By: Anders

Posted: Mar 14, 2006

After 5 years of silence, more or less, the Swedish thrash-attack-legion Witchery assaults us again, this time with the full length "Don't Fear The Reaper". With a new label and with new energy, they ignite the fumes of hell, and burn our ears with the razor sharp guitars and punishing songs.

The band sounds aggressive and ready for attack. The guitar work is yet again astonishing, Jensen and Richard Corpse have guitar skills out of the ordinary, there isn't much doubt about that. There are killer melodies, godly leads and blistering solo work. There isn't many moments where the guitars doesn't deliver anything good, highly enjoyable guitar work. The rhythm section is a tight bastard, the bass from Sharlee D'Angelo is great, as always from him I'm tempted to say, and it has gotten a nice position in the production and sound is good, so it can always be followed. The drums delivered by Martin Axenrot, are precise and hard-hitting and have the needed variation. The vocals from Toxine is okay, though maybe not as fitting as one could wish for, they works, though a more pure thrash-like scream, instead of his dark and almost growled vocals, could have worked wonders. Or perhaps a variation of the 2. It does work as it is now, though some screaming could have lifted the material to a higher level, I'm pretty sure of.

Witchery possesses some experienced and great songwriters, they know how to make a song catchy and melodic, together with giving it an edge and some straight ahead brutality and aggressiveness. The songs on this album are highly enjoyable and show great musical skills from the band members, without it is getting too technical at any point. The production of the album is good as well, the album is recorded in the Berno Studios and mixed at Antfarm by Tue Madsen. The sound is fat and heavy, the instruments are getting clearly through the heavy wall created by the guitars, and all details can be heard.

A good thrasher the Swedes has delivered with this album, a good bunch of songs to swing the hair to and it screams for air-guitar tour de force as well. On top of the 12 Witchery tracks, we are served their version of the Satanic Slaughter song 'Immortal Death', which rocks as well. If you shouldn't know, Satanic Slaughter was from where Witchery spawned, after Toxine, Richard Corpse, Jensen and original Witchery drummer Mique left that band and mainman Ztephan Dark behind, back in the days. Though back to this album, if you enjoyed the first slap of Witchery albums, and is addicted to dark and eerie thrash, then this album is something for you!

Rating: 7½/10

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