UMUR "Nightside" is the 8th full-length studio album by Swedish heavy metal act Witchery. The album was released through Century Media Records in July 2022. It´s the successor to "I Am Legion" from 2017 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as bassist Sharlee D'Angelo has been replaced by Victor Brandt (Entombed/Entombed A.D., Firespawn, Aeon...etc.).

"Nightside" is a concept release, which is a first for Witchery. Main composer Patrik Jensen (The Haunted, Seance, Satanic Slaugther...etc.) found himself much alone in the composition phase of the album, as both the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions and afterwards heavy touring schedules for the remaining members of the band, prevented them from contributing as much as Jensen would have preferred. His solitary writing role spawned the idea to create a concept album. While the tracks can be listened to and enjoyed as individual songs, there is a lyrical concept running through the album with a story about demonic possession and witch trials. In terms of the lyrical themes that´s nothing out of the ordinary for Witchery, except for the fact that "Nightside" is a full concept album.

Stylistically the material on "Nightside" is through and through the sound of Witchery. Blackened thrash/death metal with the occasional speed/heavy metal element thrown in for variation. It´s energetic, effective, and memorable. So while this is certainly both aggressive and brutal music, you´ll be able to sing (growl/snarl) along to all tracks on the album. They all feature easily accessible vers/chorus structures and are therefore almost instantly catchy. The many melodic and well played leads also bring accessibility to the music. But it´s not at the expense of authenticity, rawness, or savage aggression, and that´s where Witchery have always excelled and do so again here.

Witchery also understand the golden rule that quality always beats quantity, and featuring 11 tracks and a total playing time of 35:46 minutes, there is not a single wasted moment or sign of a filler track on "Nightside". This is simply a quality release through and through, which is only further enhanced by the powerful, raw, and detailed sound production, which suits the material perfectly. It´s not that "Nightside" is vastly different from the preceding releases by Witchery or that it´s a revolution of sound and style, but it´s such a strong high quality release on all other measurable paramenters that a 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.

UMUR "In His Infernal Majesty's Service" is the 6th full-length studio album by Swedish heavy metal act Witchery. The album was released through Century Media Records in November 2016. It´s the successor to "Witchkrieg" from 2010 and features two lineup changes since the predecessor as drummer Martin Axenrot has been replaced by Chris Barkensjö, and lead vocalist Erik "Legion" Hagstedt has been replaced by Angus Norder (Nekrokraft). It´s the third time in the band´s history that there´s been a change on the lead vocalist spot, as Hagstedt replaced Toxine (Tony Kampner) in 2010 and performed on "Witchkrieg (2010)" before being replaced by Emperor Magus Caligula (aka Masse Broberg) in 2011. The latter didn´t get to record with the band. Witchery was always a bit of a side-project for most of the members when they had some time off from their day jobs in acts like The Haunted and Arch Enemy, which explains the sometimes long wait between albums.

The quality of Witchery´s output has never suffered as a consequence of the project-like status of the band though, as they have been quite consistent in both style and quality throughout the years. That trend continues on "In His Infernal Majesty's Service", which is unmistakably the sound of Witchery. A hard edged and blackened take on traditional heavy metal with speed and thrash metal leanings. New vocalist Angus Norder has a blackened raspy voice and a commanding vocal delivery, which suits the instrumental part of the music perfectly. It´s not an album which will surprise fans of the band, as there´s very little new here but why change a formula that works?

The album features 11 tracks and a full playing time of 37:46 minutes. The limited edition features two bonus tracks, "Eye for an Eye" and "Cloak and Dagger", which are outtakes from the recording sessions for "Witchkrieg (2010)". All material are well written and effective blackened heavy metal, and Witchery are an incredibly well playing band, which means everything is performed to perfection but still with the right amount of grit and authenticity. "In His Infernal Majesty's Service" also features a sharp, powerful, and raw sounding production, which suits the material perfectly. So upon conclusion it´s yet another strong album release by Witchery. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Witchkrieg" is the 5th full-length studio album by Swedish heavy metal act Witchery. The album was released through Century Media Records in June 2010. It´s the successor to "Don't Fear the Reaper" from 2006. There´s been one lineup change since the release of "Don't Fear the Reaper (2006)" as Erik "Legion" Hagstedt (Marduk) has replaced lead vocalist Toxine, who performed vocals on all four preceding releases by the band.

