BURNING WITCHES: BURNING WITCHES + BURNING ALIVE

 BURNING WITCHES: 

BURNING WITCHES + BURNING ALIVE

   No, Burning Witches debut album released back in 2017 is not Wheels Of Steel, The Number Of The Beast or Speelbound. No, the album is not going to change the game completely and reshape the music world as we know it. What this fine example of modern Heavy Metal has and will continue to achieve however, is to advance the already catapulting upwards trajectory of this brilliant young band into minds and hearts of Metalheads across the globe.

   Flawlessly produced by Destruction frontman and all round Metal legend, Schmier, Burning Witches is a crisp and clean tome of pure Metal. Primarily traditional Heavy Metal in sound and style but with a decent injection of Thrash speed and riffing, this album will easily appease any fan of post 2000 Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, as well as more recent Destruction or Accept.

   Burning Witches are armed with the full Heavy Metal arsenal here on their debut. The album is practically bursting at the seams with monolithic sing along choruses, shredding solos,  twin guitar harmonies, rolling drums and powerful bass tone. For proof, look no further than the opening triple blows of "Black Widow", "Burning Witches" and "Bloody Rose", all of which are crammed with crushing riffs, huge vocals, chanting choruses and fist pumping groovy rhythms. Very much wearing their influences on their sleeves, "Dark Companion" is a blatant nod to the classic galloping riffs and soaring vocals of Iron Maiden, but delivered in their own distinct style. 

   Changing pace and turning up the intensity, "Metal Demons" is a wonderful short sharp shock of Thrashing riffage and anthemic vocal work. Changing pace again but this time right down to a slow building powerful hard rocker "Save Me" is an excellent performance of beautiful clean singing and mesmerising guitar work. 

   Elsewhere, the Maiden worship reappears once again on the blistering and bombastic "Creator Of Hell", complete with an enormous chanting chorus and yet more blinding riffs. Unleashing a full on Thrash attack, "Creatures Of The Night" is a fast and furious Heavy Metal assault oozing with groove. Winning the prize for crunchiest thrashing riff, penultimate track "The Deathlist" is a brilliant track which, along with the formidable but bizarrely titled "We Eat Your Children",  shows the Destruction influence quite prominently while melting your face off. If you weren't quite convinced that Burning Witches were a Heavy Metal band with obvious influences, then the respectable rendition of Judas Priest's "Jawbreaker" should provide you with all the evidence you need.

   Following the cover song finale we move on to the four track live EP originally recorded in 2017 in their home country of Switzerland and released in 2018, now included as bonus material on the 2019 reissue of their debut album through Nuclear Blast records. Comprised of three original tracks from the debut and a creditable live cover of Dio classic "Holy Diver", Burning Alive is a brilliant taster of what these talented musicians can accomplish in a live setting. Most notable is the opening recording of "Metal Demons", with its ultra heavy low bass rumbling, glorious shredding riffage and piercing shrieks. Burning Alive provides sufficient evidence that this band packs a massive punch onstage as well as on record.

    Overall, both Burning Witches and the Burning Alive EP are almost guaranteed to satisfy the Metal cravings of any faithful Metalhead who enjoys and appreciates traditional Thrash and Heavy Metal performed with a modern approach. Full of energy, attitude and Heavy Metal power, Burning Witches is a highly enjoyable and most entertaining listen.

If you would prefer to watch, then you can see the full video review on YouTube.

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