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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Burning Witches - Hexenhammer-(27361 45160) + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
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│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.nov-11-2018 Encoder......L3.98.4 -V0 --lowpas ║ │
│║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2018 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........14 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... n/a ║ │
│║ ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Burning Witches Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Hexenhammer-(27361 45160) Label : Nuclear Blast ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Out of Switzerland, the ladies of Burning ║ │
│║ Witches arrived to scorch the Metal scene two ║ │
│║ short years ago, and now return Friday, November ║ │
│║ 9, 2018 with their latest album, Hexenhammer. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ A quick follow-up to the 2017 self-titled debut ║ │
│║ LP, and first since joining Nuclear Blast ║ │
│║ Records earlier this year, it marks the latest ║ │
│║ update to the winding journey the band has ║ │
│║ undertaken since descending from the Swiss Alps ║ │
│║ in 2016. Looking back, their home-grown self- ║ │
│║ titled demo was released late that first year, ║ │
│║ followed by a proper full-length in 2017, one ║ │
│║ produced by the legendary Marcel ôSchmierö ║ │
│║ Schirmer of Teutonic neighbors Destruction. A ║ │
│║ live sampler in early 2018 was the last ║ │
│║ independent release from the band before Nuclear ║ │
│║ Blast announced, on ValentineÆs Day 2018, that ║ │
│║ the band had signed. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ For Hexenhammer, Schmier again helms the ║ │
│║ production, and the cover art, by popular ║ │
│║ Hungarian Metal Artist Gyula, features an ║ │
│║ unnamed woman standing in front of a ║ │
│║ representation of the book, with all five ║ │
│║ Burning Witches flying free from pages as smoky ║ │
│║ ghosts, no doubt escaping the cruel fate of the ║ │
│║ words within. Behind this cover stands a dozen ║ │
│║ tracks which highlight the diverse, talented ║ │
│║ lineup of Seraina on vocals, Romana and Sonia on ║ │
│║ guitars, Jay on bass, and Lala on drums. With ║ │
│║ styles moving from Power, to Speed, to ║ │
│║ Progressive, to Death Metal, each context switch ║ │
│║ is done with an effortless ease on Burning ║ │
│║ WitchesÆ follow-up effort. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Titling the record Hexenhammer, the name is from ║ │
│║ the German term for the Malleus Maleficarum, ║ │
│║ otherwise known as the Hammer of Witches. Penned ║ │
│║ in the late fifteenth century by disgraced ║ │
│║ Catholic cleric Heinrich Kramer, this writing ║ │
│║ described complex theological reasons and ║ │
│║ methods for exterminating witches and ║ │
│║ witchcraft. To paraphrase Seraina, the book ║ │
│║ describes how to seek out witches and force ║ │
│║ confessions through torture, before ultimately ║ │
│║ executing any offenders. Witches were an easy ║ │
│║ target at the time, but overall, persecution for ║ │
│║ being ôdifferentö is neither a new topic nor an ║ │
│║ extinguished one, and that sense of repeated ║ │
│║ history comes through here as well. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Consisting of fourteen tracks in total, ôThe ║ │
│║ Witch Circleö serves as a subtle, spectral ║ │
│║ introduction before the raw power and scathing ║ │
│║ guitar of ôExecutedö enters the fray. Both in ║ │
│║ terms of sound and style, there are loose ║ │
│║ parallels to be made to Judas Priest and other ║ │
│║ NWOBHM pioneers, though Burning Witches are ║ │
│║ quick and careful to put a unique stamp on their ║ │
│║ influences, and always put forth a sound that is ║ │
│║ original. An early promotional video for ║ │
│║ ôExecutedö was released by the band, followed by ║ │
│║ a more thorough video for the title track soon ║ │
│║ thereafter. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Moving on, Seraina opens ôLords of Warö with a ║ │
│║ loud, impressive wail, backed by strong, ║ │
│║ screeching guitar from Romana and Sonia. ║ │
│║ Considering the historical neutrality of their ║ │
│║ home country, the subject matter is an ║ │
│║ interesting choice for the band. Then, ôDonÆt ║ │
│║ Cry My Tearsö is a rolling, sanguine ballad, ║ │
│║ with a soaring guitar solo. Furthermore, traces ║ │
│║ of Megadeth can be heard within ôMaiden of ║ │
│║ Steel,ö particularly during a slow breakdown ║ │
│║ halfway through; the rhythm guitar helps the ║ │
│║ vocals set a strong platform for the main guitar ║ │
│║ solo. Despite that track title, the Iron Maiden ║ │
│║ influence is instead more obvious during ôOpen ║ │
│║ Your Mind,ö a song which manages to mix the ║ │
│║ traditional Iron Maiden gallop with Thrash and ║ │
│║ an almost Nu Metal opening rhythm progression. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The short interlude of ôDungeon of Infamyö is a ║ │
│║ short collection sound effects, namely rain, ║ │
│║ walking boots, moaning prisoners, and mumbled ║ │
│║ incantations, which serves as a lead-up to the ║ │
│║ crisp death march of ôDead Ender,ö a track which ║ │
│║ covers all the hallmarks of eighties Heavy ║ │
│║ Metal, including choral ôohsö and an ominous ║ │
│║ bell, all the while keeping the fresh, original ║ │
│║ vibe the band has seemingly perfected. Then ║ │
│║ comes the title-track, which exudes anger and ║ │
│║ persistence, with equal parts verse and pre- ║ │
│║ chorus leading up to the forceful chorus of ║ │
│║ ôHexenhammer!ö simply screamed over top the ║ │
│║ crushing rhythm progressions; a smattering of ║ │
│║ dueling solos take focus as the track rumbles to ║ │
│║ a close. The corresponding video for this track ║ │
│║ features shots of a monk, presumably Heinrich ║ │
│║ Kramer, penning the famous tome, mix with the ║ │
│║ band performing both the song itself and ║ │
│║ assorted mystical rites. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Other than the ballad of ôDonÆt Cry My Tears,ö ║ │
│║ the soaring ôPossessionö could be considered the ║ │
│║ lightest track on the album, relatively speaking ║ │
│║ û it is still a heavy slab of Speed and Power ║ │
│║ Metal, with more dueling solo work and a touch ║ │
│║ of Death Metal influence. The Death Metal vein ║ │
│║ continues through ôManeater,ö a dark traipse ║ │
│║ through the last of the bandÆs style changes. ║ │
│║ Some of the higher-pitched vocals are a bit out ║ │
│║ of place here over the stunted rhythm, but the ║ │
│║ guitar work is impressive enough to smooth any ║ │
│║ rough patches. This is the last original track ║ │
│║ on Hexenhammer, so the wailing outro could be ║ │
│║ taken as the close of the album itself, before ║ │
│║ the band moves on to its cover of DioÆs ôHoly ║ │
│║ Diver.ö Already a regular live number for the ║ │
│║ band, the classic cut receives proper studio ║ │
│║ treatment here; the band manages to record a ║ │
│║ nearly note-for-note replica while also putting ║ │
│║ their own touches on the track, particularly on ║ │
│║ vocals. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ With two self-released efforts already under ║ │
│║ their name, Hexenhammer is an impressive next ║ │
│║ step for the Swiss quartet Burning Witches; it ║ │
│║ deftly showcases their ability to mix a broad ║ │
│║ array of Metal genres while still keeping the ║ │
│║ material fresh and original. The recording and ║ │
│║ production gives the band a proper professional ║ │
│║ sound without introducing any polish or cleanup. ║ │
│║ That is why CrypticRock is pleased to award ║ │
│║ Hexenhammer 4 out of 5 stars. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Review written by Adrian Breeman for ║ │
│║ www.crypticrock.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Seraina Telli - Vocals ║ │
│║ Romana Kalkuhl - Guitars ║ │
│║ Sonia Nusselder - Guitars ║ │
│║ Jeanine Grob - Bass ║ │
│║ Lala Frischknecht - Drums ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - The Witch Circle [01:29] │
│ 02 - Executed [03:42] │
│ 03 - Lords Of War [03:38] │
│ 04 - Open Your Mind [05:18] │
│ 05 - Don┤t Cry My Tears [04:57] │
│ 06 - Maiden Of Steel [04:18] │
│ 07 - Dungeon Of Infamy [00:42] │
│ 08 - Dead Ender [05:10] │
│ 09 - Hexenhammer [06:43] │
│ 10 - Possession [04:06] │
│ 11 - Maneater [03:54] │
│ 12 - Holy Diver [04:02] │
│ 13 - Self Sacrifice (Bonus Track) [03:58] │
│ 14 - Don┤t Cry My Tears (Acoustic Version) (Bon [04:28] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [56:25 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
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