If the road is a cruel, unforgiving place where bands go to slowly die, Bewitcher proudly extend their leather studded middle finger and laugh in its face. In the wake of the pandemic, this terrorizing trio has hopped on nearly every tour and festival imaginable, making the ancient god Lemmy proud in their devilish rock n’ roll pursuit. Lord knows if Motörhead were still a band, they would’ve shared the stage with them by now, but I digress. Amidst this relentless road warrior lifestyle, it’s nothing short of miraculous that Bewitcher found time to write, record, and bestow upon us their fourth full length onslaught, Spell Shock.
While their 2016 self titled debut is, without question, one of the finest blackened speed releases of this century, Bewitcher’s subsequent output has seen them expand upon this formula, while simultaneously staying true to their “Motörhead meets Venom” roots. Spell Shock is no exception, walloping the listener with a healthy dose of high speed blasphemy, yet always managing to stir the pot (or in this case, cauldron), making for a brew that’s as unpredictably wild as it is intoxicating. I guess one would call it the curse of the Bewitcher?
The breakneck black ‘n’ roll of “Starfire Maelstrom” reestablishes the signature Bewitcher ethos with its dark riffs, throat-shredding rasps, and reckless attitude. “Lavish Desecration” and “The Harem Conspiracy” boast a sort of unholy sleaze to their riffage and overall delivery, while grim natured cuts like the title track and “Dystopic Demonolatry” give off a serious ’80s black metal vibe, reminiscent of when the genre was defined by acts like Bathory and early Sodom. Whether they lean on the black metal or speed metal side of the spectrum, the approach is distinctly retro, paying homage to the legends of yesteryear, yet hellbent on crafting something new.
Midtempo bangers like “Seasons of Foul Harvest” and “We Die in Dust” channel the pissed off aggression of early thrash, especially the latter with its knuckle-dragging riffage. My choice cuts, however, are ironically the hardest rockin’, and those would be “Out Against the Law” and “Ride of the Ironfox”. “Out Against the Law” easily takes the cake for the best slab of Motörhead metal this year (or at least goes neck and neck with Midnight’s “Slave to the Blade”). Meanwhile, “Ride” sounds like it was tailormade for flying down the highway at 100 MPH, defying the lawmen and losers who stand in your way. Can I get an “OUGH!”?
Admittedly, 2024 sees Bewitcher entering a crowded playing field, full of excellent old school metal releases. That said, Spell Shock stands on its own, strong and unapologetic, which is how this band has functioned since day one. Perhaps older, more jaded rockstars in desperate need of “returning to their roots” should take a listen to Spell Shock as a sort of musical manual to rockin’ out, kickin’ ass, and takin’ names. I’m sure the Bewitcher boys will gladly accept residual checks as compensation. Until then, be sure to catch them the next time they haunt YOUR town!
8 out of 10
Label: Century Media Records
Genre: Black/Speed Metal
For fans of: Venom, Midnight, Hellripper