Witchfinder - Forgotten Mansion (Album Review)

Date Released: November 18th 2022. Record Label: MRS Red Sound. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Forgotten Mansion: Tracklisting

1.Approaching 

2.Marijuana

3.Lucid Forest

4.Ghosts Happen To Fade 

5.The Old Days

Members

Clément Mostefai: vocals, bass

Stanislas Franczak: guitar

Thomas Dupuy: drums

Kevyn Raecke: keyboards

Review

Forgotten Mansion is the new album from French Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal underground heroes Witchfinder and continues the gloomy trajectory they showed on their last couple albums but perhaps going in a more darker sonic based journey. Parts Uncle Acid, Monolord, SLEEP and the mighty Black Sabbath.

The album feels ultimately modern and classic sounding at the same time which the band brings into focus on the opening track Approaching. A song that is full of down-tuned FUZZY SLUDGE/STONER METAL grooves with a Psychedelic Doom essence leading the way. The vocals are clean based and superbly easy to follow with a sinister 70’s Doom Rock/Metal edge. Witchfinder play Psychedelic and Spaced Out Soundscapes on this album which is put to great use on this track when the fast-paced instrumental sounds appear. WItchfinder pulls out all the stops near the end of the song with first rate instrumental extended jams that leave little to the imagination. 

Second song Marijuana is obviously the most STONED OUT offering on the album but still sees Witchfinder honour their Doom Metal roots. Continuing their Sludge/Stoner Metal drive and heavy FUZZ/Amplifier based narrative of the opening track, Witchfinder pays homage to Black Sabbath but still retaining their own creative edge. The band have drafted in Haldor Grunberg on vocal duties on this track and it’s devilishly great team-up. The extended riffs are plentiful and quite progressive at the same time. The vocals do feel more distant in places but it’s a winning combination that ends up becoming one of the best tracks on the album.

Third song Lucid Forest has more of a Gothic and downbeat feel compared to the other tracks with sublime psychedelic keyboards and synths being used to great effect. The grooves are slower and not as threatening but Witchfinder still offers that LOW & SLOW aggressive attitude with the sludgy guitars doing their thing. There’s a slight Mars Red Sky vibe to this track which is no bad thing as that band remains my favourite act from the French Doom/Stoner Metal scene with Witchfinder not too far behind. However, I digress. This song is perhaps the most straightforward “Doom/Stoner” song on the album where Witchfinder focus upon playing to the best of their musical and creative abilities. Though, the best part of the song for me is Kevyn’s brilliant use of gloomy sounding Keyboards. 

The final two tracks Ghosts Happen To Fade and The Old Days continue the gloomy AMPLIFIER WORSHIP to full Psychedelic effect. The lyrics perhaps may not be the strongest part of Ghosts Happen To Fade but that track does contain the heaviest and trippiest sounds on the album. 

The Old Days allows Witchfinder to close the album in stunning fashion with one final round of bleak extended sounds and rhythms which the band have perfected over their last few releases.

The album is boosted by epic production values and the killer artwork by Branca Studio is an added bonus that shows you what to expect on the album. If you’re a true disciple or follower of the LOW & SLOW and AMPLIFIER WORSHIP community then you need this album in your record collection. It’s seriously that good. 

Forgotten Mansion is an understated gem from the French underground scene and this will hopefully bring the band wider attention and acclaim within the global Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal community.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Floriane at Shake Promotion for the promo.

Forgotten Mansion is available to buy on DD/Vinyl via MRS Red Sound from November 18th 2022.

Links:

Linktree | BandCamp

Doom-psych quartet WITCHFINDER to reveal details on new album 'Forgotten Mansion' coming out this Fall via Mrs Red Sound

Doom-psych quartet WITCHFINDER to reveal details on new album 'Forgotten Mansion' coming out this Fall via Mrs Red Sound : stream first single HERE or below

France's doom sludge oufit WITCHFINDER unveil track listing, artwork, recording details and first single off their upcoming album 'Forgotten Mansion' - out on November 18th 2022 through Mrs Red Sound. Enjoy spectral first excerpt "Ghosts Happen To Fade" now!

Photo Aurore Staiger.

The 'Forgotten Mansion' that adorns the desolated garden pictured on the cover of WITCHFINDER's latest EP has now its very own piece of music. This relevant visual and sonic follow-up features gloomy atmospheres, explores the horror topic and spreads a massive blast of fuzz. The addition of keyboardist Kevyn Raecke propels their already ultra-thick sounding into a cathedral-esque dimension; both theatrical and heavy. The psychedelic touch is cleverly highlighted here over a substantial doom cushion. One can appreciate some faster sections and a nicely worked heavy rock riffage which spices up this record and prevents it from drowning in any easiness. With their new album 'Forgotten Mansion', Witchfinder dust off the genre without flaying its foundations at any time.

