‘The Devil’s Night’ EP was very much the first impression that anyone ever needed of this Swedish groups musical influences. The 2011 performance at London’s Live Evil festival was a mix of technical difficulties and sheer delight. This debut album continues on the latter comments trail. Delight as it brings forth a very big Venom influence, but not as much as that of a fellow label mate, Witchgrave have a bit more class, more style. In one way or another, a couple of Witchgrave members are linked through the record label to other projects (Slingblade, Antichrist) but Witchgrave is different to those other bands styles; it is older, in fact a darker shade of NWOBHM sounding off with a touch of the aforementioned Venom and even some of Atomkraft’s speed and angst (especially from the vocals). They have developed an underground following much like In Solitude did before their last album and I have spotted that they are rather similar in presentation if the album band image is anything to go by.
They are regarded as a kvlt band, a band to name check and acknowledge that you are in with the scene and these Swedes are genuinely deserving of such praise and admiration, the proof is certainly laid to wax here. I absolutely love the twin guitar harmonies and riffs (listen to ‘Motorcycle Killer’), the galloping pace of various chorus’ have a cool level of satanic eeriness about them especially on ‘The Last Supper’ even with the rare vocal harmonies, the whoa chanting followed by some unholy screams and snarls…the beast is awakened! I feel there is however a slight spark missing from the recorded sound/production rather than the albums content itself, I find it lacks a little sustain if I am really critical but it does not make it any lesser of an album, it depends on your own taste.
Witchgrave’s album is one in the eye for the cynics, a middle finger to apathy, because this is in actual fact a great time for classic metal to have its rebirth no matter how old you are without all the “back in the day” nonsense and kudos of late. When you have such a dark metal monster, especially listening to the lyrics to ‘The Virgin Must Die’, this brutally summarizes this whole dirty effort. It is a release that will hopefully gain greater distribution as their first effort was elusive at best and whilst I don’t regard this as an absolute classic, it is definitely not too far away and it is certainly worth picking up.
(7.5/10 Paul Maddison)
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