Artist: Castle
Title: In Witch Order
Type: LP
Label: Van Records

I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue to say it, there are far too few female musicians on the metal scene. As Devin Townsend announced to the SYL pit at Download a few years ago “it’s a sausage fest!” Yes there are some prominent and massively talented exceptions, but sadly, still exceptions. As such, it was with great hope and expectation I cranked up the volume for ‘In Witch Order’ first album for Castle fronted by vocalist/bassist Elizabeth Blackwell. Damn, this US three piece did not disappoint! Album opener ‘Decent Of Man’ kicks off with a dirty chugging riff that perfectly complements the sometimes harsh, sometimes ethereal, but always attitude laden vocals. Having just finished off a review of a wailing power metal act I felt myself rejuvenated as wave after wave of hypnotic energy stomped from the speakers with the unstoppable advance of an avalanche.

Castle are a band that have taken some of the best elements of doom and classic metal, mixed in a heap of rock, and a healthy dose of punk sneer to create a truly stunning debut album. ‘Fire In The Sky’ positively drips with class, building on the mystical themes of the band’s songs, the occult and historical running through each of the eleven tracks on the album. On ‘Knife In The Temple’ the lead vocals positively snarl with menace, the male backing adding not harmony, but a threatening disharmony. Far from being single paced as some doom tinged bands can be, Castle showcase an ability to imbue their songs with a raw energy, regardless of the speed. On the album go from the sombre pace of ‘Slaves Of The Pharoah’, the dragging beats matching the agonized stomp of the down trodden subjects of the song, to a faster hard rock of ‘Shaman Wars’.

‘In Witch Order’ is an album with a positively cinematic atmosphere, conjuring up images from the heyday of Hammer Horror with tales of witchcraft and diabolism, their pounding sound guaranteed to drown out the screams of Edward Woodward in his wicker funeral pyre. From the first to the last, not a single track fails to deliver. Yes, some of it is rough edged, but that is all part of the appeal of the album; it sounds like it’s played with passion and attitude, and it sounds like it could be delivered live with no problem.

http://www.myspace.com/heavycastle
http://www.heavycastle.com

Spenny Bullen

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