Witchthroat Serpent -Trove Of Oddities At The Devil's Driveway (Album Review)

Release Date: March 03rd 2023. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/VInyl

Trove Of Oddities At The Devil's Driveway: Tracklisting

1.Multi-dimensional Marvelous Throne (M-DMT) 10:31

2.Nosferatu's Mastery 07:48

3.The Gorgon 03:12

4.The House That Dripped Blood 05:54

5.Yellow Nacre 06:00

6.Mountain Temple In Bleakness 08:17

Members

Jon Weisnewski (Guitar/Vocals)

Jesse Roberts (Bass/Vocals)

Nat Damm (Drums)

Review

Psych Doom/Stoner Metallers Witchthroat Serpent make a welcome return with their new album Trove of Oddities at the Devil's Driveway. Their first new album in almost five years and the band have added a new member to the line-up which allows for a more expansive and heavier sound compared to their previous albums.

Trove of Oddities at the Devil's Driveway has a darker DOOMED OUT and FUZZIER tone which allows the band to play grooves that are more AMPLIFIED in places that’s reminiscent of Electric Wizard and Black Sabbath with the band still doing their own creative thing. The album is perhaps more Psychedelic with the emphasis on Seventies Doom & Gloom atmospherics. 

Opening song Multi-dimensional Marvelous Throne (M-DMT) is a trippy balance of Occult based madness with an LSD/WEEDIAN flavour heard within the excellent rhythm section. The guitars add a freakier and muscular groove for the lead vocals bringing a classic style of Doom Metal to the album. There’s guitar solos and riffs galore towards the middle of the song and that brings a Modern Day flow to the album. However, this album is all about that classic SABBATH inspired LOW & SLOW environment that brings an air of FUZZED OUT HEAVINESS. This is the longest track on the album and perhaps the most Progressive with Witchthroat Serpent playing long drawn out FUZZY notes with a menacing feel to them.

Second track Nosferatu’s Mystery carries on the Horror themes of the album with a song inspired by the legendary film. The vocals have a more “storytelling” vibe on this track with the music being firmly a Doomed Out Fuzz/Stoner affair. The music can be slow but it’s not without purpose. Witchthroat Serpent are starting to come of age on this track with the sublime music and lyrics they’ve created. The song offers a delicate balance of LOW & SLOW and AMPLIFIER DISTORTION movements against the classic style of Occult Doom/Stoner Metal. The later stages of the song become slightly creepier with the lyrics and use of different styles of gloomy atmospherics injected into the more Psychedelic aspects of the track. 

Third track The Gorgon is a more Ambient/Psychedelic driven song with the band using gloomy soundscapes and distorted themes as its main sound. The song does have a more Droned Out feeling which is a good style of music to deliver here. One of the most experimental songs I’ve heard the band attempted to date but the ending of the song does feature some good old fashioned Classic Horror sounds starting to emerge and then vanish quickly into the night.

Fourth song The House That Dripped In Blood is classic Witchthroat Serpent through and through. Slow paced gloomy sounds that become wholly atmospheric and expand into melodic strands of Doom/Stoner Metal with a twisted nightmarish vibe. The song also sees the band blend more Horror imagery into the music and the lyrics that are delivered with twisted relish by the excellent vocals yet again. Perhaps the song is too “slow-moving” for its own good but when the music is wonderfully BOLD as this then I can live with that. This is another standout track from the band and the most interesting song on the album from a creative point of view.

Yellow Nacre sees the band play a classical style of Doom Metal with a FUZZED OUT METAL backdrop that perhaps contains the standard style of Doom Metal grooves. There’s not much LOW & SLOW experimentation here. As WItchthroat Serpent offer long-time fans of the band a welcome return to their earlier sounds but with some small traces of Psychedelic Distortion along the way.

The final song Mountain Temple In Bleakness is where Witchthroat Serpent at the height of their creative powers with a song that matches both the worlds of Classic Doom Metal and Modern Day Stoner Metal with the subtle sensibilities of the storyline of the album coming full circle here. The music is FUZZY as hell which would make Electric Wizard proud. The band do cover a lot of ground on this track but they wisely let the music do the talking with some of the best guitar solos and dirtiest parts of the album appearing right here. 

Trove of Oddities at the Devil's Driveway is a delicious and seedy musical adventure into the FUZZIER depths of Doom/Stoner Metal with Witchthroat Serpent on majestic form throughout the album. This album has also allowed for the band to find their own definitive sound to become one of the main movers within the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene.

With one of the best underground record labels Heavy Psych Sounds backing Witchthroat Serpent all the way on this album. Trove of Oddities at the Devil's Driveway is the type of album that should be one of the most essential albums to own and listen to if you’re a serious follower of the Doom/Stoner Metal scene. 

