Every day we’re faced with decisions, and some of them have greater weight than others. Take, for example, having to make a call about something that will benefit you but will do harm to another person. Do you do it anyway? A lot of people would do that, and we see that every day with every government around the world. Is choosing evil worth it in the end?
Canadian doom power Occult Witches tangle with making evil decisions, Satan, and all things dark and mysterious on their fourth record “Sorrow’s Pyre.” Over nine tracks, the band—vocalist Vanessa San Martin, guitarist Alec Marceau, bassist Danick Cournoyer, drummer Eliot Sirois—weaves together tales about different characters and the challenges that they face. Tying it all together is the idea of whether there is merit in making a decision based in evil, and how that is balanced with instead choosing a more honorable path.
“Intro” opens with birds calling and footstep crunching, leading into “Malice” that dawns gently as guitars trickle. Then the power strikes, San Martin’s singing unfurling and catching fire, the playing buzzing with command. The guitar work blows up with attitude, delving into classic metal terrain, driving everything to a massive finish. “Tumbling Through the Dark” unleashes psychedelic lightning, the guitars taking on a bluesy edge, the vocals pushing as everything turns darker. The pace picks up, and the guitars emit smoke, a twin-style attack bringing on a Maiden-like shine. “Faustian Bargain” is warm and hypnotic, the singing scathing, powerful blasts adding tumult to the otherwise sultry aura. The shadows thicken as the soloing goes off, conjuring spirits and emotion, gently melting into mystery.
“Flesh and Bones” rampages and throws stiff punches, great guitar work torching, the playing calming down as a spoken passage haunts. The pressure rises as the attack gets more aggressive, the guitars taking on a ferocious tone, calls echoing out into the night sky. “Interlude in E-Flat Minor” has plinking guitars and rustic acoustics, the tempo picking up and getting jazzier, basking in cold waters. “The Fool” sparks as the singing swells, bluesy heat wilting flesh, the melodies booming and making blood race. Guitars vibrate as everything builds to a stampede, sending energy through your veins and trudging to a finish. “Sorrow” traces its steps, jabbing your ribs, the guitars scaling to new heights. “Sacrifice is what they want from us,” San Martin sings with booming power, the playing agitating and turning into a molten force, crushing to the final moment. Closer “Bluesman (Sunrise Cocaine)” is a barnburner, especially for Marceau whose guitar playing here melts faces. San Martin’s singing matches the intensity as the track takes off, hurtling through intense heat, feeling playful and spirited as everything comes to a massive end.
The strange thing about people making evil decisions is so many commit those acts due to their so-called faith. The characters on these blazing songs on “Sorrow’s Pyre” faced similar circumstances, and not all came out of it in a better condition than they were in when things started. Occult Witches bring a classic doom sheen to these timeless ideas as we’ve been struggling with doing the right thing from the start, and we likely will face that battle until humanity’s last days.
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/Occultwitches
To buy the album or for more on the label, go here: https://blackthroneproductions.com/en-us
Meat Mead Metal 