UMUR "Witchtanic Hellucinations" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Michigan based doom/death metal act Acid Witch. The album was released through Razorback Recordings in October 2008. Acid Witch were formed in 2007 and released a demo that same year before being signed for the release of "Witchtanic Hellucinations".

So it´s not a particularly seasoned act (or at least they haven´t played together that long in this constellation) although all members have played with various other underground acts (Shitfucker, Reaper, Skindcrawler, and Harbinger, just to mention a few). Stylistically the music on the album is psychadelic tinged stoner doom/death metal with lyrics about drugs, witchcraft, and horror. Song titles like "Witches Tits", "Rabid Werewitch", and "Broomstick Bitch", tell that story too, and also the story that there is a humourous cartoonish/twisted fairytale touch to both the lyrics and the band image.

The instrumental part of the music consists of heavy stoner doomy riffs and leads right out of the 70s Black Sabbath playbook, heavy rhythms, psychadelic effects, and some dark burping growling vocals in front (which wouldn´t sound wrong on any Carcass influenced goregrind release). It´s actually only the latter element, which connects the material on "Witchtanic Hellucinations" to death metal, because the remaining part of the music is stoner doom through and through. The combination of the instrumental stoner doom elements and the mucilaginous growling vocals is what makes the material unique, but it´s also an odd combination, which takes some getting used to, and which also wears a bit thin after a while. It´s somewhat charming alright, but also a bit one-dimensional and tedious towards the end of the album.

"Witchtanic Hellucinations" is well performed and also features a suitingly dark and organic sound production, so upon conclusion it´s a quality release by Acid Witch and definitely an interesting debut album with a relatively unique sound. A couple of more hooks, and a little more variation between tracks could have elevated the album from good to great, but as it is, it´s still an entertaining release and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

siLLy puPPy Detroit based ACID WITCH call their style of music “Halloween Metal” creating sonic spookfests with semi-kitchy occult laced themes that actually fit quite well into that self-described style of metal. The band released this debut album WITCHTANIC HELLUCINATIONS in 2008 on Razorback Records and did a great job of carving out their own sound from the start. While lead vocalist Slasher Dave has cited Pagan Altar as the main influence of this death doom extravaganza, the actual sound is much more inclusive.

What we get here is a nice series of chuggin’ down-tuned doom riffs a lot like the 80s Pentagram albums with occasional Sabbath worshipping. The guitars and bass are more highly distorted though, rather like drone metal acts Earth or the fuzzed-out freaks Boris. The most unique thing about their brand of stoner doom metal is the inclusion of death metal vocals that are really low and remind me of something between the unique vocal skills heard with the low vocal fry range of Demilich and the creepy croaking of Incantation. While death doom is nothing new of course, the icing on the cake has to be the psychedelic aspects mostly played out with the oscillating keyboard effects that add layers to the distorted fuzzfest that wouldn’t sound out of place on an Ozric Tentacles album.

While the tracks are all generally similar in construction with occult and party like it’s 1999 themes and a musical sound that makes a good headbanging horror movie soundtrack, it’s a sound i find very appealing and fell in love with it on first listen. The imagery is all in good fun and comes off in a similar fashion to Rob Zombie’s playful art of occult imagery and groovy, catchy riffs that sometimes have a touch of NWOBHM and classic 80s metal guitar solos. This album is certainly one hell of a HELLUCINATION and proof that stoner metal can be more than just slow churning riffs and getting the munchies. This WITCHTANIC spell has certainly left me hypnotized.

Time Signature Into the cave...

Genre: stoner doom

Originally released in 2008, this stoner doom classic will be unleashed upon the world once more later this month, as Hell's Headbangers Records have decided to reissue it.

This is one of those albums, where I simply just do not know whether I like it or not. I mean, it is full of really awesome crushingly heavy riffs, and the guitars have a fuzzy crunch to them, not unlike what you would hear in early death metal - I mean just check the chucking riffage in 'Witchblood Cult'. Being a psychedelically oriented stoner doom band, Acid Witch make heavy use of references to 70s rock, which I appreciate.

But at the same time, the psychedelia sometimes seems forced, and some of the many 70s rock references are, likewise, a bit over the top. But what really does not sit well with me is the use of guttural, almost burpy vocals which are drowned in reverb. Part of this owes to my own bias, as I generally do not like growled vocals in doom metal, because, due to their lack of tonality, growls can make doom metal seem undeservedly one-dimensional. That is what happens here, which is a shame because the music itself, as I hinted at earlier, does appeal to me with its crushing riffs and heavy grooves. I just have a hard time not being annoyed at the monotonous vocals.

In some reviews, the reviewer bends over backwards to diss the music and ends up recommending people not to buy the album. This review will not end like that, because that would be hypocritical of me. I would actually recommend any fan of stoner doom and death-doom to give this album a listen and check it out for themselves - chances are that they will be less intolerant than me and actually like the album for its dark atmosphere and crushing riffage.