This is a first rate release from one of the best bands of the French Doom/Fuzz/Stoner Metal scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Trove of Oddities at the Devil's Driveway is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds (Europe) and Heavy Psych Sounds (USA)

Links

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Enter The Sang-Dragon - An Interview with Witchroat Serpent

I became a fan of today's guests when I reviewed their debut album on The Sludgelord back in March 2014. I hadn't heard of these guys before but I was blown away by their heavy blend of Doom Metal riffs blended with heavy Stoner based Occult vibes.

I've heard people compare these guys to early-era Electric Wizard which I kind of agree with but they are more much more than that. They're perhaps one of my favourite bands coming from the French Doom/Stoner Metal scene.

I'm talking about Witchthroat Serpent who have just released their incredible new album – Sang-Dragon. An album currently kicking up a minor storm in the Doom Metal community. Everything about Sang-Dragon improves so much on their debut album. It sees Witchthroat Serpent finally coming into their own sound and identity to create one of the heaviest and catchiest Doom Metal albums you'll hear this year. If you haven't heard it yet I recommend you do that now as you're seriously missing out.

Alex at Deadlight Records (who I interviewed yesterday) asked me would I like to interview the band. I said – Hell Yeah!!! - Fortunately the band agreed to do this interview.

Hi guys. How are things with you today? Thanks for doing this interview. So why did you choose the name Witchthroat Serpent for your band? Any specific meaning?

The origin of the name Witchthroat Serpent comes from the close relationship between shamanism and sorcery. In shamanism the serpent represents a tunnel to the other world, during the trance he is commonly described as the ultimate apparition, allowing us to switch to the other side by diving into his throat, a kind of representation of emptiness to reach complete “letting go”. The symbolism of the snake is also widely used in witchcraft and occultism, this reptile is the guardian of secrets and knowledge; witchcraft is a way to get in touch with him, a way to explore our depths and our fears. We could also see a kind of analogy between the spells of the witch coming from of his throat and the venom spat out by the snake. The throat is the common element between these two entities, connecting them in the occult. Secrets will be revealed when you first dive into the serpent’s throat!

How did the band get together? Did you all know each other before forming the band?

Yes, we already knew each other before forming Witchthroat Serpent. Fredrik and I already played in Habsyll, a drone/doom band, and when Habsyll went on stand-by we decided to make a new band to satiate our need for vibes and low ends. At the same time I played in a grind band called Artemisia Absinthium and I asked Lo the bassist if he would like to join us to form the power trio of Witchthroat Serpent. He accepted immediately and then we started to rehearse and compose our first album.

How would you describe your music?

Doom music filled with occult feelings along with ethereal atmosphere. All played on old tube amplifiers and recorded the old way to keep the live intensity and the old school vibe. We like to add magic to our music and our lyrics are here to support the whole thing.

Your new album Sang-Dragon – is superb. So different from your debut album.

Whanks, we are also very satisfied with this album. We planned from the beginning to release the second album 2 years after our debut so it’s perfectly on time!

Did you do anything differently when recording the new album compared to your debut album?

It was recorded the same way but in a professional studio by a marvelous guy. We recorded it live in one day under the influence of Sang-Dragon and then we added additional guitars, vocals and organ. We also brought more attention to the compositions, progressed in our performance and practiced very rigorously before entering the studio. The result is there and we are very happy with it.

Sang-Dragon has a different tone from your debut album. It's more focused and heavier. Was that your intention, to release something different and create something more powerful?

We developed our equipment, our amps, our speakers and our effects and chose exactly what was needed to achieve the sound we wanted, and now we can say that we found it. Of course there will always be some changes to our equipment, but now we are really pleased with our sound.

Why did you call the album Sang-Dragon?

Sang-Dragon is the name of the incense we use on stage. It is a particularly powerful incense used for spiritual elevation, exorcisms and connection to the divine. This incense was ancestrally extracted from Socotra Dragon’s tree, a tree present in tropical areas closer to the equator. You can find a picture of one on the back of the Sang-Dragon CD.

Looking back at your debut album, would you change anything about it? Or are you happy with the way it is?

We like the way it sounds. For the first album we were still looking for the ideal equipment and did our best with what we had at that moment. We recorded everything ourselves and it was a great experience. We continue to play a couple of songs live and we are still pleased while performing them.

The album is being released via Deadlight Entertainment. How did you hook up with them?

Alex is an old friend, he offered us a deal for the CD release of the first and now the second album. He has done great work for those releases. Note that the first album was released on vinyl by Emetic records and soon we are going to announce the label that will release Sang-Dragon on vinyl.

How hard is it being a band in today's world? What are the most difficult aspects of being in a band?

