WITCHERY — Don't Fear the Reaper (review)

WITCHERY — Don't Fear the Reaper album cover Album · 2006 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Don't Fear the Reaper" is the 4th full-length studio album by Swedish heavy metal act Witchery. The album was released through Century Media Records in March 2006. It´s the successor to "Symphony for the Devil" from 2001. The lineup who recorded "Symphony for the Devil (2001)" is intact. Sharlee D'Angelo (bass), Patrik Jensen (rhythm guitars), Richard Corpse (lead guitars), Martin Axenrot (drums), and Toxine (vocals).

Stylistically the material on the album continue the band´s trademark blackened heavy metal/speed metal style and there are very few surprises in that department. If you´re familiar with the preceding releases and enjoy them, chances are good you´ll enjoy this one too. The music is a combination of traditional heavy metal, speed metal, thrash metal, black metal, and an occasional touch of death metal ("Crossfixation" is for example death metal oriented). The black metal element is mostly due to Toxine´s raw and raspy vocal style, because the instrumental part of the music is predominantly traditional heavy/speed metal. An act like Mercyful Fate often comes to mind. The dark and occult nature of the lyrics and the general imagery surrounding Witchery also point in that direction.

The material on the 13 track, 45:58 minutes long album are well written, powerful, and effective. The album features three instrumentals, where especially "The Wait of the Pyramids" is worth a mention, but tracks like "Stigmatized", "Crossfixation", "Cannon Fodder", and especially "Ashes" (because of the dominant use of keyboards) also stand out on an otherwise stylistically consistent release.

"Don't Fear the Reaper" is well produced too, featuring a powerful, raw, and detailed production, which brings out the best in the material. The high level musicianship is another asset, and paired with the high quality songwriting (which often has a great memorable anthemic quality to it), "Don't Fear the Reaper" is another great release by Witchery. There´s bite and conviction behind the delivery and just the right amount of aggression mixed with intriguing ideas. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

The Goblin Sessions Heavy Metal
THEM
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tormenta De Arena Metalcore
VORAGO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Infinite Metalcore
FUTURE GHOST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Heretic Melodic Death Metal
SUNCINDER
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Skull Burned Wearing Hell Like A Life Vest As The Night Wept Mathcore
FRONTIERER
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

OPETH`S Epic Headline Show at Bloodstock 2024 | YouTube Premiere | Full Set | August 9th, 2024
OPETH
666sharon666· 107 minutes ago
Opeth '§4' Visualizer/Lyrics Video
OPETH
666sharon666· 108 minutes ago
Future Ghost - Wolves (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Future Ghost - Nemesis Game (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Harrowed TwentyTenVideo
HARROWED
Bosh66· 3 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed