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WITCHES MARK
Witching Metal Ritual

Heaven And Hell (2013)
Rating: 8/10

Not to be confused with the Florida Pagan rock band Witch’s Mark, these guys hail from Texas in the United States, and are very much rooted in the murky days of 80s metal.

But this isn’t just any old four-piece treading water to bring back the past. After all, fans of Manowar will notice that guitarist Ross “The Boss” Friedman makes a guest appearance on the platter, as does Dangerous Toys frontman Jason McMaster, who also featured with one of my all-time favourite techno thrash bands Watchtower. There are also contributions from Jack Starr (Virgin Steele / Burning Starr) and vocalist Martin Debourge (Damien Thorne / Head Transfer Process).

Any band that can get this type of muscle in for their debut full-length recording has got to be worth its weight, and Witching Metal Ritual certainly doesn’t disappoint. Firstly, the face-shredding screams of vocalist Robb Bockman will impress anyone whose heart still lies back in the mid-80s. Bockman also plays guitar alongside Robert Williams (who supplies the gruffer vocals), while bass and drum duties are handled by Andy Gonzalez and Scott Palmer respectively.

So, what can we expect from Witches Mark? Well, it’s about as molten metal as you’re going to get, unless of course you immerse yourself in those well scuffed 80s records that you’ve long since confined to the dusty attic. But Witches Mark are clearly not around to play games, and this is no bandwagon jumping experiment. Instead, the quartet combine the early thrashing rawness of Slayer, circa Show No Mercy (1983), with a dose of old Possessed, and classic 80s sword and sorcery metal.

It’s racing, pulsating and salivating right from album opener ‘Bringers Of Heavy Metal Death’ to the scorching closer ‘Where None Can Follow’. The guitars on this opus shred throughout; often at pace, blending white hot power metal with devastating speed metal and classic heavy metal. The musicianship is as tight as a well nailed coffin lid, with the drums having the effect of a machine gun, and the bass is precise and scything as they rattle through a series of blood-shedding anthems from the mid-paced ‘Swarm’ to the traditional sounding title track with its Iron Maiden-styled rhythms.

Personal favourite is the fiery ‘Cauldron Born’, which sounds as though it was recorded in some cemetery in 1985 (after too many beers and hours listening to Judas Priest, Metal Church and Metallica), but never saw the light of day until now.

And that’s the biggest compliment I can pay to Witches Mark, the fact that they are clearly genuine metalheads whose only aim is to celebrate their love for the devil’s music, but still keeping their own identity within that cauldron they’ve been stirring since their inception in 2005. I also recommend the band’s 2009 A Grim Apparition EP for further witchery.

I believe it was Darkthrone legend Fenriz who stated, “I like new music – when it’s old”, and that’s what Witches Mark are; a relatively new act but fanning the eternal metal flames from back in the day… and long may they wear the witches mark!

Neil Arnold

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