pinkytheent
A ferocious, seething onslaught brimming with the ravenous spirit of black metal! The vocals also reminded me of that diabolic spectral nature of Spirit Possession. Many passages had me imagining claustrophobic battle in the fiery corridors of some medieval demon’s keep. A solid offering in the library of black metal!
Favorite track: Inner War.
Abyssius Murkraken
What's not to love?
Canadian black metal with a heavy dose of various other genres sprinkled in between!
Listened to on repeat a few times and i absolutely adore this album!
Who doesn't want to be a Draconick sorcerous Canadian witchknight? "Abra-Maple-cadabra ya hosers!"
Favorite track: Draconick Sorcerous Canadian Witchknights.
Tristan Bolding
Holy shit, this album does not let up. Relentlessly punishing, with absolutely scathing riffs and some of the most brutal drumming I've heard in a recent release. Another great addition to an already impressive discography.
Favorite track: Fugitive Serpent.
Like black wings from an obsidian sky, WORMWITCH descended from the darkness in 2015, somewhere upon the rain-soaked woodlands of coastal British Columbia. Animated from the bones of several local punk and metal bands, the new entity set out to combine a melodic blackened death assault with the ferocity and attitude of crust punk and classic rock and roll, jettisoning the burdens of ceremony and pomp that dominate the genre today.
WORMWITCH released their first demo, 'The Long Defeat' in 2015, and shortly after signed to Prosthetic Records, under whom they released 'Strike Mortal Soil' (2017), 'Heaven that Dwells Within' (2019), and 'Wolf Hex' (2021). During that time the band toured with the likes of The Black Dahlia Murder, Suffocation, Midnight, Necrot, Uada, Bewitcher, and many others, earning themselves a dedicated cult following and international critical praise. In 2022, WORMWITCH struck out to independently release a string of singles and embark upon several tours of North America. After a busy festival season, 2024 saw the release of a six-song split with Atlanta black-thrashers Sadistic Ritual.
Now, with blades meticulously honed and tempered under the light of a feral Canadian moon, WORMWITCH emerges once more to offer their fourth full length record. Simply self-titled, “Wormwitch” is a statement of a band coming into it’s own - a revelrous celebration of devilish speed, searing melody and diabolical intensity.
credits
released July 26, 2024
Recorded and mixed by Michael Kraushaar at Little Red Sounds, New Westminister, BC, Canada.
Additional vocals on "The Helm and the Bow" by Erlend Hjelvik.
Mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege.
Cover painting by A.H.
Well, after listening to Death and Black Metal for over 35 years, it sometimes gets boring, even if bands try to innovate. But then you stumble upon an album, which immediately clicks: it fresh, but familiar. It’s emotional, intelligent and complex, but not for complexities’ sake. It flows, it works, it’s authentic.
This album is absolutely great, it’s all I want from this kind of music: cold soundscapes, raging fires, the embrace of darkness. 10/10 Ricardo Cristof
This is so raw, honest and powerful. It's everything I look for when I listen to music. So glad I saw Blackbraid at Hellfest (by chance, as I was walking by). Been listening ever since. LaurieR77
Supreme black metal. Dark and ferocious. I love the atmosphere, melodies, and high-pitched vocal style. The opening riff of 'Frigid and Spellbound' is phenomenal, and 'Soul Destroying Black Debauchery' has been one of my most replayed tracks since discovering Spectral Wound — I can't listen to it without repeating that opener several times. This is what it's all about. Outstanding. Obsidian One