EP Review: Rorcal & Earthflesh – Witch Coven (Hummus Records)

Following the release of their critically acclaimed fifth album “Muladona” in late 2019, Rorcal just like every other band was forced to put a halt on their live activities due to the global pandemic, cancelling over 40 shows confirmed at the time. Deciding to give meaning to this constrained pause, the band started to write new material and enlisted their original bass player Bruno aka Earthflesh to create two new pieces combining harsh noise, drone, doom and black metal. Named “Witch Coven”, this new collaboration expresses the sonic transcendence of Bruno’s new project and Rorcal’s ever evolving ranges of extremity.

It will be released on April 2nd, 2021 via Hummus Records.

Track 1, Altars of Nothingness introduces itself with echoing chants that build in power and effect. What begins smoothly starts to become rougher and more importantly, darker. The feeling of stumbling across something sinister and evil is strong. The worrying knot in the stomach grows, rightfully too as chaos erupts in harsh black metal style. The reverberation on the instruments alone, enough to sicken. As it goes on, it doesn’t get any easier to stomach. Severe? That’s being kind but it’s bloody addictive listening.

It doesn’t get anymore chill on Track 2 either. Happiness Sucks, So Do You burns with indignity from the very start. The wailing wave of noise powerful enough to leave you breathless. This is akin to drowning in a deluge of noise. Where eventually things evolve to the point where singular instruments can be picked out.

Unsurprisingly, there are plenty more changes to come as the track enters a segment of just drumming and what sounds like, a distant hoover being run over the floor. The distant squeal and the drums are very uncomfortable but even more so when haunting atmospherics are introduced to add even more layers. Weird might be the right word to describe what is going on here.

The black metal with a strong undercurrent of drone begins to build back up leading to another frenzy of noise to end things in bleak and harsh fashion.

Rorcal & Earthflesh – Witch Coven Full Track Listing:

1. Altars of Nothingness
2. Happiness Sucks, So Do You

Links

Rocal – Website | Rocal – Facebook | Rocal – Instagram | Rocal -Bandcamp | Earthflesh – Bandcamp | Earthflesh – Facebook | Hummus Records