When we last checked in with Gallower, they were riding high on the release of their debut full length, Behold the Realm of Darkness. True to its name, the album was a dark offering of black-thrash that tipped its hat to the old school, specifically, the German thrash scene. The savage riffs, lo-fi production, and primal delivery recalled the earliest days of Kreator, Sodom, and Destruction. Sure, there were some smatterings of traditionalism, speed, and perhaps even the slightest hint of raw punk thrown in, but at the end of the day, this Polish horde loves their metal thrashing and blackened.
This continues to be the case on their latest release, Eastern Witchcraft. Despite only being 5 songs (technically 4 and an outro) and clocking in at just over 16 minutes, Eastern Witchcraft wastes no time picking up where Darkness left off. The title track kicks things off in classic black-thrash fashion, with an emphasis on the black metal side of things. The production is filthier than usual, as is the riffing, which is always welcome in my book. Think one of the aforementioned Teutonic titans, but with the production aspects of Hellhammer. OUGH yeah!
The old school thrash attack that is “Claws and Fangs” keeps the ball rolling at high speed. Aside from some Mercyful Fate inspired lead passages, there’s nothing pretty about this one, it’s lightning fast attack sounding like Whiplash and Sodom fighting to the death in a ruthless back alley battle. On the contrast is “Susanoo’s Deceit”, which boasts a distinct Venom flavor. Specifically, I hear a lot of At War with Satan (1984) on this one, with all the mood changes, as well as the alternations between thrashing, rocking, and whatever else lies in between. Dare I call it a tad proggy in delivery? Nah, but I think you know what I’m getting at.
Closing it all out is “Enchanted Woods”, which takes us back to the classic blackened thrash sound heard on the opening title track. The lead riff in particular screams Destruction circa Infernal Overkill (1985). It’s simple, hooky, and straight to the point, which is really all you need for an effective release in the black/thrash/speed pantheon. It also helps that all the songs sound like they were written and recorded nearly 40 years ago. Following “Enchanted Woods” is a brief ominous acoustic instrumental entitled “Forest Sleeps While Stars Die”. It’s gone before you know it, but you can’t help but wonder: Is this a segue into the next Gallower effort?
Whether it is or isn’t, Eastern Witchcraft is a solid and sturdy offering of evil thrash possessed by the spirits of yore. Whereas some bands in this vein borrow heavily from the punk side of the spectrum, giving you a soundtrack to your weekend debauchery, Gallower make black-thrash to wake the dead. It’s some seriously sinister shit that dares you to thrash or be thrashed. Will you be ready when this trio of terror unleashes their metal attack on you?
7 out of 10
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
For fans of: Sodom, Destruction, Kreator