If I had to make a list of my favorite metal bands of the past 5 years, Bewitcher would easily make the cut. Their 2016 self titled debut was my favorite album of the year. Its 2019 follow up, Under the Witching Cross, was in my personal top 10 of that year. Much has changed in the two short years since the release of their sophomore album. Bewitcher have found themselves with a new drummer (Aris Wales) and new label (Century Media Records). One thing that hasn’t changed is their dedication to making the finest blackened speed metal since Midnight.
Cursed Be Thy Kingdom is Bewitcher’s third offering. Musically, it does what I believe Under the Witching Cross attempted to do at times, but with much stronger conviction. That is incorporating elements of traditional metal into their sound. If you’re a black metal maniac, have no fear. Unlike on recent releases from Midnight and Toxic Holocaust, these elements remain in the background. The primary focus remains unleashing high speed heavy metal hell…and by the grace of Beelzebub do they do it well.
Soon after the delicate, acoustic mystery of “Ashe” sets the stage, “Death Returns…” stands tall as a prime example of what I’m talking about. The riffs have much more in common with 80s traditional metal and thrash, as opposed to black metal: first wave, second wave, or otherwise. We’re then greeted by my choice cut, “Satanic Magick Attack”. This is evil, filthy, blatant Venom worship and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Considering the infernal hymns of Cronos, Mantas, and Abaddon become a distant memory with each passing year, I’ll gladly accept Bewitcher as the reincarnation of these “black metal gods”. Other tracks baring the Venomous mark include the super sonic sleaze of “Electric Phantoms” and the sinister doom of “Valley of the Ravens”, the latter recalling such classics as “In League with Satan” and “7 Gates of Hell”.
Throughout Cursed, Bewitcher balances the line between consistency and excitement. There aren’t any tracks that come entirely out of left field, but there are moments that grabbed my attention. For example, the atmosphere and lead guitarwork on “Mystifier (White Night City)” remind me of that on the latest releases from Tribulation and Lunar Shadow. Will Bewitcher further explore this spooky sounding blackened goth on future releases? Only time will tell. The title track was another pleasant surprise, complete with a pummeling double bass beatdown and beefy riffs characteristic of straightforward thrash metal. Finally, there’s the closing cover of Pentagram’s “Sign of the Wolf”. Who knew one of the greatest doom metal songs ever recorded could double as a blackened speedster? Not me, but I sure look forward to raging to it live the next time Bewitcher comes to town.
Cursed Be Thy Kingdom rules so hard that I’d almost call Under the Witching Cross a sophomore slump by comparison. This would be grossly inaccurate as it’s a solid 8, but Cursed out does it in many aspects, from songwriting and musicianship, to memorability and atmosphere. I think the major difference, besides what I discussed in the second paragraph, was that Under the Witching Cross attempted to incorporate elements of second wave black metal. There were occasional blasts of Darkthrone and Dissection which were not completely in vain, but didn’t necessarily have me too excited either. Cursed Be Thy Kingdom lies strictly within the confines of first wave black metal, albeit with flashes of other genres throughout to flesh out the sound.
If hellraising was an Olympic sport, Bewitcher would be gold medalists. Three records into their career and I’m convinced they can do no wrong. Now I’m sure many a headbanger said that about Venom upon the release of At War with Satan, only for them to drop the dicey Possessed the following year. The difference is Bewitcher haven’t experienced the meteoric rise Venom did in the early 80s, hence resulting in rockstar egos. They’ve grinded their blackened axe for the last 8 years and will continue to do so until their name graces the denim jacket of every longhair the world over. If your band doesn’t have that level of dedication, why try at all?
9 out of 10
Label: Century Media Records
Genre: Black/Speed Metal
For fans of: Venom, Midnight, Hellripper