Yesterday (November 20th) Metal on Metal Records released ARKHAM WITCH “I Am Providence” CD, the 3rd album of this heavy metal band from UK. Commented the label:“If one thing can be said about this album, it’s that the shift in style is quite noticeable. While it pretty much still sounds like ARKHAM WITCH, that is: it’s predominantly old school British Heavy Metal rooted in the ’70s and ’80s tradition, most of the doom elements present on their previous releases are subdued here and replaced with some punk (MISFITS style) and thrash/crossover (M.O.D. style) leanings, showing through in the melodic choruses with backing vocals and an overall lighter feel, but also in some thrashy chunky riffs delivering the punches.
“When you first hear these songs they may leave you confused or even flabbergasted, but give this album more than one full spin and you may be rocking out to it very soon! This album is definitely a grower. Honestly, when we first heard “I Am Providence” (at that time it was 70 minutes long!) we had rather mixed feelings, but now we’re enjoying the heck out of most of these songs, singing along and just having fun… Well, meanwhile we had suggested to the band that they take some of those 31 songs and release them as an EP, which they agreed to (“Weird Tales” EP is out on the same day!), so now the album is just 48 minutes long and has 20 tracks (yes, they are pretty short, often around 2 minutes). And the lyrics (all songs are based on Lovecraft stories) are a big added value! Musically, it bears some similarities to bands like THE LAMP OF THOTH, DEEP SWITCH, HELL, TANK, MISFITS, THE BLOOD, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, MANILLA ROAD, CIRITH UNGOL and M.O.D., but it is a very peculiar album, and one that is best consumed together with your favourite booze!”
CD track listing:
1. A New English Gentleman [instrumental]
2. I Am Providence (1890 – 1937)
3. The Haunted Tomb (1917)
4. From Beyond (1920)
5. The Catacombs of Nephren-Ka (1921)
6. Re-Animator (1922)
7. The Rats in the Walls (1923)
8. Bring the Old Ones Down (1927)
9. Cthulhu Arise! (1926)
10. Yuggothian Sunrise [instrumental]
11. Dead but Dreaming (1926)
12. And What Man Knows Kadath? (1927)
13. The Colour out of Space (1927)
14. Necronomicon (1927)
15. Hastur the Unspeakable (1930)
16. Tsathoggua (1931)
17. Rebellion of the Shoggoths (1931)
18. The Esoteric Order of Dagon (1931)
19. Witch House (1932)
20. The Haunter of the Dark (1935)
Simon, Arkham Witch vocalist and songwriter, had to say about “I Am Providence”: “It’s definitely a continuation in the style of “The Lord of R’lyeh” and “Kult of Kutulu” – that kind of fun take on the pulpy side of Lovecraft and a sheer musical celebration of the man and his imagination and legacy in popular culture rather than an attempt to imitate in music his cosmic viewpoints and eldritch atmospheres.”
Guitarist Aldo also commented: “I just want to add on behalf of myself and the rest of the gang that this has been one fun album to do. I don’t want to scare all our fans and give too much away, but it’s going to sound a lot different to our previous releases. We are NOT changing our style or wanting to progress into something different. Simon just simply started writing the songs for the album in a very cool different approach and the rest of us went with the flow! The result… well, if Lovecraft was around today, he’d be cruising around in his car, blasting out this album full volume and banging his head!”
Metal On Metal Records have also re-issued “Legions Of The Deep”, the second full-length from Arkham Witch, which had been sold out for some time.
Both “Legions Of The Deep” and “I Am Providence” can be bought from Metal on Metal Records’ website (CD format) and the label’s Bandcamp page (digital download formats).
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