Hard to explain, nowadays it’s all hard, everything’s corrupted and it’s all illusion. I think the hardest thing is to be confronted with human stupidity -- but you don’t have to be in a band to know that!

What is the songwriting dynamic in the band? Is it a collective effort or down to one individual?

Fredrik comes up with the riffs and then we work together to make the grooves and the structures, focusing on lyrics and our feelings. It’s always been like this and we like to work this way.

Will you be touring this record heavily this year?

We made the Sang-Dragon tour in May just after the release of the CD and we are planning to tour again in autumn following the release of the 12” vinyl LP. Then we are going to play at Crumble Fest in June, a festival oriented towards stoner & psychedelic, and we will play the Motocultor Festival in August, one of the most well-known metal festivals in France after Hellfest (which we played in 2015). More gigs are coming up for 2016 and we plan to tour northern Europe in 2017.

We have to talk about the fantastic artwork by the amazing Branca Studio. Who came up with the overall design of the album cover? And did you have much input into the design or did you leave the folks at Branca Studio alone to weave their magic.

We met Pol & Marta for the first time at the Day of Doom festival in Barcelona where we played in 2014 and then we liked each other’s work. So when we searched for the artwork for our new album we immediately asked Pol to make a witch with a serpent instead of a tongue to illustrate the name of the band. Pol understood exactly what we wanted and created this piece of art that we are really proud. It’s a pleasure to work with him, he is a really nice guy.

Before you go, do you have anything to say to your fans?

We would like to thank all the people supporting us, coming to our shows and buying our stuff. It's because of you we can achieve our goal to create a sonic wall of doom. The serpent will come down your throat for eternity!

Well guys, thanks for doing this. All the best with the new album as it’s a brilliant album.

Many thanks, it was a pleasure to make this interview. Long live to Outlaws of the sun blog.

Words by Steve Howe and Witchthroat Serpent

I want to thank Alex at Deadlight Entertainment for arranging this interview. Thanks to Witchthroat Serpent for doing this interview.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Witchthroat Serpent - Sang-Dragon (Album Review)

Release date: April 2016. Label: Deadlight Entertainment. Format: CD/DD

Sang-Dragon – Tracklisting

1. Hydra's Bewitchment

2. A Caw Rises From My Guts

3. Siberian Mist

4. Lady Sally

5. Into The Black Wood

6. Behind Green Eyes

7. Mystical Devotee

Band Members:

Fredrik Bolzann - Fuzz Guitar & Vocals

Niko Lass - Haze Drums

Lo Klav - Rat Bass

Review:

Doom Rockers – Witchthroat Support – return with a new album Sang-Dragon and almost new sound especially compared to their superb debut album. I’m a huge fan of their debut album but it stuck to closely to the set sound of Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard at times. Sang-Dragon is not only a leap of quality for the band but a leap musically as well. Sang-Dragon feels though it was created by a different band.

The riffs are more focused, vocals are sharper and the lyrics have a real sense of dread. This is a band that has reinvented their sound for the better. These guys haven’t suffered from the much-dreaded second album syndrome. Even from the opening track – Hydra’s Bewitchment – you know you’re in for a sublime doomy musical adventure where the band creates too many exciting moments to mention. It’s a gloomy and almost occult based instrumental track with subtle hints of ambient based noises.

Second track – A Caw Rises From My Guts – is where the band shows you what’s in store for you for the rest of the album. Doom Metal with a thumping bass line with a demented style of FUZZ that crackles violently in the background. The vocals are superb through out from lead vocalist – Fredrik - as Witchthroat Serpent lay on a heavy psychedelic distorted vibe that can be very nightmarish at times.

Third track – Siberian Mist – opens with a distorted bass heavy solo before the band start adding doomy guitar riffs which sees the band paying homage to bands such as Saint Vitus and Black Sabbath but still creating their own sound. The vocals are mainly in the background as it allows the band to create heavier distorted noises.

The whole tone of the album is one of pure DOOM though shades of Psych Rock and Stoner Metal do appear to show you there is much more to the bands sound. Though this will take a few listens to fully appreciate as Witchthroat Serpent have created quite a complex album at times. Tracks such as – Lady Sally, Into The Black Wood and Mystical Detective – even venture into the world of Prog Rock as some of the guitar solos can only be described as epic.

The production is loud, crisp and vibrant through out. Sang- Dragon is an unstoppable force of nature and I’m implore you to buy this album. It’s a thrilling and spectacular album that you won’t get enough of. Witchthroat Serpent have created an album that could see them playing the more prestigious Doom/Stoner Metal festivals over the next twelve months or so. Sang-Dragon is simply unmissable.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Alex at Deadlight Entertainment for the promo. Sang-D will be available to buy on CD/DD via Deadlight Entertainment from March 18^th 2016.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp