WITCHERY — Nightside (review)

WITCHERY — Nightside album cover Album · 2022 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Nightside" is the 8th full-length studio album by Swedish heavy metal act Witchery. The album was released through Century Media Records in July 2022. It´s the successor to "I Am Legion" from 2017 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as bassist Sharlee D'Angelo has been replaced by Victor Brandt (Entombed/Entombed A.D., Firespawn, Aeon...etc.).

"Nightside" is a concept release, which is a first for Witchery. Main composer Patrik Jensen (The Haunted, Seance, Satanic Slaugther...etc.) found himself much alone in the composition phase of the album, as both the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions and afterwards heavy touring schedules for the remaining members of the band, prevented them from contributing as much as Jensen would have preferred. His solitary writing role spawned the idea to create a concept album. While the tracks can be listened to and enjoyed as individual songs, there is a lyrical concept running through the album with a story about demonic possession and witch trials. In terms of the lyrical themes that´s nothing out of the ordinary for Witchery, except for the fact that "Nightside" is a full concept album.

Stylistically the material on "Nightside" is through and through the sound of Witchery. Blackened thrash/death metal with the occasional speed/heavy metal element thrown in for variation. It´s energetic, effective, and memorable. So while this is certainly both aggressive and brutal music, you´ll be able to sing (growl/snarl) along to all tracks on the album. They all feature easily accessible vers/chorus structures and are therefore almost instantly catchy. The many melodic and well played leads also bring accessibility to the music. But it´s not at the expense of authenticity, rawness, or savage aggression, and that´s where Witchery have always excelled and do so again here.

Witchery also understand the golden rule that quality always beats quantity, and featuring 11 tracks and a total playing time of 35:46 minutes, there is not a single wasted moment or sign of a filler track on "Nightside". This is simply a quality release through and through, which is only further enhanced by the powerful, raw, and detailed sound production, which suits the material perfectly. It´s not that "Nightside" is vastly different from the preceding releases by Witchery or that it´s a revolution of sound and style, but it´s such a strong high quality release on all other measurable paramenters that a 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.
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