Witchskull - The Serpent Tide

Doom Metal is one of those sub-genres that appears totally uninterested in mainstream acceptance. A completely fan driven scene. it has developed its own culture, motifs, and dress code (circa 1973). Over the last twenty years a huge influx of new bands, Indie Record Labels, and fans has seen a massive growth in the scene. A visit to one of the many boutique festivals that spring up to cater to it and its close relative and Stoner music will see you witness more Beards, Tattoos, and Flares/Bell bottoms per square mile than anywhere on the planet on that given weekend (as a long-time retro clothes horse, its only took me 35 years to become fashionable!!!)

 

However, unlike the other fan driven, more extreme sub genres of Death Metal and Black Metal which has taken on new(ish) and experimental elements Doom steadfastly refuses to change course. This pig headedness is equally admirable and problematic. This can lead to lesser Sabbath Worshiping bands painting themselves into an increasingly small corner. The quality and strength of a Doom band rests on exactly one factor. The Riffs. Thankfully Australia’s Witchskull bring them in abundance over the eight tracks on their fourth album the Serpent Tide. Opener “Tyrian Dawn” sets out the stall with a chugging groove that will get the head nodding in appreciation.

 

The rhythm section of Tony McMahon (bass) and Joel Green (Drums) lay down a molasses thick foundation for the maelstrom of riffs and vocals by Marcus De Pasquale. His voice throughout is dripping existentialist dread and its primal howl matches Sabbath era Ozzy at his most tortured. “Sun Carver” can only be described as a stomping grind. It for me, is the highlight of the album. The pace of the songs is leisurely leaving plenty of room for palm muted riffing. On “The Serving Ritual” it does move more in to Thrash tempo territory complete with mid song breakdown and a discordant guitar solo. “Rune of Throne” rounds out the album with a long fade out that gives the illusion of the riffs playing on a loop stretching, off into space, to oblivion and beyond.

The album is heavy as several tons of bricks. It will appeal to the die-hard Doom Hound and the more trad Metal fan. It is not too dissimilar to the level of heaviness of the early Sword albums but stripped of the dungeons and dragon lyrics that plague so many bands of this genre. Witchskull are unapologetic and uncompromising in their musical and lyrical stance. They emphasize the metal in Doom Metal, while trimming the fat, with the average length of a song clocking in around four to five minutes, the album whips by in just over half an hour. Witchskull are not anything if not economic.

 

Progression is not a word that is easily associated with Doom, and it may be an over stretch to describe this album as that. However, when you buy this album (and let’s be honest, you really should) You get exactly what you’re looking for. “The Serpent Tide” steps it up in terms of song writing, Lyrics, overall groove, and Riffs…. Most of all the RIFFS!!!!

 

Repeated exposure to Witchskull will make you turn up the volume to ear bursting levels and possibly want to grow a beard and pull on some flares (and let’s be honest you really should).

 

-Bobo Coen