Witchery: Symphony for the Devil

Much anticipated by fans of old school Heavy Metal, this new release by retro godz Witchery, their first album to feature drummer Martin Axe also consolidates the Swedish band's growing reputation for tight song craftsmanship and impressive musicality. Patrick Jensen also belongs to the supernaturally fine The Haunted, and along with his old pack from Satanic Slaughter days has transformed Witchery into the most compelling outfit in modern thrash. Anchored in the bass stomp of Mercyful Fate's Sharlee D'Angelo, the songs on Symphony for the Devil cull tools and tricks from the manual of classic HM to shudder, galvanize and incinerate. Witchery cut through genres like a protease scissors; there's something for almost everybody here. Chilling riffs like the opener to "Omens," devastating kick like that powering the instant classic "Unholy Wars," the presence of Mercyful guitarist Hank Sherman's Strat on "Hearse of the Pharaohs," even shades of Sabbath doom on "Called for by Death" -- these are among the many pleasures of Symphony for the Devil, an album that speaks to your inner headbanger. I will never forget my first spin of Metallica's Kill 'Em All; this brings it all back. Buy, play, and play loud.

Added: October 13th 2001
Reviewer: Alex S. Johnson
Score:
Related Link: Necropolis Records
Hits: 4733
Language: english

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