingerprint to their already killer catalogue is exciting. If you know anything about us, you know our obsession with mountains runs deep - "Mountain" found its way into the titles of our last two releases. Our lyrics too, are woven with references to mountains and nature throughout, so we also felt a draw and natural connection with MMR there. MMRs geographical location also seems like a dream come true with Sweden being a major force in the heavier and slower side of metal. We look forward to working with MMR and can’t wait for our upcoming album to get out there and be heard.”

“Azimuth is a natural progression from our first album, pushing the ingredients of those songs into a more refined and diverse selection of songs. This time around, we're delving into broader subject matters that extend beyond the earthly realms, exploring both the past and the future of existence. The title 'Azimuth' felt like the perfect fit, symbolizing direction and serving as the compass that guided us through the album's creation. In terms of sound, we aimed to obtain a sound that was operating at higher sonic level while also achieving clarity but retaining the core sound we have developed. 

Recording was a process, we spent 20 days tracking and 45 days mixing, with a significant time spent building in some additional underlying layers. Our goal was to enhance the production value compared to our last album, all while stayingvconsistent with delivering original hand-painted artwork for the album cover. We hope all this comes through in finished record.” - Elk Witch

"Azimuth" hits the street officially on 12.04 and you'll find this heady gem on Pre-Sale now from Majestic Mountain Records with the full "Majestic treatment." A gorgeous full matte gatefold with 10mm spine, 180g heavyweight vinyl in a beautifully burly, colour in colour marbled red and smokey grey. 33rmp heaviness limited to 250 copies (only 100 available in the MMR shop) the album comes with a black polylined inner sleeve and is protected in a plastic sleeve as always.

Track list:

SIDE A

Dead Silence – 4:59
Azimuth– 6:00
Liminal Space – 1:32
Empyrean – 5:35

SIDE B

Vortex – 2:41
Universe 25 – 3:23
Space Drift – 4:01
Ghosts of the Lupatia – 5:05
Goddess of Winter – 4:36

Credits:

Deven Andersen ~ Guitar / Vocals
Darren Wostenberg ~ Bass
Joe Coitus ~ Drums
Produced by: Elk Witch
Engineered by: Deven Andersen
Mixed by: Deven Andersen
Recorded & Mixed at Vortex Studios – Central Point, Oregon
Mastered by: Dan Coutant at Sun Room Audio – New Windsor, New York
@srmmastering
Album Cover: Adam Burke @nightjarillustration
Gatefold Images: @Nibera and @Jadoarts
Gatefold Layout & Graphics: Deven Andersen

Elk Witch Social Media

https://www.elkwitchband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ElkWitch/
https://www.instagram.com/elkwitch/

https://elkwitch.bandcamp.com/

https://songwhip.com/elkwitch

Majestic Mountain Records social media

https://www.facebook.com/majesticmountainrecords/
https://www.instagram.com/majesticmountainrecords/
https://twitter.com/Majestic_vinyl

Pre-Order

https://majesticmountainrecords.bigcartel.com/product/elk-witch-azimuth
https://elkwitch.bandcamp.com/

Thanks to Majestic Mountain Records for all of the information.

Elk Witch - Azimuth (Album Review)

Release Date: April 12th 2024. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Azimuth - Tracklisting

1.Dead Silence

2.Azimuth 

3.Liminal Space

4.Empyrean

5.Vortex

6.Universe 25

7.Space Drift

8.Ghosts of the Lupatia

9.Goddess of Winter

Members

 

Deven Andersen - Guitar / Vocals

Darren Wostenberg - Bass

Joe Coitus - Drums

Review

Psych Stoner Rockers Elk Witch return with their new album Azimuth and the band bring a more mature Storytelling aspect to their music compared to their debut album. Taking similar steps to bands such as The Sword, King Buffalo and Howling Giant, the band add moments of 70’s Classic Doom and 90’s Stoner Metal which is quite fuzz based and even contemporary within the early stages of the album.

The opening track Dead Silence is a Psychedelic odyssey with Elk Witch blending catchy progressive grooves with distinctive vocals that have a cool layer of distortion to them. The music is quite raw-sounding with a thrilling Garage Rock sound with sublime DIY production values allowing Elk Witch to be quite aggressive with their music whilst allowing the song to be quite catchy and riff-centric throughout.

