UK Doom purveyors Witchsorrow burst onto the scene a few years ago with a wondrous demo tape. Ever since then, it has been a case of playing endless live shows and perfecting their doom alliance membership. After what seems like an endless wait, Rise Above releases their debut album, and this could not come sooner for yours truly.
Necroskull’s vocals are far more audible and clear in this album mix compared to their demo tracks, two of which feature on this album. But be prepared for a long listen, 5 tracks at over 45 minutes, classic doom! Take ‘The Trial of Elizabeth Clarke’ with its haunting intro and main musical character that continues to blow away the cobwebs for over 9 minutes, with a mandatory headbanging section at around the 5 minute mark giving a glimmer of gloomy light in the dark. ‘Impaler Tepes’ has all the hallmarks of The Obsessed and some Pentagram, indeed fans of true doom will adore this, forget your funeral doom, this is quality doom and a kick in the arse to all the doom wannabes. ‘Gomorrah’ is a relatively upbeat number and a cracking tune live, with a classic sound of torture and pain, Witchsorrow mix it up with some mandatory drum fills and punishing bass heavy gloom. In a bid to summon the demons of the night, it sometimes feels like the four horseman of the apocalypse are coming when you play this album.
After many months of waiting, Witchsorrow have blown away the opposition and non-believers and proved that true doom lives in Southern England. A much anticipated release and a release that does not disappoint, an essential purchase for 2010.
http://www.myspace.com/witchsorrowdoom
http://www.riseaboverecords.com/
http://www.myspace.com/propainspace
