I’m sure somewhere in the dark recesses of the weirdo-est corners of Portland, Oregon, some craggly seer could’ve foretold the reappearance of hooded wizards Blackwitch Pudding, but let’s face it, that dude smells like pee and most of his predictions have to do with chemtrails. It’s been nearly two years since the band unveiled their Covered in Pudding Vol. 1 EP (review here) that offered muddied, rumbling and hilarious takes on Roky Erickson, KISS, Rush and Judas Priest as a follow-up to their 2013 debut LP, Taste the Pudding (review here), and not only have they come lurching back from the smoke-filled ether in which one assumes they dwell, but they’ve brought some formidable company along for the ride. Blackwitch Pudding feat. Soul Wizard will release a new 10″ single, Betty Kougar b/w Herman the Worm Man, on April 15.

While the identities of guitarist Space Wizard, bassist Lizard Wizard and drummer Wizard Wizard remain a secret, it just so happens that Soul Wizard is also known to mortals as Uta Plotkin, the former vocalist of Witch Mountain. The new two-songer from Blackwitch Pudding feat. Soul Wizard marks the first recorded output for Plotkin since leaving Witch Mountain in Aug. 2014, and while to anyone even remotely familiar with her work it should come as no surprise that she offers such a noteworthy performance vocally — emphasis on “soul” in Soul Wizard — and provides accent to her bluesy delivery with harsher gutturalisms in both tracks of the 10″, the lyrics to both cuts push the effect even further. Departing from the personal nature of her prior outfit’s last album, Plotkin presents two horror-show characters who fit perfectly alongside the “Gods of Grungus” and “Shark Commando” who’ve populated Blackwitch Pudding‘s other releases.

The A-side cleverly plays “Betty Kougar” as a middle-aged dream-haunting monster on the prowl for younger men — “She’ll make a man out of you/Then she’ll un-man you” — while “Herman the Worm Man” turns more sinister — “When I look at you I see a thousand creeping uncles/Licking their lips and patting their laps/And whispering ‘don’t tell daddy'” — and creeps out along those lines with a character who has worms where his hair and fingers should be. Plotkin seems utterly at home telling these stories, and Blackwitch Pudding roll out a faster, classic-metal swing in “Betty Kougar” and a slower, more doomed groove in “Herman the Worm Man,” their malevolence duly thickened but still retaining its party-ready edge considering, you know, it’s all made up horror stories played by people in wizard outfits and all that.

I wouldn’t speculate as to whether Blackwitch Pudding feat. Soul Wizard is a one-time deal or an ongoing collaboration, either full-time or something in-between, but “Betty Kougar” and “Herman the Worm Man” build on what the band has done before and bring it together with the most powerful voice to come out of the Pacific Northwest heavy boom, and in addition to being a good time, it’s a pairing that works remarkably well for all involved. Now if only we knew who the hell Lazer Wizard is.

Recorded by the nigh-on-ubiquitous Adam Pike at Toadhouse Studios, Betty Kougar b/w Herman the Worm Man is out April 15. Both tracks are available to stream below, followed by the release info, with my thanks to the band.

Enjoy:

Blackwitch Pudding takes you on a rocking, interplanetary voyage through the deepest reaches of your evil mind with Soul Wizard at the helm. This two track limited release features the voice of Soul Wizard and is available in black and brown/white marble. Get ready to bend over and take it… into hyper drive!

Releases April 15, 2016.

Music by Space Wizard
Lyrics by Soul Wizard
Vocals – Soul Wizard
Guitar – Space Wizard
Bass – Lizard Wizard
Drums – Wizard Wizard
Backup Vocals – Space, Lizard, Wizard, and Lazer Wizard

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Adam Pike at Toadhouse Studios. Artwork by Darren St. Darren. Additional art by David Paul Seymour, Steven McClain, and Liesl Meissner.

Blackwitch Pudding on Thee Facebooks

Blackwitch Pudding on Bandcamp

Bit of a blindside here but I guess that kind of thing can’t be helped. On the eve of Witch Mountain releasing Mobile of Angels, their third album since coming back in 2011 with South of Salem (review here), vocalist Uta Plotkin has announced her intention to leave the band following their upcoming fall US tour with Nik Turner’s Hawkwind and Hedersleben. Plotkin, whose bluesy singing style and powerful delivery has greatly helped the Portland outfit further their doomly cause these last three years, will leave a significant void in the front of the stage, though Witch Mountain have stated their intention to continue anyway, guitarist Rob Wrong and drummer Nate Carson having started the band together in the late ’90s and released the full-length Come the Mountain in 2001 before a 10-year break.

I’m loath to pilfer news from anyone — and feel inclined to acknowledge the irony that the story broke via Revolver, whose “the hottest chicks in metal” undermines the legitimacy of singers like Plotkin and other players more or less every time it’s published — but this is a big story and worth spreading, considering that any change of frontperson is bound to have a sizable impact on the personality and style of Witch Mountain as a whole. It will be interesting to see what and who they come back with, but as they rightly point out, Witch Mountain was a band before Plotkin, so it’s not unreasonable to think it can be a band after. If anyone at Revolver is pissed at the cut and paste, I apologize, but at least I gave credit and linked back to the original story.

Obviously, best of luck to Plotkin on her next endeavor, whatever that may be, and to Witch Mountain for the reconstruction process. Text from Revolver, plus the tour dates:

Frontwoman Uta Plotkin to Leave Witch Mountain after Release of New Album, ‘Mobile of Angels’

Witch Mountain’s upcoming fourth album, ‘Mobile of Angels,’ and their summer shows with Nik Turner’s Hawkwind will be their last record and tour, respectively, with lead singer Uta Plotkin. The new album will be unleashed by Profound Lore Records in North America September 30, and via Svart Records in Europe and beyond. ‘Mobile of Angels’ was produced by producer Billy Anderson, tracked and mixed in Type Foundry studios Portland, OR.

“It’s been a rewarding experience being in Witch Mountain,” says Plotkin, who joined the group in 2009. “I’ve met many wonderful people and helped make a lot of great music but after three albums I feel it’s time for me to move on to new projects, musical and otherwise. My creative spirit has always been a restless one. I hope our fans continue to enjoy our music and support Witch Mountain in its future incarnations.”

“We love and support Uta in whatever direction her life takes her,” the remaining members of Witch Mountain comment. “Our collaboration with her over the last five years, three albums, and hundreds of shows has been a privilege. But the band existed long before we met her and will continue into the future. Somewhere in this wide world is a voice with the talent and ambition to help Witch Mountain continue to improve as we have with each new release and passing year. Someone (male or female) will eventually send us a demo that brings us to tears. Until then, we remain focused on our final tour with Uta, and promoting our brand new album. Thanks to all for your support.”

If you want to catch Uta Plotkin with Witch Mountain on stage, please mark your calendar because this is your last chance:

NIK TURNER’S HAWKWIND + WITCH MOUNTAIN + HEDERSLEBEN
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2014

Tue 8/26 – Oakland, CA – Uptown
Wed 8/27 – Los Angeles, CA – Viper Room
Thu 8/28 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
Fri 8/29 – Tucson, AZ – Hotel Congress
Sat 8/30 – Albuquerque, NM – Launch Pad
Mon 9/01 – Austin, TX – Red 7
Tue 9/02 – New Orleans, LA – Siberia
Wed 9/03 – Birmingham, AL – Bottletree
Thu 9/04 – Memphis, TN – Hi-Tone Cafe
Fri 9/05 – Lafayette, GA – Meltasia Fest
Sat 9/06 – Raleigh, NC – Hopscotch Fest*
Sun 9/07 – Richmond, VA – Strange Matter
Mon 9/08 – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
Tue 9/09 – Philadelphia, PA – Boot and Saddle
Wed 9/10 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
Thu 9/11 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
Fri 9/12 – Boston, MA – Middle East
Sun 9/14 – Montreal, QC – Il Motore
Mon 9/15 – Toronto, ON – The Garrison
Tue 9/16 – Rochester, NY – Bug Jar
Wed 9/17 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
Thu 9/18 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
Fri 9/19 – Rock Island, IL – RIBCO
Sat 9/20 – Milwaukee, WI – Cactus Club*
Sun 9/21 – Saint Paul, MN – Turf Club
Mon 9/22 – Winnipeg, MB – Pyramid Cabaret*
Tue 9/23 – Saskatoon, SK – Vangelis Tavern
Wed 9/24 – Calgary, AB – Palomino
Fri 9/26 – Vancouver, BC – Venue (early evening show)
Sat 9/27 – Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
Sun 9/28 – Portland, OR – Star Theater

*no Hedersleben

https://www.facebook.com/witchmountain
http://witchmountain.bandcamp.com/
https://www.profoundlorerecords.com/