Stylistically "Witchkrieg" continues down the same blackened thrash/speed/heavy metal path they´ve played since day one. The 10 track, 34:25 minutes long album therefore features very few surprises and not even the lead vocalist change has much impact, although Hagstedt brings a few more death metal growls into the vocal department, but the dominant vocal style is still a blackened snarl. So "Witchkrieg" is more or less business as usual, and in the case of Witchery, that´s great news. They´ve released quite a few high quality releases with a relatively distinct sound, so there´s no need to change a winning formula.

The material is well written, catchy, and effective. The tracks are in most cases instantly memorable and "Witchkrieg" also features a good overall flow, with both faster-paced speed/thrash metal tracks and heavier heavy metal oriented tracks. A shining example of the latter is "The God Who Fell From Earth", which to my ears is an absolutely brilliant track. Other standout tracks are the opening title track and "Devil Rides Out", but every track on the album is of high quality and deserve a mention.

"Witchkrieg" is an incredibly well produced album too, and upon conclusion it´s another really strong release by Witchery. It´s not all artists who are able to continue with a new vocalist as if nothing has happened (and I mean that in a positive way), but that just shows how strong Witchery´s foundation and core style is. A 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.

UMUR "Don't Fear the Reaper" is the 4th full-length studio album by Swedish heavy metal act Witchery. The album was released through Century Media Records in March 2006. It´s the successor to "Symphony for the Devil" from 2001. The lineup who recorded "Symphony for the Devil (2001)" is intact. Sharlee D'Angelo (bass), Patrik Jensen (rhythm guitars), Richard Corpse (lead guitars), Martin Axenrot (drums), and Toxine (vocals).

Stylistically the material on the album continue the band´s trademark blackened heavy metal/speed metal style and there are very few surprises in that department. If you´re familiar with the preceding releases and enjoy them, chances are good you´ll enjoy this one too. The music is a combination of traditional heavy metal, speed metal, thrash metal, black metal, and an occasional touch of death metal ("Crossfixation" is for example death metal oriented). The black metal element is mostly due to Toxine´s raw and raspy vocal style, because the instrumental part of the music is predominantly traditional heavy/speed metal. An act like Mercyful Fate often comes to mind. The dark and occult nature of the lyrics and the general imagery surrounding Witchery also point in that direction.

The material on the 13 track, 45:58 minutes long album are well written, powerful, and effective. The album features three instrumentals, where especially "The Wait of the Pyramids" is worth a mention, but tracks like "Stigmatized", "Crossfixation", "Cannon Fodder", and especially "Ashes" (because of the dominant use of keyboards) also stand out on an otherwise stylistically consistent release.

"Don't Fear the Reaper" is well produced too, featuring a powerful, raw, and detailed production, which brings out the best in the material. The high level musicianship is another asset, and paired with the high quality songwriting (which often has a great memorable anthemic quality to it), "Don't Fear the Reaper" is another great release by Witchery. There´s bite and conviction behind the delivery and just the right amount of aggression mixed with intriguing ideas. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Symphony for the Devil" is the 3rd full-length studio album by Swedish metal act Witchery. The album was released through Necropolis Records in September 2001. It´s the successor to "Dead, Hot and Ready" from 1999. Witchery was always a sort of project act as all involved also had other obligations with artists like Mercyful Fate, Arch Enemy, Opeth, Bloodbath, and The Haunted, but they´ve found time in their busy schedules to write and record "Symphony for the Devil".

Stylistically "Symphony for the Devil" is generally more of the same, so if you´re familiar with the blackened heavy/speed metal style of the preceding releases you´ll find few surprises here. In this particular case familiarity with the sound isn´t an issue though as Witchery deliver their music with a burning passion and great conviction. These guys are incredibly well playing but they are also skilled composers, who understand how a song affects a listener. The material on the 12 track (some versions omit the two closing tracks), 46:49 minutes long album is powerful, raw, and catchy blackened heavy/speed metal. So it´s both hard edged, fast, heavy, and more melodic (actually not far from the sound Mercyful Fate had in the 90s, just featuring extreme vocals). The blackened part of their sound is mainly due to the raspy vocal delivery, because other than that, and a limited amount of sections in the instrumental part of the music, this is traditional heavy/speed metal more than anything else.

The atmosphere is dark and occult which is further enhanced by the lyrical content. The sound production is clear, powerful, and raw, bringing out the best in the material. So upon conclusion "Symphony for the Devil" is yet another strong album release by Witchery and it´s certainly not audible that this project probably wasn´t the first priority for some of the members at the time. The songwriting is top notch, the musicianship on a high level, and the sound production is professional and well sounding, so all in all a 4 star (80%) rating isn´t all wrong.