Most people who know Witchrot's name learned it the same way — that infamous 2018 Facebook post that sent the Toronto band viral, in which then-frontman and now-guitarist Peter Turik wrote, "Due to the unfortunate reality of our guitarist fucking my girlfriend of almost 7 years, Witchrot will be taking an extended hiatus." It was certainly an unorthodox way to announce an ultimately short-lived break, and the worldwide attention led the band to shift around its lineup and soldier on.
Which brings us to now: most of the people who check out Witchrot's Live in the Hammer (originally released last year with an international release this Friday), will likely be people who remember the band's name from this saga. Witchrot are more than aware of this fact; rather than let it be an elephant in the room, they embrace the unorthodoxy of their sudden fame, even alluding to "international press over band disputes, betrayals, and a temporary break up" in the album's press kit.
So, is Witchrot's music good enough to garner interest outside of a funny internet moment from five years ago? Live in the Hammer makes a strong case that it's time for us to let the band outgrow the joke and allow the music to stand on its own. Live in the Hammer, recorded live at Hamilton's Boxcar Sound Recording, boasts a customarily short tracklist of long songs — album opener "Medley - Druid Smoke Part 1 (The Keeper) / Crypt Reaper / Burn Me Down," clocks in at nearly 20 minutes and sounds like an entire EP on its own. While it's hard to agree that the three-part song needs to be one overly long epic instead of three individual ones, it's true that they're probably be best listened to together anyway — and what is doom metal known for if not songs that trudge along for over 10 minutes, barely changing tempo or introducing dynamics? For what it is, Witchrot's newest effort is more than solid, folding in enough texture and feeling to elevate it beyond by-the-books doom.
While Turik's guitar sound is impressive and his work is just right for the songs, it's the traditional heavy metal-tinged vocals of Lea Reto that really lift these songs, particularly on penultimate track and album highlight "Colder Hands." It's worth noting that after the album's second track, "Dug Your Grave / Strega," the songs get considerably shorter, with the longer and shorter songs broken up by interlude "Acedia." In some ways, the record feels like two EPs sewn together, but seeing as how it was recorded live in studio, the choice to release the songs as one album makes sense.
Ultimately, Live in the Hammer is sure to please any old school Witchrot fans, as well as doom metal fans who might chance upon the band. Maybe it'll even show a listener or two that there's much more to Witchrot than that old Facebook post.
Ultimately, Live in the Hammer is sure to please any old school Witchrot fans, as well as doom metal fans who might chance upon the band. Maybe it'll even show a listener or two that there's much more to Witchrot than that old Facebook post.