Wednesday, September 13, 2006

WICKED

Cousin Tim: You're getting pretty lazy with your posts.
Me: I know...
Cousin Tim: You gotta go back to some of the classics, the old stuff.
Me: hmm...

Well, unfortunately for Tim I don't think this next post will necessarily explore a classic that he maybe had in mind so Tim, I apologize. Oh, and eat it also.

Witchery may not be considered classic in the typical sense but what they certainly do without question is play music that calls on and respects artists that most would consider to have earned the title, albeit with a certain thrashy flair that few can match.

The label 'supergroup' can sometimes be used generously and an obvious example shouldn't be too hard to think of. With G 'n R 'legend' Gilby Clarke, locomotive of intelligence Tommy Lee and, well, ok fine Newsted has cred, anyway while these guys may be big names they definitely wouldn't stand a chance against a line-up consisting of Martin Axenrot (Bloodbath, Opeth), Patrik Jenson (The Haunted) and Sharlee D'Angelo (Mercyful Fate, Arch Enemy, Silk shirt wearing, long greasy hair sporting swashbuckling type). Seriously, check that out. No contest.

Something that I've talked about before is how for the most part modern thrash has become clinical or mechanical. A successful band like Lamb of God, who are good, can at times lose my interest because Chris Adler is actually a metronome with an outrageously long beard. Or a band like Unearth release music that is so refined and polished that it can fail to satisfy people, not to mention every song has a scheduled breakdown at the 2:30 mark. The new Unearth record even has some 'Iron Maiden' type guitar parts, but that's all they are, Iron Maiden guitar parts. I don't know, Unearth is ok but I've heard Slaughter of the Soul already, I don't need to hear Slaughter of the Slick. Precision doesn't always equal power, Witchery knows this. That's not to say that Witchery is sloppy, they did pummel Supernova into the ground at the Metal olympics after all but their music grinds along briskly with raw riffing that should please any old schooler.

Wicked from 2001's Symphony for the Devil is an awesome burst of thrash that isn't trying to break into any kind of undiscovered territory but should put a nice Gary Holt grip around your neck and shake your head with it's quick power chord riffing, Slayer-esque breakdown and trading leads.
What's also cool about this song and the band in general is the guitar tone. It's actually pretty 'jangly' for lack of a better word. The advantage to this is that notes stand out with more clarity.

Now I haven't heard the new Haunted record yet but from what people tell me and from what I've read they pretty much aren't even the same band anymore. Also considering the fact that the most recent Witchery record sounds more like recent Haunted makes one believe that Patrik Jenson is starting to slow down a bit. You know, putting more focus on 'song-writing'. Whatever the hell that means.

Sidenote: This post took me about 2 hours, I'm pathetic.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Finally a bloody post!!! Still waiting for you to give some props to your roots though cuz; where's the Dimebag & Zakko??? Ok, so Dime is dead and Zakk is... well...nuts. But these guys taught your sorry ass how to play guitar if I recall correctly. Would be nice if you could throw 'em both a bone!

Chaosbeard said...

One of these days Timmo, one of these days. You still listening to BLS? I can't believe how bad the new album cover is. I've also read that the record is laced with power ballads. Oh Zakk, what a character.

Anonymous said...

More Zakko power ballads...god help us. I don't listen to much BLS these days. The song writing just isn't there. The last album 'Mafia' was really a pile of dog-shit. Sad actually, I think Zakk just comes up with some crazy shredding solo and builds a cream-puff song around it. Plus his voice has really gone to shit...I mean if you compare his vocal performance on 'Pride & Glory' to 'Mafia' it is just mind-boggling how bad he has gotten. Ya booze, ya lose I guess!!!

VimFuego said...

gawdamn it. maybe google will setup autosave on this damn site now that they're taking over. i just had the greatest reply but now that's just between me and the Pentium4. musta been the Zakk and DiamondD slags.

suffice it to say
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....wake me when the action starts.