Album Review: Witchpit - The Weight of Death
Reviewed by Sam Jones
It’s been some time since I checked out some predominantly Sludge metal, so that’s why I opted to give Witchpit a go and see what 2022 has brought us in the form of Sludge. I appear to have a genuine affinity for picking bands who are releasing their debut studio album for Witchpit, who are no different, stand to drop their long awaited full length record for a late March release. Formed in South Carolina, United States, Witchpit are a four-piece band who have been going since 2015 and in that time have slowly released material that hint towards something bigger on the horizon. Given that its been seven years since their formation, it looks like that horizon is finally here as Witchpit unveil their statement as a band: The Weight Of Death; an album years in the making and the band’s first real showcasing of what they could be capable of. So, let’s delve into Witchpit’s first full length attempt to discern what precisely these American Sludgers have in store for us.
For a sludge metal act I was really taken aback as to the accessibility of this record. When we think of Sludge we may conceive of crushing, fat guitar tone with vocals that are gruff and bearing down on us. That bizarrely isn’t the case. The guitar work on the whole naturally exerts a particular weight that you’d want to find from a Sludge metal band however Witchpit have opted for an approach that renders their record a little lighter and easier on the senses than what bands like High On Fire or Crowbar may offer. The band appear to have taken some Stoner influences into account as their tone, whilst heavy and compact, possesses much of the fuzz effect that has made Stoner metal so identifiable. I quite enjoyed this implementation as it helps to cushion the impact of the riffs, especially for people who may be after a softer form of Sludge before diving into the really resolute and hard hitting stuff. All in all, it’s a guitar sound that strikes hard albeit with a deliberately muffled impact.
The vocals are an interesting choice if you ask me. Sludge vocals are renowned for being quite broody, thick and dripping with bile as you usually receive that gruff and blunt delivery in the same vein as the riffs deliver. But this isn’t your typical sludge act, and the vocals are no exception. Here we get something that feels like a combination of stoner and southern-styled vocals that fuse together to give us something that’s oozing with style. We can actually envision their vocalist having a blast performing and playing throughout the record, in this respect Witchpit give us a work of stoner/sludge that’s designed to put a smile on our face as opposed to merely blasting us into the middle of next week with riffs and tone galore; and it is a genuinely fun listen no doubt thanks to how the vocals are delivered. That stoner-style of vocal tone is pretty evident here and if anything, it’s the most obvious stoner influence going into the record. It certainly helps to ease some trepidation people may hold before diving into this record; not everyone is comfortable with sludge owing to its blunt and impacting form so harnessing a vocal persona like Witchpit do, definitely aids the audience along to relaxing and enjoying what the band are playing.
Given that it’s only a 6-track album we’re naturally getting some lengthier songs. I’ve listened to predominantly stoner metal records before now where they’ve implemented longer songs but have lost me halfway through their duration. Pleasantly that isn’t the case here as Witchpit give us the general gist of their songwriting throughout these longer tracks but soon enough, they’re shaking things up maybe by slowing down the pacing or bringing in a different kind of riff. Ultimately it may not seem like they’re doing too much throughout their lengthy pieces but it’s enough to keep us absorbed within their songwriting and our attention fixated on their performance. The overall songwriting is still moving from beginning to end, there’s no question of whether they’re just stalling or filling up time; everything they’re doing is deliberate and coordinated and it’s refreshing to hear some stoner metal that strikes well, without losing me halfway through.
Ultimately, I think this album feels the way it does because of how the band have allowed their sound to move freely without being hemmed in. If you listen to the riffs, vocals or the drums and how they’re able to exert a strong impact without needing to feel so packed in, you’ll notice how easily their sound waves manage to move throughout the band’s performance and into your ears. Their performance is still locked onto your ears but it’s not like the sound is being funnelled into one linear corridor for you to experience. The walls of the record are still there, except they’ve been pushed back slightly to give the band more room to work with. The production has helped the band’s acoustic and bouncing guitar tone to leap off one wall of sound to the other without it feeling so without borders or too boxed in. It’s a healthy sounding album that’s been able to capture the hard edge of sludge with the free and hapless nature of the stoner variety. It, in the end, makes for a record that wants you to relax and enjoy your time and hopefully see you return for future visits.
In conclusion, this was a really nice and fun album. For those looking for a sludgy album that isn’t going to try and take their head off, Witchpit offer a nice compromise that imbues a fair few stoner elements into their songwriting to quell the expected, crushing intensity. The Weight Of Death may sound like it’s going to melt your face off but you’ll still be in full control of your faculties and senses as you feel your grin spread from cheek to cheek. At just more than half an hour and six tracks to be had, it’s a well paced affair that doesn’t rush from A to B however it’s also noteworthy how they don’t just stick with one form of songwriting for the full duration of a particular track. They’re prepared to shake things up now and again, providing us with new avenues of excitement to focus on as opposed to a one track mind of songwriting. On the whole, I’d definitely recommend this if you want a lighter Sludge metal affair that knows how to take it easy and isn’t afraid to pull you in to keep you involved amidst its chemistry.
