Artist: Karyn Crisis - Gospel of the Witches
Title: Salem Wounds
Genre: Occult Metal
Release Date: 9th March 2015
Label: Century Media
Album Review
The 60’s and the ‘70’s were responsible for many things; one of them was that being pagan and a witch became de rigour, attending a coven was as fashionable as clubs for baking competitions in former times, so of course it had to spill into music and Occult Rock was born and branched to spawn also Occult Metal. And so we have a present-day disciple Karyn Crisis with her Gospel of the Witches with the album of ‘Salem Wounds’. This is not her first dip into music scene, she is known from CRISIS, which disbanded in 2006.
Except Karyn and her crew there may be a spectral presence of the witch that is said to have taught them the old ways, or some such, to be investigated closer by the believers, and those fan-folks as the band hopes become empowered by it. As I am a sceptic, I will concentrate on the music: the intro two minutes passed me by but ‘The Alchemist’ did win me over (for the time being), if not to the occult bosom, certainly to the great song it is. Male (clean-to-scream-to-growls) and female vocals (clean-to-scream) perfectly balanced for the moods of the song; it’s a catchy, dark and strong belter. It’s doomy-post-grudgy-Black Sabbathy in the cauldron to produce a brew with a whiff of uniqueness.
It’s fun as well as heavy. There are softer, ambient-leaning moments in the songs as well, such as the beginning of the ‘Mother’, which emulates heart-beats and softness and in contrast its following ‘Father’ starts with ambience building an impression of a towering presence that is distant as well as slightly menacing, followed by fierce drums and invocations and beseeching/ supplicating the father/ Sol Invictus. Unfortunately, the good vibe in the second half of the album peters out or perhaps more sludges out. Let’s call it an ok album and leave it there.
Tracklist
01. Omphalos - 2:00
02. The Alchemist - 6:29
03. Ancient Ways - 4:34
04. Aradia - 3:42
05. Mother - 6:06
06. Father - 4:55
07. Goddess Of Light - 4:00
08. Howl At The Moon - 5:45
09. Pillars - 3:16
10. The Secret - 3:33
11. Salem's Wounds - 4:48
12. The Sword + The Stone - 4:05
13. The Ascent - 8:19
Line-up
Karyn Crisis: vocals and invocations
Davide Tiso: guitars, bass, synths and programming, backing vocals on song 3
Ross Dolan: backing vocals on songs 1-6, 8-9, 11-13
Mike Hill: backing vocals on songs 6, 9
Charlie Schmid: drums
Websites
www.facebook.com/Gospelofthewitches
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6
Sound: 7
Total: 6.5 / 10
Comments powered by CComment