VIPËRWITCH
Witch Hunt: Road To Vengeance
Do you remember when music was great fun, fabulously entertaining and didn’t take itself too seriously? Well, VIPËRWITCH have single handedly reintroduced that long lost concept with their superb debut album “Witch Hunt: Road To Vengeance”. This album is pure indulgence and a guilty pleasure of the very best kind!
“Witch Hunt: Road To Vengeance” is unashamedly over-the-top heavy metal theatre complete with good versus evil fantasy characters and tongue-in-cheek storytelling, I absolutely love it! I can almost guarantee that VIPËRWITCH will put a wide cheesy grin to your face as soon as you hear the first few seconds of this oh so welcome distraction from the hum drum of day-to-day life. I don’t know about warding away evil spirits, but “Witch Hunt: Road To Vengeance” will certainly spirit away those winter blues and bring a bit of much needed sunshine to your day.
Trying to break down “Witch Hunt: Road To Vengeance” into its component parts for a review doesn’t really do the album justice, as in my opinion it should only really be considered as a single piece of music in its entirety, or perhaps a musical play composed from thirteen different acts.
“Witch Hunt: Road To Vengeance” is constructed around the very solid foundations of old school style and traditional heavy metal tunes such as “The Viperwitch”, “The Huntress” and “She Wolves Of The Wasteland” with their super cool riffs and killer hooks. These form the backbone to the album.
Next up there are outstanding tracks like “Bathory” with its faster punky edge, the slightly slower and more intense “No Gods, No Masters” or the can’t-help-yourself-do-anything-other-than-singalong earworm “Hellbound” where Danica Minor is joined on vocals by Devin Reiche in a duet match made in hell. These build on those foundations by adding a bit of magic and mystery to the brew.
Then gelling these classic metal songs together are the Norse influenced, heavy metal instrumental “Legend Of The Midnight Rider: Saxon Killer” followed closely by a series of electronic infused and futuristic sounding instrumentals.
“Infinite Nocturn Rises: The Ritual”, “Vapor City: Blood And Steel Upon The Silver Tower”, “Tooth And Nail: The Proving Grounds” and closing track “Unnumbered Tears: The Reckoning” are the binding agents that pull the whole composition together. They not only form the wrought steel links that hold everything together, but they also grow the anticipation and atmosphere to fever pitch.
Finally add to the mix some amusing and bard-like storytelling. Opening track “Road To Vengeance: Descendants Of The Gods” and midway point track “The Blood Moon Rises” help paint a graphic picture in your mind’s eye whilst serving to complete a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.
“Witch Hunt: Road To Vengeance” could quite easily spawn an animated movie to accompany the album, as the fantastic sleeve artwork and detailed background information most totally lends itself to the idea and really would be the icing on the cake. If you love traditional heavy metal, fantasy storytelling and don’t take life too seriously then you will absolutely love VIPËRWITCH and “Witch Hunt: Road To Vengeance”. Highly recommended for everyone except those of a miserable disposition!!
Mark Waight