Review: Witchcraft ‘A Sinner’s Child’ EP
I keep having one of those recurring thoughts in my head about whether I’ve seen Witchcraft live, and if not, why not? They’ve been at the forefront of the doom metal scene for over twenty years, and I will need to rectify the situation if I haven’t.
This latest offering sees vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Magnus Pelander strip back their iconic sound to something more soulful and melodic, as he drops his guard and exposes his sensitive side to all.
The five-song EP opens with Drömmen Om Död Och Förruttnelse and has that proto doom feel about it, with elegant bluesy riffs and slowed down tempos, but it will get your head moving instantly. Magnus’ voice pulls you closer into their world, but then it ends rather abruptly, making way for the title track, A Sinner’s Child. The second song is different once again, as the stirring, emotional vocal range becomes more prominent, illuminating Pelander’s vulnerability. It’s a tender track, and you can sense the anguish in the composition as it’s played so beautifully.
It showcases how flawlessly Pelander can move between genres and styles…
Even Darker Days sounds exactly like you’d expect it to. The acoustic guitar is soft and gentle, whilst the lyrics, including ‘when all this pain is present’, reflect a more harrowing mood perfectly and will take your mind to dark places. Själen Reser Sig sees the return of a more traditional doom sound with a menacing and haunting melody over a slow drum beat. The distorted riff is sumptuous as his pained voice blends effortlessly with the anguished tones on full display.
The final offering, Sinner’s Clear Confusion, is a sequel to the title track and is a bit more upbeat set against a simple drum pattern. It showcases how flawlessly Pelander can move between genres and styles, and I can hear a bit of Mark Lanegan in this one. It feels more heart-rending, whilst adding increased depth to his words as it wraps up the soul-searching and touching compositions.
Label: Heavy Psych Sounds
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Matthew Williams
