Blackened Thrash
Century Media Records
Release Date – September 27th 2024
Links: https://bewitcher.bandcamp.com/
Line Up:
A.Magus – Bass/Vocals
M.Von Bewitcher – Guitar/Vocals
A.Hunter – Drums
Tracklist:
1 – Starfire Maelstrom
2 – Lavish Desecration
3 – Spell Shock
4 – Out Against The Law
5 – Dystopic Demonolatry
6 – Seasons Of Foul Harvest
7 – We Die In Dust
8 – The Harem Conspiracy
9 – Pagan Shadows
Streaking out of Portland, Oregon on a vicious wave of blackened thrashness in the same way Midnight, Hellripper, and Bulldozer cause maximum mayhem, come Bewitcher. They’ve been around since 2013, having pushed out 3 previous full-length releases and a clutch of singles. Based around the manic musicality of three characters that obviously couldn’t give a flying fuck about being polished. This is music made in the nastiest, filthiest, smelliest, dankest basement studio cum dungeon, and all nastiness oozes out in the music.
Opener and first single from the record Starfire Maelstrom takes its time getting going, but when it does, it’s a rapid rabid assault on your ears thanks to the battering that A. Hunter gives his kit. Then Lavish Desecration gives it some classic Motorhead and a touch of Venom, literally. The title track comes on like some early Venom and Sodom with a gang-like backing vocal before the punk/metal of Out Against The Law rattles along at a fair old clip.
Dystopic Demonolatry continues the nastiness as the guitar hacks at your jugular like a rusty razor. Then Seasons Of Foul Harvest cuts a jagged line with that rusty blade before they kind of ease back on We Die In Dust. The Harem Conspiracy brings back the thrashier groove before the eastern-flavored instrumental Pagan Shadows brings a jangly jaunt and shows they have more than one string to their bow.
I love this kind of heads-down, see-you-at-the-end, flying-by-the-seat-of-the-pants metal. It’s fun, it’s exciting. It’s not polished; in fact, it’s as rough as a badger’s arse, but therein lies the beauty. The songs don’t outstay their welcome, but they have an energy and bounce that gets your blood pumping. More please and soon.
Written by: Smudge
Ratings: 9/10
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