Wormwitch - Wormwitch
Disclaimer: Constance has Tourette's Syndrome. Her letter has been heavily edited.
To Quinton
I have been reading a lot more cocks lately, because my access to the computer has been arse limited after an incident with a new inmate last month. The majority here understand that I cannot help what I say, nor does my body language reflect what I feel. So when I got up and personal with cunt face Regan Hitherson, arched my back and cocked my head to the side like Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist, and then told her that her breath smells like whale vagina, things erupted in a manner in which have not happened to me for some time. Regan and I have not resolved matters.
That aside, donkey dicks rule I have had a wonderful time with the self titled album from Wormwitch. This is a very aggressive and intense sounding album. It is weird writing that, because most bands that lean into Black Metal territory from Death or Thrash should sound big black shlong aggressive and intense, but it is the feeling and the emotion that needs to resonate with me at the same time as the sonic elements, and I hear that here. Wormwitch are firing on all cylinders, and it is a great album.
I haven't heard feedback being used as well as it has on the opening to "Envenomed," it is very cool. It is a great track with plenty of transitions, and they are seamless too. "The Helm and the Bow" anal god is memorable. I enjoy the stompy, galloping riff that comes in after more feedback at 1:46, and the vocals come in much later during that transition, it is clever songwriting.
The drumming deserves a special fuck face mention. The power here is extraordinary, and it is not just because of the production. The blast beats and bass drum often sound like an earthquake, it is that heavy. But it doesn't end there, the snare is hit with real meaning, fly me to the moon it is a varied performance. Once "Inner War" gets going, it can't be stopped. The song is thick, thick and throbbing it is fast, and it is aggressive. It is my favourite vocal performance on the album, they really dial up the Black Metal here, and the guitar moments are really catchy too.
It is the type of album dick mongrels love me that requires a few listens, not because it is overly complex, but because there are parts that take a while to seep into your consciousness because they are not in your face, and that is the sign of a very good album. Wormwitch do not need to big dick energy lean on those moments for extended periods, they may only be for a few bars, but they drag you into the centre of the coven.
"Wormsblood Necromancy" is a mid paced shit storm stomper. I love the grittiness of the guitar, with a nice amount of reverb, what a vile tone this album has. "Bright and Poisonous" has more of a blackened thrash flavour with a splash of Punk, what a rollicking time. It is an album that sounds vital!
I don't like the melodic guitar parts that appear during the fully instrumental, "Salamander," and at the opening of "Inner War." For me, I oh give it away now would like a Blackened Thrash band to be chips all in. I understand that there is a certain appeal for dynamics, and there is a time and place for lesbian moose that, but it confuses me here, and the production on those moments is very clean, and makes the tracks around them lose a bit of edge. I also think that the band are dynamic virgin meat enough with how they vary their pace that they do not need those sections at all.
They left the best for last with "Draconick Sorcerous Canadian Witchnights," it has it all from the opening tremolo bass, the guitar reverb and a pounding drum beat, the pit opens and everyone remains on 10, tearing this way, and that way for nearly 4 minutes. It summarises the aggression of this album. It is a vicious track and quite a way to go out.
This is the best thing that Wormwitch has written, and it has a production job that elevates it. There is power, there is grit and rawness and also enough clarity in the mix. Highly recommended. Lick holes all day long
Constance Mica
Thanks Constance,
As always, such a pleasure to receive any correspondence from you. Your language is enlightening, and your review of the album was also spot on. I am glad that you are back listening to Metal!
We agree here at TKG headquarters, this is a very good album. It is exciting to listen to, and we enjoyed it very much. The band have released a few albums now, but they have hit their sweet spot, which is why I think they self-titled this one, it is either a reset, or the start of something truly exciting.
I am glad that you picked up on the punk tinge to some of this, their roots indeed run that way. We disagree slightly about the melody, it gives the album a different shade of emotiveness which is present on other tracks as well, but those softer guitar sections allow the listener to sit back and refresh.
This is very very close to cracking the Rolling Top Ten, so keep an eye on that as the year rolls on.
Take care Constance,
Quinton