Album Review: Burning Witches - Wings of Steel
Reviewed by Neil Bolton
Burning Witches second album 'Hexenhammer' is a regular on my favourite playlist so upon hearing the news that singer Seraina Telli had left the band in June 2019 I was a little worried. Ex Shadowrise vocalist Laura Guldemond now holds the mike and in my opinion has a difficult role to fill. Burning Witches vocals are clean and powerful and for the band to make any further head way the replacement needs to be, well, just as good. I have often been told I worry too much, and this was another one of those occasions. Laura is awesome.
This four track EP is designed to show this is exactly the case. 'Wings of Steel' starts with a harrowing scream, shortly followed by our new vocalist showing what she can do, a style not too dissimilar to Seraina, but with the addition of the occasional vomit ‘ough!’
The music carries on with the traditional old school sound that fans of this Swedish covenant have come to love. Duelling guitars from Sonia and Romana carry the fast beat along with Jay on bass and Lala on drums. It is deemed ridiculous to hope for more of the same from a band you like, but I was, and I got it. It seems like I do worry too much. Along side this first studio track with Laura we have three live tracks recorded at Wacken 2019 show casing Laura’s talents.
It seems like the future is bright for Burning Witches and I for one am looking forward to a full length follow up album to 'Hexenhammer'.
Burning Witches release EP 'Wings Of Steel' via Nuclear Blast on December 6th.
