By Tim Bolitho-Jones
With a name like “Atomic Witch,” they’re bound to be a stoner or doom band right? WRONG STUPID! You might have prepped yourself for the first listen by sitting in a barn with a jug of cider, ready to bliss out to some slow and heady grooves, but how daft do you look when it opens with a rabid thrash riff? A riff so nasty it induces an involuntary burst of headbanging, cruelly interrupted when you crack your skull on a wheat thresher and accidentally alert the passing farmer to the trespassers on his land?
Anyway, by the time nobody in particular finished picking the shotgun pellets out of his buttocks, we were able to sink our teeth into this four track EP and lord almighty, it’s nasty. This is not the shiny melodic thrash that sells records and gets support slots with Anthrax, it’s a bad-tempered, spittle-flecked bastard. It’s heavy enough to verge on death and black metal at times, but also under-produced and bursting with energy. Think early Kreator or Possessed and you’ll be in the right ball park.
‘Severed Commandment’ for instance is a short and bratty little number that very quickly lets you know what you’re getting into. They don’t bother with any kind of introduction, it just leaps head-first into a bone-cracking mess of pulverising drums and caffeine-addled guitar riffs. The vocals are barely legible and it ends abruptly, making way for the equally chaotic title track. This one is probably their strongest song and at times could even be mistaken for a lost B-Side from ‘Pleasure To Kill’.
‘Rude’ is a blink-and-it’ll-head-butt-you ride that clocks in at a less than two minutes run time, while the rabid intensity of ‘Funeral Lust’ rounds things off. Again, there are no discernible hooks and if you’re of the opinion that metal belongs in dingy clubs that stink of spilled beer and sweat, it’ll be right up your street. It’s a grimy and unpleasant listen and not even the most unhinged longhair will find it possible to sing along with this.
In fact, that description sums up the entire EP. It’s a delirious, punky take on thrash and it wouldn’t be surprising if everyone involved was high on paint fumes when recording it. But the energy is infectious, and the intensity makes for an oddly engaging listen. Don’t expect to be humming any of these songs later though.
Also, anyone know any solicitors who specialise in trespass law? Asking for a friend…
- ‘Void Curse’ is released on Friday (30 August). You can get your copy HERE.
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