Witchfinder's new album 'Forgotten Mansion' was recorded, mixed and mastered at Monochrom Studio, Gniewoszów, Poland, by Haldor Grunberg (Behemoth, Dopelord, Belzebong) of Satanic Audio, who also sings on the second track "Marijuana".

Artwork by Branca Studio

TRACK LISTING:

1. Approaching
2. Marijuana
3. Lucid Forest
4. Ghosts Happen To Fade
5. The Old Days
 

Clermont-Ferrand's doom sludge quartet WITCHFINDER are powered by gloomy keyboard effects, haunted Dopelord-like vocals, thunderous riffage and a bone rattling rhythm section. Since the release of their eponymous debut album in 2016, they have garnered a sizable following among the underground scene opening for stoner and doom heavyweights such as Red Fang, Corrosion Of Conformity, Dopethrone, Ufomammut, Conan, Monolord, Kadavar, Hangman’s Chair...

Witchfinder's sophomore studio effort 'Hazy Rites' throws in plenty of hardcore and sludge influences to their already massive and doom-laden sound. It came out on 2019 via Black Bow Records (CD) and 2020 via Mrs Red Sound (LP). Their lastest EP 'Endless Garden' blends fearsome fuzz, cold psychedelia and mucky sludge. This is the first studio effort recorded with their new keyboardist Kevyn Raecke, who brings some stagy ghostly effects and greatly emphasizes the band's fat and spooky sounding. This EP came out in June 2022 on Mrs Red Sound and definitely picked the interest of a larger number of heavy sounds lovers.

Witchfinder's upcoming album 'Forgotten Mansion' was recorded, mixed and mastered at Monochrom Studio, Gniewoszów, Poland, by Haldor Grunberg of Satanic Audio (Behemoth, Dopelord, Me An That Man). It arrives this November 18th through Mrs Red Sound.

 

LINE-UP :

Clément Mostefai: vocals, bass
Stanislas Franczak: guitar
Thomas Dupuy: drums
Kevyn Raecke: keyboard

Links

Linktree | BandCamp

Witchfinder - Endless Garden (EP Review)

Release Date: June 03rd 2022. Record Label: MRS Red Sound. Format: DD

Endless Garden - Tracklisting

1.The Maze

2.Eternal Sunset

Members

Clément Mostefai: vocals, bass

Stanislas Franczak: guitar

Thomas Dupuy: drums

Kevyn Raecke: keyboards

Review

French Doom/Stoner Rockers Witchfinder return with their new EP Endless Garden and sees the band return with a more gloomier aspect and progressive vibe to their music. Teaming up with MRS Red Sound (Mars Red Sky owned record label) once again, this EP is more dedicated to similar sounds from bands such as Electric Wizard and Monolord with Witchfinder’s own WEEDIAN charm intact. This release is more Psychedelic and Spaced Out compared to their previous releases with some excellent Black Sabbath/Uncle Acid inspired vocals leading the way.

Opening song The Maze is a mixture of Space Rock distorted elements with groovy amplifier Sludgy and Stoner grooves. There’s a well meaning aspect to this song despite the “DOOM & GLOOM” subject matter but it’s the grooves where Witchfinder proves their musical worth. Heavy Psychedelic DISTORTED AMPLIFIER sounds with a Psych Doom underscore being quite progressive in places. There are a ton of epic great guitar riffs along the way with Witchfinder being quite adventurous in places. 

Second song Eternal Sunset is a “WOW” type of song when that Psychedelic/Space Rock groove initially appears that has a certain Monolord flavour but the band wisely bring their own style of heavy thunderous Sludge/Stoner based heaviness with the song  being firmly rooted in modern day Doom Metal. The instrumental work is impressive and the song moves through different styles of WEEDIAN based music for a song leaves you wanting more. The clean vocals are an absolute joy and do remind me of MARS RED SKY in many ways but this is still Witchfinder’s show and they excel on this release with the EP’s constantly engaging use of distorted Psychedelic sounds.

Endless Garden is the perfect appetizer for Witchfinder’s upcoming third full length album that will be released later this year and showcases how the band are one of the best bands from the French Psych Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene right now.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Shake Promotion for the promo. Endless Garden will be available to buy digitally via MRS Red Sound from June 03rd 2022.

