WitchHands : "Nox Nihili

The death rock revival was more short-lived than I would have liked. We did get the likes of Alaric and Atriarch from it, and Astari Nite started off in that vein but has integrated more 80s sounds. So any addition to the genre is welcome. This is a re-imagining / re-recording of their first album, which I do not recall hearing, so this might as well be new. This death rock band leans into the more punk side of the genre. The vocals are belted with moments of creepy crooning. The pace picks up to more of your standard punk fare on the second song. I am not sure Wilson Pickett is best translated over into this sort of thing.

"Belle" creeps to life at first, but the vocals come in and bring a more bellowing explosion. The bombastic manner things are built is not unlike Killing Joke. The is more of a punk attack to "Demons". This makes the raw nature of the vocal make more sense. I can also hear how New Model Army might be an influence at certain points. "Ozymandias" finds the vocals taking on a more gruff bark. The drummer holds everything together, I am surprised the bass in not more crucial to the mix as that defined Christian Death's sound. 

"Night Falls" finds the guitar bringing a darker pulse. The song does build off this more melancholy pulse.  From this point on, the album pretty much goes in a more punk direction. The lyrics to getting more horror-oriented, which I can appreciate. The title track closes the album. It finds a pretty effective groove that is the first song that has a metallic edge to it, though this does give more of a Killing Joke vibe. I will give this album an 8, it's fun and very raw punk in its aesthetic. 

pst217

Gothtober- WitchHands :"No Gods, No Masters"

 

This album came out back in April, so it's fitting we are catching up with it this month. The mix to this album is raw, though in many ways this plays into their charm. While death rock is one of my favorite sub-genre's of goth, the sounds that equate it, often create a rather limited creative breadth bands work with to stay true to it. I think growing out of it to some extent is needed. The example of playing it too safe might come on the second song of this album. Where the first song worked as the powerfully belted vocals held more personality than the bulk of what other bands are doing these days in this regard. The vocals wander out sound of their comfort zone here and sound weaker, while the band safely plods in the same darker gardens as every other band doing this sort of thing. 

Perhaps it's just the specific sounds they are using on "Dead Ringer" but it works better for me. I think with things mixed in a slightly more polished manner everything would sonically pop in all the right place. But the job here is not to speculate what could have been but to sort through the present situation that has been committed to album. The vocals are not as focused as they are on the first song, and a little pitchy in some places. He lets his voice crack as a stylistic choice, which I think could have been done better. He sounds great on "No Gods" with much more control over his voice.  " Buy Yourself" digs more into the genres punk roots. This is works pretty well and gives me New Model Army vibes. 

They go to the punk well one too many times on "Black September". There is nothing new being brought to the table in this regard. 'No Masters" gets a little darker, but I would prefer to hear more creepiness draping things than this just being another punk band. The last song has more of a Halloween stomp to it. The vocals are a little more varied here as well, which works to shift the mood. I think if this singer was more self aware of what he can and can't do with his voice it would benefit their overall sound. I will give this a 7, as I am at my most critical when it comes to singers as they are responsible for what amounts to the personality of the band . If you are desperate for new death rock they are worth a listen.