French classic doomers Stonewitch have issued their debut album, The Cross of Doom, via Italian imprint Terror from Hell Records. The album follows the band’s demo and while I can’t profess to having heard the full thing at this point, the opener track “Eerie Valley of the Crimson Planet” seems to nod at NWOBHM gallop en route to Grand Magus-style fistpumping and some Candlemassian doomly sway. They cover Pentagram on the record, and no doubt “Sign of the Wolf” fits well in its surroundings.

It was released last month, so maybe I’m not exactly current on it, but better late than never, and if you’re looking to doom out, here’s this:

OUT NOW – Stonewitch – The Cross of Doom

Stonewitch was created in January 2014 by Aymeric (guitars) and Romain (bass and guitars) as a heavy/doom project. The tracks for the demo “The Godless” were composed by two of them, and they were helped in studio by Serge (vocals), who quickly joined Stonewitch, and Fog (drums) as session for the demo recordings. “The Godless” was recorded at Le Caveau in August 2014 and released in a limited tape edition by the Italian label Terror from Hell Records.

After the demo, Cedric (drums) and Joss (bass) joined Stonewitch as full-time members to complete the line-up in spring 2015, so the band could start to hit the road in September 2015.

In late October, the band returned to the studio Le Caveau for the recordings of six new songs, for 40 minutes of pure doom metal without compromises, “The Cross of Doom” was recorded, and again will be released by Terror from Hell Records in June 2016.

Track List:
1. Eerie Valley Of The Crimson Planet
2. Beyond The Sharp Vine
3. Unearthed (Foes & Woes)
4. Holy Smoke
5. Sign Of The Wolf (Pentagram cover)
6. The Cross Of Doom

https://www.facebook.com/stonewitch.official
http://stonewitch.fr/
https://www.facebook.com/ElektroplasmaMusik
http://www.tfhrecords.com/

Stonewitch, “Eerie Valley of the Crimson Planet”