Links

Linktree | BandCamp

Witchfinder - Hazy Rites (Album Review)

Release date: April 1st 2019. Label: Black Bow Records. Format: CD/DD

Hazy Rites – Tracklisting

1. Ouija
2. Satan's Haze
3. Covendoom
4. Sexual Intercourse
5. Wild Trippin
6. Sorry
7. Dans L'Instant

Members

Tom - drums

Clement - bass/vocals

Stan - guitar

Review

French Doom/Stoner Metallers Witchfinder impressed me with their 2017 S/T Debut Album with it’s epic use of Psychedelic Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal. The album had a great sounding retro feel to the album as well. Now, fast forward to 2019 and the band will be releasing their 2^nd album – Hazy Rites.

This album is a different sounding beast compared to their debut album. As the album is heavier and way more progressive. Witchfinder even managed to include a harsher style of Rock/Metal in certain parts of the album and may leave some listeners fully out of their comfort zone. The band take influence from MONOLORD, CONAN, Weedeater and SLEEP on this album. However this is still Witchfinder’s show. They create an influx of different sounds that have a nightmarish creepy edge to them.

The opening 3 songs – Ouija, Satan’s Haze and Covendoom offer 25 minutes of the heaviest and most thrilling Doomed Out Riffs held on the album. The music has a nightmarish and Droned Out quality to it. The Doom/Drone/Chant based Vocals from Clement has a hollow edge to them and they only add to the eerie and Progressive atmosphere the band expertly create on this album.

The later stages of the album is where Witchfinder impress the most perhaps creatively speaking. As the band decide to experiment with their sound and opt for a more disturbing Hardcore based vision. Songs such as Wild Trippin, Sorry and Dans L'instant will leave you looking over your shoulder with it’s heavily stylish use of Psych, Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal that allow Witchfinder to create a truly exciting sound of their own.

Overall, Hazy Rites is everything you could want from a Doom/Stoner Metal album. As it offers a thrilling and challenging audio sonic experience you’ll be listening to over and over again.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Hazy Rites will be available to buy on CD/DD via Black Bow Records from April 1^st 2019.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Witchfinder - S/T (Album Review)

Release date: May 2^nd 2017. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Witchfinder – S/T – Tracklisting

1.Snowy grave 11:13

2.Smoke a weed prayer 09:28

3.Brain's flare 11:20

4.Witchfinder 09:42

Band Members:

Clément - Bass, Vocals

Stan - Guitar

Thomas - Drums

Review

Psychedelic Doom Rockers – Witchfinder – have a similar sound to fellow countrymen Monolord but with a spookier outlook on their Doom/Stoner based sound. Their self-titled debut album is an intriguing slice of epic based Doom/Stoner Rock. It has shades of Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid running through the album especially with the albums atmosphere and with the vocals as well.

Opening track – Snowy Grave – is a twelve minute track with the band playing a slower kind of progressive doom metal with elements of psychedelic stoner holding everything together. Obviously the album has a very sombre and gloomy feel with Witchfinder excelling in creating bleak sounds that leaves the album with a more chilling effect. The riffs are played at a slow pace at the start but the band do speed things up a bit towards the end when the heavier guitars appear.

Second track – Smoke A Weed Prayer – is where the album becomes more exciting and perhaps lives upto the usual influences of the Stoner Metal world. With a cool opening sound that will make you feel right at home. The band opts for a Black Sabbath style riff where the music is down-tuned and played deliberately slow. The vocals from Clément are dynamic from the start. Though it’s the music that will have you hypnotized as Witchfinder channel legendary doom/stoner sounds from the last forty years but with a more modern feel. This song is perhaps the most experimental sound on the entire album as the band tries their hand at creating heavier distorted noises. A very good idea in parts but the song works better when the band play a familiar style of Doom/Stoner metal.

Third track – Brain’s Flare – is an almost twelve minute epic with the song starting with a singular guitar that has quite industrial sound before the band return to their familiar riffs. The song is purely instrumental for the first couple of minutes before lead vocalist returns with another round of Ozzy/Uncle Acid inspired vocal madness. Though I had a hard time understanding what he was singing at times. Maybe that’s the point, I don’t know but it shouldn’t distract from your enjoyment of the song as Witchfinder impress yet again with the music.

Fourth track – Witchfinder – is perhaps the least exciting song on the album. It’s not a bad song, far from it. It’s a very good song, just not as exciting as the other three tracks on the album Still, Witchfinder do create some of the heaviest and spaced out sounds on the album. The musicianship is what holds your attention again as Witchfinder genuinely creates thrilling sounds that will impress the most jaded Doom/Stoner Metal fan.

The overall sound on the album is excellent and that’s down to no small part by Esben Williams of Monolord fame who mastered the album. Witchfinder’s debut album is a thrilling and exciting album that will find a loyal audience within the scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp