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WITCHSORROW “The Devil And All His Works”
WITCHSORROW “The Devil And All His Works”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Looking for a band that packs every doom metal cliche known into their resume? Look no further than WITCHSORROW, Hampshire’s answer to ELECTRIC WIZARD. They’ve poured every tried and true doom trope into “The Devil And All His Works”...even the album title is Doom 101 in action.
Well, since ELECTRIC WIZARD itself is doing sweet F.A. these days, have at it, I say. Whatever you’re looking for in traditional doom, this record has got it. One part of me wants to run this right into the dirt due to the blatant unoriginality; the other part says, fuck it and go with the flow.
Church bells and organ initiate the plodding “Omnia Finiuntur”, whose pace never exceeds a caterpillar’s crawl. It’s the longest track here and sets the table pretty well. “Bacchus” is so ELECTRIC WIZARD that it could be an out-take from one of their albums, even down to Necroskull’s whining Jus Oborn vocals. WINDHAND fans should also dig the thick, syrupy tones here. “Hades Chains” picks up tempo with a battering ram riff, like one of the faster REVEREND BIZARRE cuts…it’s a keeper!
As if to make up for that aggression, “Altar” is typical oozing doom, with a thunderous bass sound. “In Triumph We Rot!” is faster and more energetic, but the main riff is so old and shopworn, it should have a long white beard. There’s unoriginal and then there’s the scandalously uninspired. The record ends with the lumbering “Lamentation”/”A Quintessence Of Dust”, which brings the melancholy trudge of MY DYING BRIDE to mind as well as more WIZARD-ish tones.
One thing can’t be challenged and that is how devoted WITCHSORROW is to the hallowed ways of doom. Since CATHEDRAL and REVEREND BIZARRE are no more and ELECTRIC WIZARD might as well be, who can begrudge WITCHSORROW their place in the scene?
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