Second track Azimuth takes a more Psychedelic Doomed vision with a fuzzed up attitude which gives way to classic Prog Rock melodies which can be more Sludge Rock focused. Shades of Mastodon can be heard within this track but with that classic Doom/Stoner Rock methodology being played with the more outlandish Psychedelic grooves of the track. This allows the title track to also become one of the standout tracks on the album with Elk Witch playing fine amounts of WEEDIAN inspired Rock & Roll which showcases their impressive musical talents within the superbly played instrumental solos that take centre stage on the later stages of the track.

The next two tracks Liminal Space and Empyrean sees Elk Witch becoming more confident with their new found Heavy Psych Stoner Rock sound with flashes of Post-Rock textures appearing within Liminal Space which is a refreshing change of pace from the band. It’s back to business as usual with Empyrean delving back into the catchy and aggressive Doomed Out atmosphere which sees Elk Witch play a ferocious sound that’s a mighty throwback to the days of 80’s Heavy Metal and 90’s Stoner Metal. The DIY approach of the album allows Elk Witch to play multiple styles of Heavy Rock which remain grounded and real.

Fifth track Vortex is another slight detour into Post-Rock or Post-Stoner surroundings for the first few moments of the track before Elk Witch expand into their more dominant Doom/Stoner Metal creative selves. The song has a simple premise with a killer bass line from Darren allowing Devin and Joe to build a threatening style of Progressive Metal on guitars and drums respectively. This is another cool and different side to Elk Witch.

Elk Witch seem to be more Hard Rock and Heavy Metal obsessed on the final stages of the album with that vintage Doomed Out sound becoming quite THRASH based especially on tracks such as Universe 25, Space Drift and Goddess Of Winter. Fans of early era The Sword and Lowrider will dig this part of the album the most. Heavy pummelling DOOM METAL grooves align themselves to a more dominant Psych Stoned Out flavour with Deven’s vocals being impressive as ever. The seedy FUZZ ROCK attitude allows Elk Witch to play the album's standout instrumental jams once again that ends Azimuth on an almighty high.

Azimuth is a brooding and intense Psychedelic experience with Elk Witch releasing an album that will gain them a whole new legion of followers within the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene. Plus they have the power of ace underground label Majestic Mountain Records behind them who are releasing this great album. The label hasn't put out a bad release yet and Azimuth is no different. With this record sounding powerfully epic, loud and aggressive from start to finish.

This is a first rate album that will no doubt end up on multiple Album Of The Year lists before the year is out. Awesome. End of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for the promo.

Azimuth will be available to buy from Friday April 12th 2024 on CD/DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Rising US Doom Rockers ELK WITCH Join Forces with MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN RECORDS for New Album

Hailing from the mountainous surrounds of Southern Oregon, Elk Witch is a heavy rock trio founded in 2019 by guitarist/vocalist Deven Andersen, bassist Darren Wostenberg, and drummer Joe Coitus.

When combined, the effect of that classic psych rock and progressive doom sound on their style has led critics to compare them to legendary bands such as Black Sabbath, The Sword, and The Obsessed. Leaning on riff-driven rock and raw energy to propel them forward on a sonic exploration, the band's ability to seamlessly blend modern musical elements into 70s and 90s metal make them a must-listen for any fan of the genre.

In 2020, Elk Witch unveiled their debut EP, The Mountain, which ultimately laid the foundations for their signature sound. Catching the attention of StoneFly Records in 2021 the release of their debut album a year later (Beyond the Mountain, 2022) solidified their presence on the stoner rock landscape and showcased the band's evolution and commitment to pushing boundaries. Their inevitable ascent was highlighted by impressive rankings on the Doom Charts which heralded their arrival as a rising force to be reckoned with.

Now in a partnership with Majestic Mountain Records, Elk Witch is poised to release their second full-length this April and are leading the charge with the album’s new single and title track, ‘Azimuth’.

“To me, ‘Azimuth’ holds a feeling and vibe we were really going for on the album,” explains Deven Andersen. “The lyrics draw inspiration from a personal experience, a trip to the high desert in Eastern Oregon, a land of isolation with sparse population. It has an amazing blend of desert landscape with high peaked snow-covered mountains. I was thinking this is the place I would go if something happened to civilization.”

A natural progression from their debut, Azimuth, takes the core ingredients of that Elk Witch sound to a more refined and diverse plane. Delving into broader subject matters that extend beyond the earthly realms, it explores both the past and future of existence, while it’s sound – perfectly captured on wax by those hardworking wizards at Majestic Mountain Records – operates at a higher sonic level and clarity with near-flawless production.

