Wormwitch/Sadistic Ritual – Split (Review)

Wormwitch are a black metal band from Canada and Sadistic Ritual are a thrash metal band from the US.

Barring a couple of singles in 2022, this is the first we’ve heard from Wormwitch since 2021’s Wolf Hex, (also make sure you check out 2019’s Heaven That Dwells Within if you haven’t already), so these three songs – 16 minutes of new material – are a welcome sight.

Wormwitch open proceedings with Weapons Against Despair, which is a spiked assault of blackened riffs and snarled belligerence. The guitars just seem to jump out of the speakers; edged in venom and bright with melodic colour, yet cold and aggressive like sharpened steel. The other musical parts bring it all together nicely, and this is a corker of a song.

Rayonnant Banners fades up into a fury of old-school harshness that hits hard. The acidic vocals are rough and savage, but controlled in their rhythmic patterns to provide maximum impact. This track leans into Wormwitch’s crust influences, providing a compelling mix of bestial might and melodic depth. Once again the guitars stand out, but without overshadowing everything else. Also, the slower part at the end of the song will surely absolutely slay live.

Wormwitch’s final offering is Spells of Tartarus – it’s the longest cut here, and strikes me as somewhat of a mixture of the previous two tracks, while still having an identity of its own. It’s a blackened crust monster, bristling with hostility and thick malevolent violence. The first song had a touch of thrash to it, and Spells of Tartarus doubles down on this in places. It’s also the most atmospheric song of the three, with a near-tangible aura of threat and menace. This only increases as the song progresses, culminating in a storm of blistering blackened intensity that’s withering, until it slowly descends to nothingness.

These three songs have made me massively hungry for a new Wormwitch album. Based on this split alone, it’s going to be immense.

This is my first encounter with Sadistic Ritual, (who contain members of Vimur and Paladin), and they offer three tracks that total 11 minutes.

Obscurity’s Stare starts us off, revealing thrash metal that has an old-school Kreator/Sodom base, onto which has been grafted a blackened exoskeleton and progressive metal bionics. The end result is a short slice of jagged aggression that blends old-school aggression with colourful progressive technicality. It’s an intriguing mix, one that’s well-implemented and delivered.

After that we come to The Recusant, the split’s shortest cut. This continues the themes explored on its predecessor, only further develops the songwriting and reduces the blackened elements a touch. It’s a curious mix of lowbrow brutality and highbrow execution, bringing together feral thrash with sci-fi-feel psychedelia. Sadistic Ritual seem to know what they’re doing with their various influences, and The Recusant is a solid track.

The split ends with Reminiscence Unrealized, and Sadistic Ritual have saved the best for last. This song demonstrates the pinnacle of the band’s style. Everything comes together with practised precision, and brings a quality selection of riffs, melodies, and dynamics to the table.

I always enjoy a good split, and this is well worth your time. Sadistic Ritual give a good accounting of themselves, and Wormwitch actually exceeded my high expectations.

Make sure you give this some time.