Artist: Witchery
Label: Necropolis Records
Release Date: 10/16/01
Average Rating: 4
Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album
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Title: Symphony for the Devil Artist: Witchery Label: Necropolis Records Release Date: 10/16/01 |
There are currently 2 Reader Reviews of this album.
Average Rating: 4 Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album |
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Submitted by Chris Ayers (3/1/02):
With mercury coursing through their veins, Sweden's Witchery release yet another well-crafted album as ex-The Haunted riffmaster Patrick Jensen and company proffer snarling, modern thrash stitched up expertly with sinewy might. "The Storm" begins with those atonal, almost chromatic chords that typify black metal; frontman Toxine's strained, vicious death growls a la Carcass (with backing vox by Seance's Johan Larsson); and Slayer-esque guitar bridges and solos that'll make your skin creep. In fact, Symphony For The Devil contains so many Slayer-isms that it makes the recent God Hates Us All seem mediocre in comparison: the "Raining Blood" chord progressions in "Called For By Death"; the mid-paced "Dead Skin Mask" chugging of "Omens"; and the unrelenting "Angel Of Death" attack in "Wicked." "Inquisition" sounds like a metal version of the James Bond theme, while the incredibly tight instrumental "Bone Mill" could be supercharged Motorhead flirting with At The Gates. The first section of the doomier instrumental "Hearse Of The Pharoahs" spotlights the masterful soloing of Mercyful Fate's Hank Sherman, who trades licks with bassist Sharlee D'Angelo (also plays in Fate) during the tune's latter half. The band even re-records two old pre-Witchery tunes penned when they were known as Satanic Slaughter as added bonuses. It's metal so genuine that your fingers will curl involuntarily into the "W" sign like the grinning skeleton on the album's cover.
Submitted by slayernutz (12/3/01):
I love this band. I love everything about 'em. But of the plethora of good things to be said about these metal militia men there is one that sticks out-- JENSEN. The man is a riff machine! This guy is the best in the buisness today as far as writing metal goes, and this album is a wonderful testament to that fact.While I have to admit I enjoyed DHR a bit more (I'm a sucker for thrash) this album is a classic nonetheless. But I think it's important to state here what Jensen seems to be doing with this work-- Symphony is Jensen's official statement to the world that the man LOVES METAL.
Symphony is loaded with both musical and lyrical references to the many metal influences that Jensen calls his own: Motorhead, Priest, Maiden, Sabbath, and of course, Dark Angel. But don't get me wrong-- this album is not a rehash of old classic material simply retitled.
A large part of Witchey's greatness lies in their fresh, loose take on the music they love, and the incredible energy and fun they bring to playing it. But again, this is NOT recycled metal. It is new and invigorating. Sure to please any true fan of metal. Why? Because it has the number one attribute that makes metal, and for that matter any music, great-- Witchery is playing the music they love. And it shows.
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