“It’s a surreal feeling to be able to call Majestic Mountain Records home. It was on our minds from the get-go making our second record. There's an undeniable vibe about MMR that resonates with us, and we felt a natural connection with them, especially given that Sweden is such a major force in the heavier and slower side of metal. We're genuinely psyched about what it represents in the heavy underground scene.”

Azimuth will be released on 19th April via Majestic Mountain Records on heavy weight 180g colour-in-colour vinyl (marbled red and smoky grey) with gatefold spine, and can be pre-ordered HERE

Watch the stunning video for the title track AZIMUTH from the upcoming album of the same name.

Elk Witch:

Deven Andersen – Guitar, Vocals
Darren Wostenberg – Bass
Joe Coitus – Drums

Tracklisting

1. Dead Silence 

2. Azimuth 

3. Liminal Space 

4. Empyrean

5. Vortex

6. Universe 25

7. Space Drift

8. Ghosts of the Lupatia

9. Goddess of Winter

Artist: Elk Witch

Album: Azimuth

Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 19/04/2024

 

Produced by Elk Witch 

Engineered & Mixed by Deven Andersen

Recorded & Mixed at Vortex Studios at Central Point, Oregon 

Mastered by Dan Coutant at Sun Room Audio, New Windsor, New York

Album Cover by Adam Burke @nightjarillustration 

Gatefold Images by @Nibera and @Jadoarts 

Gatefold Layout & Graphics by Deven Andersen

Elk Witch on Bandcamp | Web | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR and Majestic Mountain Records for the info.

Elk Witch - Beyond The Mountain (Album Review)

Release Date: March 18th 2022. Record Label: StoneFly Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Beyond The Mountain - Tracklisting

1.Cape Foulweather 04:58

2.The Woodsmen 06:55

3.Llao's Island 06:59

4.Coyote and the Wind's Daughters 05:37

5.Greybeard Arsenal 06:11

6.The Plight of Valus 06:24

Members

Deven Andersen - Guitar / Vocals

Darren Wostenberg - Bass

Joe Coitus - Drums

Review

Beyond The Mountain is the new release from Doom/Stoner Rockers Elk Witch and is a reworking and re-recorded version of their 2021 debut release The Mountain. This release now has two new songs being added into the mix. I never found the time to review The Mountain but I did enjoy the hell out of it with Elk Witch employing a classical style of Psych Doom/Stoner Metal with Prog Rock/Metal flourishes to give Elk Witch a more muscular presence.

Beyond The Mountain is a much richer audio experience with Elk Witch employing a heavier style of delivery compared to the original release. The album is more grounded with better production values but still allowing Elk Witch to stay true to the vision of the original EP.  If you dig legendary bands such as Black Sabbath, The Obsessed and The Sword then Elk Witch will embrace you with open arms on this release. You can tell from the stunning opening track Cape Foulweather that these guys know how to DOOM ON with their lovely homage to Black Sabbath and The Sword that just moves along at its own creative rhythm. The Psychedelic vibes gives Elk Witch an almost modern day feel but the majority of the music is mostly rooted in classic 70s and 90s Doom/Stoner Metal.

The album has some epic guitar solos coming your way from one of the album's standout tracks The Woodsmen. Moving between The Obsessed classic Doom Metal sound and bringing The Sword’s riffs still allow this song to be quite exciting and original in its own right. Throw in some Psychedelic Boogie based grooves and Elk Witch are starting to fully get in the mood of playing their own stylish sounds on this release.

Llao’s Island is a little bit more laidback with the opening sounds before adding more subdued levels of Psychedelic Stoner Rock with an ever so cautious Gloomy approach. There is a buoyant Post-Rock energy with this song and the instrumental work is perhaps the best of this release for myself personally. The vocals could have done with more volume but this is another standout track to include to the mix. There is a more aggressive element to this album when the band starts playing the heavier DOOMED OUT riffs towards the end of the song.

Fourth track Coyote and the Wind’s Daughters is up before them. This is a track that is perhaps the most SABBATHIAN based track on the album. With vocals, lyrics and music reminding myself yet again of that great band but at least Elk Witch do inject their own creative flavour into the mix with a rawer and distorted style of music.

The two new tracks Greybeard Arsenal and The Plight Of Valus are perhaps the main attraction for this release and they don’t disappoint either with Elk Witch offering almost thirteen minutes of more of the same great Doom/Stoner Metal riffs that has preceded it. Greybeard Arsenal is the strongest of the two new tracks with everything a bit more clearer on this part of the album.

Elk Witch have now released the definitive version of their acclaimed debut EP that has better production values and the additions of the two new songs make this an outstanding release in its own right.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp