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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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Witchkiss Touring to Descendants of Crom with Temple of the Fuzz Witch

Posted in Whathaveyou on August 14th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

witchkiss

I was at the big Neurosis show the other night, and on my way out the door afterward, I happened to see Witchkiss guitarist/vocalist Scott Prater and drummer/vocalist Amber Burns hanging out. I don’t really know them, but I did go up and say that I had enjoyed their set at Maryland Doom Fest (review here), and that I hoped to see them again. Lo and behold, here’s a tour announcement providing opportunity to do precisely that. I won’t be able to make the trip into Brooklyn for this gig, as I’ll be out of town, but that’s hardly their fault or the fault of Temple of the Fuzz Witch, with whom they’re touring. I guess it’s my fault. Ah, to be raised Catholic. So much guilt.

Anyhoozle, after playing both Maryland Doom Fest and New England Stoner & Doom Fest earlier this year, Witchkiss will be making their way to Descendants of Crom in Pittsburgh as a part of this run, makes the last in a pretty impressive trifecta of Eastern Seaboard-ish festivity. They’ve got dates to add to this tour and I would expect their momentum to continue carrying forward into 2020, so will do as they advise and keep an eye out.

Behold:

witchkiss temple of the fuzz witch

WITCHKISS ANNOUNCE SEPTEMBER TOUR

New York doom band WITCHKISS are pleased to announce that they will be doing a short US tour in September.

The band commented ” We are super excited to be playing some new material! We will be joined by “Temple of the Fuzz Witch” on all of the shows except for our stop at the “Descendants of Crom Fest” in Pittsburgh on September 21st. Keep an eye out because it’s likely we will be adding a couple more dates in this run”

TOUR DATES:
9/19/19 ~ Mohawk Place ~ Buffalo, NY
9/20/19 ~ Buzz Bin ~ Canton, OH
9/21/19 ~ Descendants of Crom Fest @ Cattivo ~ Pittsburgh, PA *No TOTFW*
9/22/19 ~ Frankies ~ Toledo, OH
9/23/19 ~ Reggies ~ Chicago, IL
9/24/19 ~ Highlands ~ Louisville, KY
9/25/19 ~ Odditorium ~ Asheville, NC
9/26/19 ~ Tapp Room ~ Boone, NC
9/28/19 ~ Wonderland ~ Richmond, VA
9/30/19 ~ Ottobar ~ Baltimore, MD
10/4/19 ~ 13th Floor ~ Florence, MA
10/5/19 ~ Knitting Factory ~ Brooklyn, NY

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

http://facebook.com/witchkissband
https://www.instagram.com/witchkissband/
https://witchkiss.bandcamp.com/
www.argonautarecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords/
https://www.instagram.com/argonautarecords/

Witchkiss, The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes (2018)

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Witchkiss Welcome New Bassist Tyler Irish; Live Shows Confirmed Including New England Stoner & Doom Fest

Posted in Whathaveyou on April 17th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

Okay, so Witchkiss were a trio when they put together their Argonauta-released 2018 debut album, The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes (review here). Then they were a duo. Now they’re a trio again. Guitarist/vocalist Scott Prater and drummer/vocalist Amber Burns welcome new bassist Tyler Irish to the band’s latest three-piece incarnation, and they do so just in time to begin a round of live dates this Spring that will see them take to the streets of the greater Northeast from their homebase in Beacon, New York, going as far north as Maine and as far south as Washington D.C. in support of the record.

Not to knock any of the other shows, but no doubt a highlight will be their slated appearance at the New England Stoner & Doom Fest in Connecticut. If you have not checked out the lineup for that, it’s staggering. Witchkiss have also already been confirmed for Descendants of Crom III in Pittsburgh this September, so perhaps they’ll work in more touring around that.

Info from the PR wire:

witchkiss

Witchkiss announce new bassist/spring tour

Hudson Valley, NY doom duo Witchkiss is happy to announce that they are now a trio, with the recent addition of bassist Tyler Irish to the fold.

Says the band, “We are very excited to welcome Tyler Irish to the WITCHKISS family as our new bassist. We’ve known Tyler for a number of years in admired his work with rock band Take One Car and ambient drone project Bonne Nuit Petit Lion. So when he reached out to us and expressed interest in filling our low end void, it was a no brainer. Things just got a whole lot LOWder! Come and hear it for yourself, our spring tour starts on April 24th.”

Listen to the album here: https://witchkiss.bandcamp.com/

Tour dates:
April 24 – The Anchor – Kingston, NY
April 30 – Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA
May 1 – Atlas Brew Works – Washington, DC
May 2 – The Kingsland – Brooklyn, NY
May 3 – New England Stoner & Doom Fest – Jewett City, CT
May 4 – News Cafe – Pawtucket, RI
May 5 – The Bungalow Bar – Manchester, NH
June 6 – Ralphs Rock Diner – Worcester, MA
June 7 – Geno’s Rock Club – Portland, ME
June 8 – Dusk – Providence, RI

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

http://facebook.com/witchkissband
https://witchkiss.bandcamp.com/
www.argonautarecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords/
https://twitter.com/argonautarex
https://www.instagram.com/argonautarecords/

Witchkiss, The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes (2018)

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Witchkiss Announce Spring Touring Between April and June

Posted in Whathaveyou on February 15th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

witchkiss

New York two-piece Witchkiss have Northeastern dates booked for the better part of the Spring, and little doubt the highlight is a stopoff in Jewett City, Connecticut, at the New England Stoner and Doom Festival. Then a trio, the band released their debut album, The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes (review here), last year through Argonauta Records and have been building forward momentum ever since. These shows should do nothing of course to curb that, with key dates and venues locked in for Philly, Brooklyn and Providence along with dates in the company of CastleClamfightShadow Witch and others. You know the drill. The up and coming band plays cool shows.

Familiar though that story is, the fact remains: cool shows. And that’s the best kind! I’m looking forward to seeing them at NES&D.

From the PR wire:

witchkiss spring tour

WITCHKISS ANNOUNCE EAST US TOUR

New York doom band WITCHKISS are pleased to announce that they will embark on a tour of the Eastern United States this spring.

The band commented “This Spring, as we emerge from our winter riff writing hibernation, we will be hitting the road with some new songs and a new bassist as well We will be playing some killer shows with our friends in CASTLE, BACKWOODS PAYBACK, SHADOW WITCH, CLAMFIGHT and YATRA along with a slew of other bands that were looking forward to jamming with for the first time also! Along this run we will be hitting a bunch of rad places we’ve played already, new spots in DC, NH, RI and NY and a stop at the New England Stoner & Doom Fest! We are Beyond Stoked! Hope to see you in the Spring!”

All dates will be in support of the band’s 2018 album The Austere Curtains Of Our Eyes which was released last year.

Listen to the album here: https://witchkiss.bandcamp.com/

Tour dates:
April 24 – The Anchor – Kingston, NY
April 30 – Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA
May 1 – Atlas Brew Works – Washington, DC
May 2 – The Kingsland – Brooklyn, NY
May 3 – New England Stoner & Doom Fest – Jewett City, CT
May 4 – News Cafe – Pawtucket, RI
May 5 – The Bungalow Bar – Manchester, NH
June 6 – Ralphs Rock Diner – Worcester, MA
June 7 – Geno’s Rock Club – Portland, ME
June 8 – Dusk – Providence, RI

http://facebook.com/witchkissband
https://witchkiss.bandcamp.com/
www.argonautarecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords/
https://twitter.com/argonautarex
https://www.instagram.com/argonautarecords/

Witchkiss, The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes (2018)

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Hollow Leg & Witchkiss Touring in October

Posted in Whathaveyou on August 22nd, 2018 by JJ Koczan

hollow leg

witchkiss

Last time I heard from Florida’s Hollow Leg, it was this Spring when they announced they’d begun work on their next record. I don’t know what their recording process is like off the top of my head, but I’m going to guess that the album is probably done. Since they’re teamed up with New York’s Witchkiss to tour their way out to Doomed and Stoned Fest in Indianapolis — where Hollow Leg are set to play Oct. 6 — and back eastward after, and since Witchkiss‘ 2018 album is called The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes, and since the tour is called “The Austere Civilizations Tour,” I’ll further guess that not only is the new Hollow Leg record done, but the title in some way involves the word “civilizations.” Maybe that’s all it’s called. I don’t know, folks, these are just guesses.

