Witchpit - Forever Spoken (Album Review)

Release Date: November 08th 2024. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Forever Spoken - Track Listing:

1.Forever Spoken

2.Through Eyes Of Apathy

3.Mouth Piece Of Hate

4.Panacea

5.New Age Fallacy

6.Becoming I

7.Silver Turns To Rust

Members

Denny Stone — Vocals

Thomas White — Guitar

Jessy Cane — Bass

Jeremy Grobsmith — Drums

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers Witchpit return with their second full length album Forever Spoken and the band continue with their classic style of aggressive grooves from the old-school of sounds made famous by bands such as High On Fire, Black Tusk and Mastodon. This time round Witchpit really do come into their own darkened void with a thrilling Psychedelic approach which gives an extra layer of progressive heaviness to their music. With a non-stop appetite for classic THRASH METAL grooves, WItchpit employ a distinctive Post-Metallic synergy to their music that gives the album quite an apocalyptic feel.

The vocals are clean but with harsh overtones which gives Witchpit a great style of their own especially from a creative standpoint and allowing their music to become quite DOOM obsessive in places. The album is down right catchy and brilliantly fast-paced with the band excelling playing ferocious Sludge/Stoner Metal passages on tracks such as Forever Spoken, Through Eyes Of Apathy, Panacea and New Age Of Fallacy becoming my favourite tracks on the whole album.

There’s a whole lot more to Forever Spoken that meets the eye with murky landscapes and soundscapes allowing Witchpit to deliver thrilling riffs throughout the whole album. Once again matching the classic Sludge/Thrash Metal energy of High On Fire but adding their own take on things especially within the more pitch-black surroundings of the album. 

The instrumental sounds are always delivered with superb technical ability with Denny Stone’s vocals bridging the gap between the classic heyday of Sludge/Stoner Metal with the technical ability that dominates the modern day scene. So you have the best of both worlds with Forever Spoken being quite unforgiving with it’s bold and dark lyrical content that’s quite a different contrast to Witchpit’s debut album. 

Witchpit have placed themselves as one of the best upcoming Sludge/Stoner Metal bands within the US underground scene right now. If they keep on this creative path for future releases then Witchpit could become a major force within the underground scene and play on the biggest stages the scene has to offer.

Forever Spoken is an outstanding album that benefits from first rate production values which isn’t surprising since it’s being released by famed record label Heavy Psych Sounds. I’m hoping the album gets the recognition it truly deserves as this is a HUGE SOUNDING album with GIGANTIC RIFFS to match.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Forever Spoken is now available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify

US Sludge Metallers WITCHPIT announce new album "Forever Spoken" on Heavy Psych Sounds; preorders and title track available!

South Carolina's sludge metal warriors WITCHPIT return with their new studio album "Forever Spoken" this November 8th on Heavy Psych Sounds, with the title track available to stream now!
Stream debut single "Forever Spoken" at this location

"Forever Spoken" is a powerful exploration of humanity's quest to leave a lasting legacy: the album delves into the trials, adversities, and struggles that shape our journey and challenge our ability to fulfill our destiny. Venturing into the realms of southern metal and sludge, it features intricate riffs and heavy metal double bass rhythms that elevate its intensity and complexity.

The album was recorded with the esteemed Phillip Cope (Kylesa, Baroness, Black Tusk), who returns to mix the record after his successful previous collaboration with the band. To complement the depth of the music and lyrics, the band enlisted the legendary Dan Seagrave (Morbid Angel, Gorguts, Suffocation) for the cover art. His iconic style perfectly captures the complexity and essence of "Forever Spoken," making this collaboration a significant milestone for WITCHPIT.

WITCHPIT "Forever Spoken"
Out November 8th on Heavy Psych Sounds (LP/CD/digital)
Preorder available at this location

Witchpit, a formidable force in the doom/sludge metal scene, has been crafting their heavy, riff-driven sound since their formation in 2015 in Spartanburg, SC. The band comprising Thomas White, Denny Stone, Jesse Lane, and Jeremy Grobsmith, combines classic heavy metal, doom, sludge, and thrash influences to create a powerful and original musical experience.

Known for their intense live shows and meticulous studio work, Witchpit's music delves into themes of mysticism, rebellion, and the supernatural, weaving intricate narratives that captivate their audience. Their debut album "The Weight of Death" received acclaim from Metal Injection for its "throw down High On Fire-esque riffs" and profound lyrical content, showcasing their ability to merge heavy riffs with compelling storytelling.

Witchpit has toured extensively and shared stages with prominent acts such as Weedeater, Voivod, and Eyehategod, solidifying their place in the metal community. The band's forthcoming album "Forever Spoken", to be released in November 2024 through Heavy Psych Sounds, promises to push their sound further into the sludge/southern metal genre, blending their signature intensity with innovative new elements. With a growing fanbase and a reputation for electrifying performances, Witchpit is poised to make a significant impact in the metal world, continually pushing the boundaries of their genre.

WITCHPIT are

Denny Stone — Vocals
Thomas White — Guitar
Jessy Cane — Bass
Jeremy Grobsmith — Drums

WITCHPIT links

Facebook ⎪ Instagram ⎪ Bandcamp ⎪ Spotify

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Youtube

Witchpit - The Weight Of Death (Album Review)

Release Date: March 25th 2022. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Weight Of Death - Tracklisting

OTTR

The Blackened Fee

The Weight Of Death

Autonomous Deprivation

Fire & Ice

Mr. Miserum

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers Witchpit debut album The Weight Of Death is an interesting album with the band focusing upon the heavy grooves that High On Fire are known for but adding a Post-Metal element inspired by Neurosis in places. The album also masquerades as a moody 70s Classic Rock and modern day Stoner Metal album but with a blackened outlook on life.

Opening song OTTR shines a light to bands such as High On Fire, Black Tusk and Mastodon with the band standing their own creative ground against those giants of Sludge/Stoner Metal. The song is quite bleak with the vocals but Witchpit inject a Classic Rock/Hard Rock atmosphere with their guitars. OTTR has elements of both fast-paced aggressive riffs and slow-paced Psych Stoner Rock. The atmosphere can be quite jagged in places but Witchpit are made up of accomplished musicians and this song highlights this with impressive tempo changes and superb instrumental work that allows this album to be a truly captivating listen if you dig your Sludge/Stoner Metal on the bleak side of life but with catchy grooves to match.

Second song The Blackened Fee is a "LOW & SLOW", "AMPLIFIER RIFF WORSHIP" and "WEEDIAN" style song with the band easily avoiding the pitfalls those styles of music bring for a fresh take on the classic and modern day Stoner Metal riff. The vocals are superbly aggressive whilst remaining clean and approachable. There are shades of Relapse Records style Sludge/Stoner Metal but still allowing Witchpit to do their own cool thing. The psychedelic moments are understated allowing the gloomier sounds to rule the roost. The  sound is quite abstract but still being quite loud at the same time.

Third song The Weight Of Death is your standard Sludge/Stoner Metal track but with less time to play, Witchpit holds back from the more progressive sounds that appeared on the opening two songs. This has a Motorhead approach in places and ends up being one of the best tracks on the album. The snarling almost Punk Rock vibe allows the band to play perhaps the most fast-paced and aggressive track on the album. 

The second half of the album sees Witchpit bring that Neurosis style element to the forefront for a heavier style of music. The songs have a similar tone and delivery of the first half but here Witchpit play the heaviest parts of the album right here especially on Autonomous Deprivation and Mr. Miserum. The biggest surprise is how Witchpit merge the classic hard rock element to the harsher modern day gloomy sound. As the album sounds like a classic hard rock album and a brutal modern day Sludge/Stoner Metal release at the same time.

With this being released on Heavy Psych Sounds, you know it's going to sound fantastic from start to finish. As the production values are first rate allowing the band to exist in the Classic Hard Rock, Sludge Metal and Stoner Metal circles. 

The Weight Of Death builds up to a thrilling climax allowing Witchpit to devour anything and everything in their sight for an album that delivers everything you could possibly want from a brilliant Sludge/Stoner Metal album. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR. The Weight Of Death will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from March 25th 2022.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp