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Witchkiss Premiere “Splitting Teeth”; Transformation EP out May 1

Posted in audiObelisk on April 9th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

Witchkiss

The new Witchkiss EP, Transformation, is the follow-up from the Beacon, New York-based three-piece to their 2018 album, The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes (review here). That debut, which saw release through Argonauta Records, embodied atmospheric sludge in an echo-caked cavernousness that was subsequently filled with tonal heft and intensity. The two songs that comprise Transformation, on the most basic aesthetic level, follow suit, yet the 10-minute single “Splitting Teeth” (premiering below) and the accompanying eight-minute cut “Empty Hands” nonetheless demonstrate marked progression in terms of arrangements between the vocals of drummer Amber Burns and guitarist Scott Prater — bassist Tyler Irish, who joined last year, doesn’t sing but makes a welcome first appearance filling out the low end here — and in a time when the New York region is embroiled in plague and isolation and plague-in-isolation (the state surpassed Italy in cases of COVID-19, I read in the news yesterday), Witchkiss‘ blend of post-metallic claustrophobia and ambient expanse would seem to find particular resonance. They call it “a fitting soundtrack to these uncertain times,” and I’m not inclined to argue.

To wit, the anxious and thudding tension marked by screams in layers that commence at about eight minutes into “Splitting Teeth” and the infuriatingly methodical spread of the song’s subsequent apex. Witchkiss‘ first album mayWitchkiss Transformation have set the stage for this kind of immersive plunge, but there’s no question the couple of years since have found the band growing more adventurous in their craft, and that holds true on “Empty Hands” no less than its longer predecessor. The second track’s initial rollout recedes after about a minute and a half to a soundscape pushed forward subtly by Burns‘ drums, and with an almost playful melody, she reminds of the godlessness of the universe, ending the verse with the line, “There is only you,” before the tonal largesse resumes its slow-motion push. Layered vocals, clean and screaming, help to fill out the proceedings and are effective in conveying the post-metal spirit of Transformation, but Witchkiss aren’t so much playing to genre as they are adapting a stylistic tenet to suit the purpose of the atmospheres they want to create in their songs. Transformation thus becomes a place to inhabit, if briefly — the two songs run about 19 minutes, all told — and cap in appropriately massive fashion in “Empty Hands” before a persistent pulse of kick drum and feedback leads the way out.

There’s a secret track, a Nirvana cover, that I won’t spoil — mostly because I’m not sure it’s actually included in the digital release or what — but with or without it, Transformation speaks exactly to the process in its title, by which Witchkiss are continuing to grow into their sound and become a fuller, richer stylistic offering. There is nothing in the way, plagues aside, of their continuing this process, and whatever they do next, I would only look for it to continue to move forward. A band whose commitment comes through so clearly in their material rarely lets themselves rest on laurels, however earned those laurels might be.

Enjoy “Splitting Teeth,” followed by the release info from the PR wire:

Witchkiss on Transformation EP:

Greetings everyone. With the current state of our world and everyone’s lives on hold, we decided to release this EP because we feel it’s a fitting soundtrack to these uncertain times. Our hope is that these songs can give our listeners some kind of escape from the overwhelming madness.

Great things can come out of trying times, and Doom distributors Witchkiss are proving just that! Saying goes, idle hands are the devils workshop. More like a creative persons playground!

With time on their hands like so many others, Witchkiss has made good use of this to bring their self-isolated fans something significant to help them through the darkness.

The EP is called “Transformation” it is 2 songs, 18 mins long and will include the Single “Splitting Teeth” and and will be released 5/1/20 through our Bandcamp and all other major digital music outlets, including Apple Music and iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Etc.

The Single – “Splitting Teeth” will be released via Bandcamp on 4/10/20 at https://witchkiss.bandcamp.com/track/splitting-teeth

Witchkiss are:
Amber Burns – Drums/Vocals
Scott Prater – Guitar/Vocals
Tyler Irish – Bass

Witchkiss on Thee Facebooks

Witchkiss on Instagram

Witchkiss on Bandcamp

Witchkiss at Blackskull Services

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