US blackened speed metallers Bewitcher will release their fourth full length, Spell Shock, on September 27 through Century Media Records. From the press release:
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All the best tunes belong to the Devil, and Portland’s bastard sons BEWITCHER have returned to take back rock n’ roll in Baphomet’s name.
“Starfire Maelstrom”, the pummeling first invocation from the vaunted trio’s upcoming album “Spell Shock” (due Sept 27th on Century Media Records) is the hardened and bloodthirsty sound of BEWITCHER - noise, filth, fury n’ all.
“It’s full of apocalyptic, speed demon vibes, and imagery taken from the worst of current events that only get more apocalyptic as time goes by,” says BEWITCHER frontman Mateo Von Bewitcher of Spell Shock’s lead missive. “It’s the feeling you get from ‘Fight Fire with Fire’ on [Metallica’s] ‘Ride the Lightning’. It’s immediate how it feeds into themes of human destruction and war, but also has cosmic elements. It’s a classic album opener.” Joining Von Bewitcher, bassist A. Magus, and drummer A. Hunter in the studio this time was none other longtime BEWITCHER fan Lars Frederiksen. Most of the world knows Frederiksen as a force in his own right, playing in the likes of Bay Area punk heroes Rancid, as well as his own Old Firm Casuals. While to some, it may have been an unlikely pairing with Frederiksen taking the producer’s seat, for everyone in the studio the connection was immediate. Says Frederiksen on Spell Shock: "It’s the best record I’ve ever produced for one of the best bands in the world."
Starfire Maelstrom has been released as the first single:
Stoked we're getting new Bewitcher this year, Cursed Be Thy Kingdom was a great record. From the single it seems like they're going for a more blackened approach this time around, kind of similar to what Hellripper did with Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags. Should be another solid release regardless.