HELLWITCH — Syzygial Miscreancy (review)

HELLWITCH — Syzygial Miscreancy album cover Album · 1990 · Technical Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
siLLy puPPy
At the time when death metal was distinguishing itself from thrash, there were a few bands that seemed like the perfect intermediate between the two. HELLWITCH was yet another thrash band from Florida that was clearly in the transition zone from thrash to death. They were also one of the bands that were clearly interesting in the technical side of the musical equation with lots of interesting progressive touches gracing their first and only full release album for another 19 years - SYZYGIAL MISCREANCY. After a brief little acoustic intro this band means business with some of the most energetic and pummeling thrash riffing and drum abuse that existed during the day. The intellectual song titles reflect a desire to add a complexity to the music that was fairly rare in the 1990 time period when glam metal was still ruling the roost and other extreme bands were not quite as sophisticated.

This frenetic head banging delight sounds most like the “Piece Of Time” album by Atheist which is not surprising being close neighbors in Southern Florida. Atheist surely must have been a major influence in the relentless pace, deathened thrash vocals and progressive additions that make this album a real gem in the long lost under appreciated albums that i never knew about until recently. The songs are all strong beginning with “Nosferatu” and continue their unforgiving relentlessness until the very end. The vocals range from traditional thrash but merge on death metal growls with occasional bizarre effects such as the Demilich sounding weirdness on “Sentient Transmography.”

Although it sounds like HELLWITCH was on the same path as Atheist, it is unfortunate for whatever reason they were not successful in evolving to the next level and only released this one album until 2009 when their second full release “Omnipotent Convocation” was released, however they did release quite a few demos before this and a few EPs after. Although not quite as brilliant as Atheist’s debut album which is the sound most like this one, the diverse elements and original aspects along with the relentless head banging bliss that this gives me guarantees a solid four stars.
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