This is the fourth album from US black/speed metal band Bewitcher.
I was taken with Bewitcher’s style of black/speed/thrash metal ever since I first heard 2016’s Bewitcher. After this, the band unleashed a worthy follow up in 2019’s Under the Witching Cross, as well as 2021’s Cursed Be Thy Kingdom, which I missed out on. All of which brings us to Spell Shock, the band’s longest album yet at 40 minutes, (44 if you include the bonus track).
Bewitcher’s brand of blackened speed, thrash, and heavy metal has always captivated me. The entire blackthrash sound I enjoy, but is very hit and miss as a style, but Bewitcher have always stood out as something special. They just hit the spot with tremendous force. On Spell Shock Bewitcher infuse their sound with heavy metal thunder, making for a record that’s its own beast. The songs have that classic Bewitcher sound that’s clearly of the style it purports to be, yet somehow also manages to just be plain better than most.
Spell Shock is the sound of fiery riffs and apocalyptic attitude. The record boasts its fair share of screaming leads and engaging solos, and these crown the music like jewels glinting in the night. The rhythm guitars move from blackened darkness to speed metal aggression to jagged thrash to heavy metal flair. There’s catchiness, there are rusty hooks, and even outright anthems, (the title track is an earworm if there ever was one, but it has brought friends too). Bewitcher throw these materials all together at once, with enviable skill, and an ability to craft songs that stick in the mind like a blade. Basically, this is blackthrash via heavy metal, and it rules.
Spell Shock is very enjoyable and enormous fun. It’s high energy heavy metal played with speed and character. Hail Bewitcher!
Wonderbox Metal 