ALBUM REVIEW: Witchthroat Serpent – Swallow The Venom

Here I review the upcoming 3rd full length album from Witchthroat Serpent, a very unique Stoner/Doom Metal band with a cult following. Set for release on the 23rd November 2018 via Svart Records. This is completely unbiased on the basis I have never heard this band (edit: after listening to this, I am kicking myself for that).

1. Feu Sacré opens the album with pristine ambience and killer drums, excellent sampling and haunting female singing. A great opening piece to set a dark folk vibe to this Doom Metal opus. Although speaking no French this was really pleasant to listen to.
2. Lucifer’s Fire kicks right into matters with hugely crunchy, groove laden and catchy riffs. The relentless chainsaw distortion that is fuzzy as hell is met with killer drums and bass playing. I can already tell I am going to love this just from how damn awesome the riffs are. The vocals are beautifully spectral and haunting, with a really pure feeling to them. This is exactly how Doom Metal should sound, fat guitar and bass sounds, over the top epic ghostly vocals and pounding drums. An amazing start from the band, I cannot wait to hear what ensues. This is a slab of Doom perfection!
3. Pauper’s Grave drones itself into existence with epic bass riffs, ambience and a truly foreboding vibe. You can genuinely hear the vibration of the bass strings it is incredibly done. The guitar rejoins us with slower tempo, grungy riffs that have such a perfect filthy tone to them. The eerie vocals seep into the song, profoundly atmospheric in their own unique way, I just love how the slow burn effect of this works with intermittent gorgeous riff work and perfect drums. The tight recoiling grooves of the riffs are impossible to resist head banging too, perfect music for a dimly lit room or night time walk, it is just so damn fearsome in a way that is both haunting and in your face. Another wonderful piece.
4. The Might Of The Unfailing Source once more entices you with its simplistically beautiful riffs, gorgeous tones, rhythmic drums, crunchy bass and dismal atmosphere. The divine and epic feel of the band is so clear cut and perfectly executed, the songwriting and production on this are gorgeous and everything comes together in a way that could not have been easy but really pays off. There are even some well placed faster sections to this. The lead guitar work is very nice yet not overly ambitious in a way that would be obscene or obnoxious, perfectly balanced. Astounding, mesmerising, serene.
5. Scorpent Serpion belts itself into fruition with more intoxicatingly heavy riffs, I cannot get over how gratifying the tone is to the ear for me. The vocals creep in with a sort of Pallbearer vibe to them, very melancholy but with an epic feel to them too. The drummer really packs a punch on the snare hits that punctuate the music excellently. This music is just some damn heavy, precise, riff madness, presented beautifully. Morbidity is present in the vibe of the music but also a clean and angelic feel as well, it sure is very unique yet with a comforting sense of familiarity to it as well.
6. Hunt For The Mountebank hits, hard. The drone of horrifically dismal Metal packs such a precise, tight punch that it really does catch you off guard. Listening to this music is hypnotic, I mean you honestly forget the outside world exists, which is surely what good music should do to the listener. In effect the sheer ambience of the crushingly heavy album is what entices me. The vocal and guitar hooks match up to create a dystopian harmony while the bass and drums caress the song into a full standing slab of wondrous musical perfection. The ludicrously catchy chorus’ insure that everyone will be playing this on repeat for sure.
7. Red-Eyed Albino starts off with some churning feedback and dissonant guitar wails. The bass tone is like thunder, now I may use that analogy on great bass more than I ought to, but it is the best metaphor I can find. The walls of sludgy melancholy follow the intro up beautifully, honestly I can not fault this album on very much at all (I guess the only thing being a lack of much diversity in the sound, but then again the sounds are so perfect they don’t need to mess with them). The vocals here are eerie, ghostly and just so chilling to the bone. The sheer simplicity of the songwriting and structure make it approachable and joyous to listen to, with tons of parts that are mesmerisingly, hypnotic. Their estranged echoing soundscapes have the captivating feel of an abandoned building you cannot resist to explore regardless of safety, purely enticing music. The lead work is perfectly melodic and really adds some flourish to the sonic beauty of the track. Sheerly excelling my expectations as a first time listener of this band.
8. No More Giant Octopuses not only has a pretty amusing title, but on a much darker note brings a close to this beautifully put together piece of art. The flanger soaked guitar riffs add a sort of psychedelic feel which is an interesting new element but does not outstay its welcome, giving in to the bands desire to pack in more brutally crushing riffs that drag you into their abyss of doom once more. The sombre attack on the listener gives us one more noteworthy track, showing the band use no filler material and clearly work hard on not only making each song great, but making sure they transition perfectly together, creating a perfect flow to the album. The slow dragging riffs towards the end, close the album with elegance and great style. Once more, absolutely gorgeous music and a definitely important album to check out!

If you like epic vocals, huge guitar riffs and pounding drums, mixed together tightly and just a hugely punchy Doom Metal vibe this is for you. Perfectly executed, esoterically brilliant and original. I think this album is a staple in the future of Doom Metal and needs to be on everyones listen list, in essence, DOOM METAL FANS MUST NOT OVERLOOK THIS RELEASE! -9/10