Modern Witchcraft : "s/t"

 

These guys play an ethereal style of atmospheric doom that owes more to The Cure than Black Sabbath. At times this puts them closer to Deftones on songs like "Corpse Painter". The melody is given more emphasis. The emotion of the song washes over you. Sounds swirl around you. It is heavier in feel than it is heavy metal. The groove is an undercurrent. Though considering the Lander sisters of Kittie fame appear on this album, there is some nu-metal in this band's DNA. Thus making Deftones comparisons not unfounded. They dive deeper into the shoe gaze glaze of hypnosis on "Bible Belt Baphomet". The sluggish doom ambiance is more about depression than mourning. There is more shadow than light, but it flickers with introspective speculation. The haunting echo of the song is certainly a mood. 

The post-nu metal throb of "Honey Creeper" moves with a syrupy groove. They are one of those bands who are heavier sonically than they are metal. Not unlike today's Deftones with more in common with Hum than Korn. The dense echo of "Faithful Lies" sits back like dusk on an overcast evening. Shades of gray rather than the dark of night. The vocals continued to be crooned rather than forceful, when the more bellowed vocals come they are mixed in the background like the rumble of distant thunder. This creates an even doomier tone. 

There is a more organic feel to "Goodbye Again" that finds the guitars more fully engaged in the song. The melody reminds me of Mazzy Star's  "Fade Into You" . The jangle of the guitar creates a more post-punk feel. The vocals are belted out from a lower register than what we have heard earlier in the album. The vocals do get much more aggressive on the last song "Sugar For Rats" which finds them erupting into a growl at the chorus, in a call and response with Morgan Lander who responds in a higher black metal-like shriek. It reminds me of Neurosis's heavier moments. They maintain their grace by not abandoning the melodic verses. I will give this album a 10 as it flows perfectly and taps into some of my favorite sonic shades.

pst66