Space Witch are a stoner doom metal band from the UK and this is their third album.
Space Witch’s style is instrumental, and takes from the sludge, stoner, and doom metal styles. Their new record – Mountains of Neptune – contains just a single eponymous song, but it’s a 37-minute behemoth, so you’d better prepare for a crushing, cosmic experience.
I’m a fan of the band’s past work, so it’s great to hear Space Witch once more. Their last album came out in in 2017, (Arcanum), and I think I’d assumed they no longer existed. I’m very pleased to be mistaken. Unlike Arcanum, there are no vocals this time, instead the band have opted for the instrumental approach of their earlier material. This is fine with me, as Mountains of Neptune hits the spot consistently and thoroughly.
As soon as Mountains of Neptune starts, with an immense doom riff, it’s instantly charismatic. You just know this is going to be very, very good.
Space Witch manage to provide us unworthy listeners with music that’s evocative and layered. The band have a knack for making such an ancient, well-worn style instantly engaging and absorbing. It’s earthy, underground, and raw, yet boasts the sort of immense psychedelic presence that many acts would kill for.
Mountains of Neptune delivers material that’s effortlessly enjoyable. It’s laden with effects that only enhance the core heaviness, adding detail and texture to the music. The guitars are riven with melodic touches that are frequently subtle, but have an impact that reaches far beyond their diminutive stature when compared to the colossal riffs that surround them.
The giant song is richly atmospheric. Echoes of sci-fi horror and dark malevolent voidborn entities haunt you as you become absorbed in Space Witch’s well-realised world. It’s a journey that’s over before you know it, one that you want to willingly take over and over again.
Submit yourself willingly to repeat exposures of this hypnotic, terror-filled mountainscape. Space Witch have crafted a high quality doom record, one which fans of bands such as Bongripper, Electric Wizard, Pelican, Sea Bastard, and Sleep would do well to immerse themselves in.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 