If you’re looking for harder news, well, there’s the tour dates for starters. They’re right here, as per the PR wire:

hollow leg witchkiss tour

HOLLOW LEG/WITCHKISS ANNOUNCE TOUR

HOLLOW LEG and WITCHKISS are pleased to announce that they will be teaming up for a short East/Mid-western tour of the United States this fall. The tour will also include a stop at the Doomed and Stoned festival in Indianapolis. (Hollow Leg only)

Hollow Leg commented “Hollow Leg are really looking forward to this upcoming run with our labelmates in Witchkiss as well as appearance at this year’s Doomed and Stoned fest! Cities like Chicago we’ve been looking to play for a while and our festival appearance is giving us a chance to get there this time around.”

Witchkiss further commented “We are super stoked to be doing this run with Hollow Leg in early October. Getting to play with our Argonauta labelmates who’s music we love in all of these new cities is a dream come true! We might even be playing a new song for y’all too!”

More information can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/295316921230835/

HOLLOW LEG/WITCHKISS AUSTERE CIVILIZATIONS TOUR DATES
Oct. 3rd – Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge
Oct. 4th – Memphis, TN @ Growler’s
Oct. 5th – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s
Oct. 6th – Indianapolis, IN @ Doomed and Stoned Fest (HL only)
Oct. 6th Canton, OH @Buzzbin (Witchkiss only)
Oct. 7th – Charlottesville, VA @ Golden Pony
Oct. 8th – Baltimore, MD @ The Depot
Oct. 9th – Raleigh, NC @ Slim’s
Oct 12th- Richmond, VA @Wonderland (Witchkiss only)

https://www.facebook.com/hollowlegfl
https://hollowleg666.bandcamp.com/

http://facebook.com/witchkissband
https://witchkiss.bandcamp.com/

www.argonautarecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords/
https://twitter.com/argonautarex
https://www.instagram.com/argonautarecords/

Hollow Leg, Murder (2017)

Witchkiss, The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes (2018)

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Witchkiss Set July 13 Release for The Austere Curtins of Our Eyes

Posted in Whathaveyou on April 16th, 2018 by JJ Koczan

witchkiss

Down at the bottom of this post you’ll find the stream of the new track by Beacon, New York, heavy riffers Witchkiss. The trio work quickly to show their listeners what they’re all about: heavy-as-hell stomp, a somewhat inhuman feeling post-metal churn, and tonal the likes of which bands usually have to hone over a much longer period of time. Kudos to Witchkiss on the aural assault and on signing to Argonauta Records for the release of their debut long-player, The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes. How much the individual track may represent what Witchkiss do overall, hell if I know, but the song’s worth your time, so by all means, have at it.

Juy 13 is the release date and The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes will be on Argonauta Records, who sent the following update:

witchkiss the austere curtains of our eyes

WITCHKISS signed to ARGONAUTA RECORDS

Argonauta Records is thrilled to announce a new exciting band in the family: WITCHKISS from the States.

Articulate, elegant and ridiculously heavy, WITCHKISS are part of a growing movement coming out of upstate New York in the world of crushingly loud and punishing music. Built around raw emotion, sonic poetry and a sense of longing for a life lost, there is a haunting majesty to the work of WITCHKISS. These Beacon, NY natives are fusing the sounds of bands like Subrosa, Yob and Isis to craft sounds that contemplates the neverending cycle of life and death.

Their upcoming offering, The Austere Curtains Of Our Eyes is a journey through depressed unrealities, punishing truths, and a sense that something better can be made of this world.

Founded by Scott Prater, a longtime metalhead, and his partner Amber Burns, a veritable novice on drums, this debut release has been a long time in the making. With a line-up completed by the thrilling bass playing of Anthony DiBlasi holding down the bands massive bottom end the Hudson scene is buzzing about these new heavyweights. Building on the interplay between eerie female vocals and crushing growls, the groove driven WITCHKISS can’t help but to fascinate. This is the kind of doom metal that fans of Yob, Cult of Luna, Windhand and True Widow can’t help but to love.

Ready to take on the world with an appetite for constant touring, loud riffs and the passion to tackle just about every festival they can, WITCHKISS understand what it takes to grow in the insular art doom community. With music based on raw and uncomfortable emotions, WITCHKISS are striving to bring their craft to the next level. The Austere Curtains Of Our Eyes will be released ARGONAUTA Records and available from July 13th, 2018.

http://facebook.com/witchkissband
https://witchkiss.bandcamp.com/
www.argonautarecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords/
https://twitter.com/argonautarex
https://www.instagram.com/argonautarecords/

Witchkiss, “A Cripping Wind”

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