For my money King Witch are one of the best bands in the UK, from guitarist Jamie Gilchrist's and vocalist Laura Donnelly's formative years together in Firebrand Super Rock, it was with the transitions to being King Witch where they really hit their stride creatively.
King Witch is a darker, doomier, heavier prospect all round, amalgamating classic heavy metal, grunge and doom they've been compared to the likes of Sabbath, Candlemass and Avatarium (who are also brilliant), so they have high praise indeed, with this third album even shifting towards the hallucinogenic heaviness of Soundgarden on the crushing Swarming Flies and they even cover Jesus Christ Pose which I'll talk about later.
On III King Witch streamline their approach to what they do, many of the songs don't languish too much in the elongated doom sound, only three tracks come in at over 6 minutes, the rest have a pretty consistent pace to them, shifting between the incredibly powerful vocals of Laura and the majestic guitars of Jamie. For me there aren't too many singers that can better Laura, she's fantastic, impassioned and muscular in her delivery, like a call from the beyond while Jamie's guitars will be locked in a distorted riff one minute and ringing out with clean solo sections the next.
Bass man Rory Lee brings his psych/stoner background to the band, clearing a path of low end wooziness on the first proper doom cut Sea Of Lies. Guest drummer Andrew Scott navigates the shifting paces continued on this album, using his experience with Scottish blues royalty King King to add some soul to the waves of introspection King Witch conjure.
The dynamics of III is testament to their evolution as a band, with a track such as Behind The Veil, they take the Opeth route of melancholic melody, tinged with haunting retro folkisms, there's acoustic guitars as the base layer before some electronic percussion comes in and we take a movement towards open chords and an anthemic end section.
It's gloriously progressive but restricted to 6 minutes with a bag full of Dio/Rainbow to go, after this epic moment we get back to filthy riffs on Digging In The Dirt while Little Witch returns to the folk as King Witch's III meets Led Zeppelin's III.
We ring in the Sabbath with closer Last Great Wilderness, it's an homage to the inventors of the heavy metal, a track that feels apocalyptic it's a devastatingly good way to finish the album, the full vocals from Laura, Iommi riffs from Jamie, thundering grooves from Rory and expressive percussion from Andrew, it's 8 minutes of brilliance that captures all of what King Witch are exemplary at and it's breathtaking.
While this is where the digital album closes on the CD version we get a storming version of my favourite Soundgarden track Jesus Christ Pose as bonus treat. There's not much else to say, you need to buy III, it's going to be riding high come my AOTY list, incredible. 10/10
Joe Stump's Tower Of Babel - Days Of Thunder (Silver Linings Music)
Joe Stump is a bit of guitar superstar, Berklee College Of Music graduate and axeman of Alcatrazz a band that famously featured Yngwie Malmsteen, he tears up what I'm assuming is a Blackmore-like Bright White Stratocaster on Days Of Thunder as this second album brings influences from Rainbow/Deep Purple.
You need a strong band around you to do Ritchie Blackmore, Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth and others justice, so on the keys Stump has Mistheria (recently heard on Bruce Dickinson's latest solo album) playing Jon Lord to his Ritchie Blackmore, duelling solos and adding the additional melodies, as the sledgehammer drumbeat of Mark Cross (who also produces) and heavy groove of Nic Angileri (bass) lay down the bottom end.
It's classic sounding, taking you back to the late 70's early 80's when MSG, Scorpions, Alcatrazz, Rainbow ruled the airwaves, the vocals of Jo Amore rough and ready in the Dio/Jorn style, perfectly encapsulating the era. Across 10 tracks there's plenty of guitar, as you'd probably expect, Stump is a virtuoso after all, he goes full on with a duel with Mistheria (The Maestro) on The Princess, gets the pistons pumping on Days Of Thunder which has nod to UFO's Rock Bottom while Alone In The Desert adapts the riff from Stargazer.
If I'm honest there's a lot of borrowing for their inspirations but you'd expect it when the band lean so heavily into their style. With the rock monsters such as Rainbow, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, all pretty much hanging it up in the next few years it's up to the bands like Joe Stump's Tower Of Babel to keep their music alive albeit with their own songs. The classics written in present, these are truly Days Of Thunder. 8/10
Johan Langquist The Castle - S/T (I Hate Records)
Known to many as the original singer of Swedish doom legends Candlemass, Johan Langquist created The Castle as his sole musical output, showcasing those brilliant vocals alongside soprano Emelie Lindquist who takes backing vocals to add a new wrinkle to the classic rock/doom sound of this debut. Initially released in 2024 digitally I Hate Records has picked up the physical release so it's a great time to revisit this record as it's got a lot a good to it.
Johan Langquist The Castle - S/T (I Hate Records)
Known to many as the original singer of Swedish doom legends Candlemass, Johan Langquist created The Castle as his sole musical output, showcasing those brilliant vocals alongside soprano Emelie Lindquist who takes backing vocals to add a new wrinkle to the classic rock/doom sound of this debut. Initially released in 2024 digitally I Hate Records has picked up the physical release so it's a great time to revisit this record as it's got a lot a good to it.
Be it the influence of Candlemass, Sabbath/Dio/Rainbow or the performances of the talented group of Swedish musicians this Castle is built on strong foundations and keeps a solid wall of heavy rocking for seven tracks. The keys twinkle and built atmosphere in the background as the guitar gives each tracks a distorted chug set to a metronomic beat on tracks such as Where Are The Heroes as Raw Energy picks up the pace a little for classic rock bounce. On the back of debut being on physical release there's plans of a second record and a live like up so all bodes well for Langquist and his castle.
While castles made of sand melt into the sea, this one is made of rock and will remain timeless. 8/10
The Last Bastion - Who We Are (Self Released)
Newcastle metal act The Last Bastion play music that embodies SDMF, now for those you you that don't know this means Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever and is the credo of Black Label Society. Why do I make this comparison?
The Last Bastion - Who We Are (Self Released)
Newcastle metal act The Last Bastion play music that embodies SDMF, now for those you you that don't know this means Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever and is the credo of Black Label Society. Why do I make this comparison?
Well it's seems that Kev is highly influenced by the singing style of Zakk Wylde and showcases it fully on this debut album. Kev doesn't widdle though, he locks down the classic-meets-modern riffs along with drummer Ákos and bassist Oscar leaving the lead playing to shredder Rob to do all the widdly stuff. It's clear this foursome have a passion for heavy metal having hit stages around the country to hone the tracks here's they've sold their souls to rock n roll many years ago and with the first moments of Ignite they're on the way to dragging you down with them.
There's lots of BLS here for sure but also some vintage Ozzy, a bit of stoner from bands such as Fireball Ministry and the chest beating heavy approach of Grand Magus on Screaming In Silence and Seven Deadly Sins. So, Who We Are defines The Last Bastion as a band, a bunch of riff slinging heavy rock Geordies, a city that has a strong history with British rock and metal, and they deliver a great debut album. 7/10
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