Review WITCHSKULL ‘The Serpent Tide’

Australian powerhouse Witchskull started in 2014 and premiered in 2015 with an album called ‘The Vast Electric Dark’. This debut brought the band to the attention of Rise Above Records, the label of Lee Dorrian. The sophomore album ‘Coven’s Will’ was the first Witchskull album, released through the label and having unwrapped ‘A Driftwood Cross’ in 2020, Witchskull comes back with their fourth longplayer.

‘The Serpents Tide’ is the title of the newest addition to the list of achievements of the guys from down under. It carries eight songs and comes up with a running time of 35 minutes. Witchskull puts everything they have in their arsenal into this extended half hour.

‘Tyrian Dawn’ is the first song on the album, and it is a mighty riff assault. It is a roaring start into the album that creates an appetite for more of these crushing songs. What jumps out is the raw power provided by producer Jason Fuller who worked with the band on previous releases too.

The next tune is called ‘Obsidian Eyes’, a song with a strong psychedelic touch. It is an emotional ride that catches listeners attention. The more stoner rock driven part of Witchskull breaks through with ‘Sun Caver’. A slow and sun-dried riff is the foundation of a songs that slowly and mighty rolls towards you with freight train intensity.

The trio shifts pace with ‘Bornless Hollow’ before the galloping ‘The Serving Ritual’ starts to spread it’s crazy fascination. With a tempo change halfway, the title track offers an interesting twist which adds to the entertainment part of this album.

The title track is a throbbing riff monster, followed up by the brisk ‘Misery’s Horse’. The trio turns all brakes loose in the beginning before the song turns into an off-speed neck muscle challenger before the band finishes things off with the vigorous ‘Rune of Thorn’.

‘The Serpent Tide’ is an album that fans of doom metal and stoner rock, both coming with a psychedelic touch, will love. This longplayer has an oldschool touch and feel, which is also due to the reason that the guys played and recorded live. It is a very organic and very tight sound that enters your ears and creates joy for much longer than just one listen.