ALBUM REVIEW: Space Witch - "Arcanum"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 09/06/2017

Label: Hevisike Records

The band still sound like a collaboration between Bongripper, Hawkwind and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to create the ultimate sci-fi B-movie soundtrack, but  this latest release sees them develop their cosmic barrage further out into the void., they showcase a leaner, meaner Space Witch that still push the boundaries of heaviness but with a more streamlined attack.

“Arcanum” CD//CS//DD//LP track listing:

1. Cosmonoid

2. Astro Genocide

3. Hex Solaris

4. BattleHag

The Review:

Stoke on Trent intergalactic voyagers Space Witch make a welcome return with new album “Arcanum”. Thankfully, the band still sound like a collaboration between Bongripper, Hawkwindand the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to create the ultimate sci-fi B-movie soundtrack. This latest release sees them develop their cosmic barrage further out into the void.

“Cosmonoid” and “Battle Hag” are colossal slabs of super-dense riffage that follow the mind-expanding template of the band’s stellar 2014 debut LP. Even though both tracks clock in somewhere around the fifteen minute mark, they showcase a leaner, meaner Space Witch that still push the boundaries of heaviness but with a more streamlined attack. 

The two shorter tracks here, “Astro Genocide” and “Hex Solaris”, are the most surprising and give hints of where the band may head in future. The former begins in familiar spaced-out doom territory but takes a left turn into the unknown with an unexpected shift into a pummelling up-tempo groove. The shocks come thick and fast from here as the band introduce vocals for the first time. The musical backing begins to negotiate off-kilter riffs before launching into a furious blastbeat fuelled finale. All this makes for an exhilarating ride that shows that Space Witch are just as effective, if not more so, when condensing their massive ambitions into structures approaching normal song length.

“Hex Solaris” initially wrong-foots the listener with snatches of jazz before a huge lumbering riff destroys the quiet. The booming vocals are present right from the start here and feel better integrated then their surprise appearance late into “Astro Genocide”. This track best demonstrates the progress the band has made in expanding its sonic spectrum without diluting its immense power.

“Arcanum” is a firm step forward by Space Witch. Nowhere in the galaxy is safe from these riffs.

“Arcanum” will be available to preorder/buy here

Band info: Facebook|| Bandcamp