Album Review: Witchery – Nightside (Century Media Records)

Masters of infernal metal since the dark days of the late ‘90s, Witchery have something special brewing for year of our Lord, 2022. The Swedish legends’ first (and probably only) concept album is due to be unleashed on July 22nd, 2022 via Century Media Records.

A concept dealing with witches and witchfinders, curses and charms, and the overpowering stench of religious brutality.

Conceptual or not, this is still very much a Witchery album. Featuring tales born from the flame, Witchery are still thrashing and thrashing hard on Nightside. No further proof needed once the opening manic sound of Witching Hour is heard. Three decades after their inception, they’re still more than capable of going as fast and as hard as many of the younger bands today.

The first of a few guests, Maciek Ofstad (Kvelertak) makes an appearance on Don’t Burn the Witch. Lending some head-crushing guitar leads to a track that is dripping with evil vibes while having this nasty and raw style of thrash metal. Whereas Storm of the Unborn is a step into grander and chunkier territories. The blackened side of the band really beginning to rear its ugly head. In particular, the isolation of the vocals at times and a screaming guitar solo.

Up next is a story-telling piece, adding more weight to the Witchery tale that is being told. Er steht in Flammen has gothic atmosphere with dark religious tones and is the perfect bridge between the former track and what comes next. Which just so happens to be the one of the most intense attacks so far. Pure speed, chaotic and heavy. It’s head-banging gold.

Another guest with some killer guitar leads, this time Hank Shermann (Mercyful Fate) on the mean and meaty Left Hand March. An apt title as the rhythm and beat has a marching quality to it, yet listen carefully and there’s some real cinematic touches to this one.

Under the Altar, in a similar vein to Er steht in Flammen, is super short and blends the gothic horror and metal of Witchery’s sound in a concise way. Whereas Churchburner goes hell for leather, Witchery spitting absolute fire in a short blaze of fury. The tightness of this album can’t be understated as these eleven tracks speed by in a bit of a blur.

Even the few tracks that pass the four-minute mark, such as this next one, Crucifix and Candle, feel faster and harder then anything else. Part of that coming from another wicked guest guitarist, Simon Johansson (Wolf) and another part coming from the consistent Witchery world of unadulterated heaviness.

Had enough of guests? How could you!? Especially when Carcass’ Jeff Walker joins the band on shared vocal duties for the blistering A Forest of Burning Coffins. The back and forth is insane, made all the better by the speed of the instrumentation.

Witchery’s first foray into a concept album has been an unmitigated success but the inferno hasn’t quite gone out just yet. The title track serving up one last dance with the devil. Witchery dropping the tempo quite significantly, sounding even more delectably evil, but still delivering enormous heavy sounds.

Witchery – Nightside Full Track Listing:

1. Witching Hour
2. Don’t Burn the Witch
3. Storm of the Unborn
4. Er steht in Flammen
5. Popecrusher
6. Left Hand March
7. Under the Altar
8. Churchburner
9. Crucifix and Candle
10. A Forest of Burning Coffins
11. Nightside

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