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Currently touring Europe as an opener for Volbeat, the group have made a strong name for themselves in the alt scene, with their inspired horror aesthetics and outspoken political conscience. It’s no wonder the group shows no signs of slowing down.
Releasing on October 31st, ‘FEVEREATEN’ is the culmination of a rage that’s been building for years. The album practically simmers with it. Produced by Chris W. Ryan, who has worked with other rock bands like Newdad and Just Mustard, this is an even-heavier affair than the already daring ‘Congregation’. Tracks deal with varying themes of heartbreak and mental illness, but never lose the band’s signature fury towards society and leadership, incorporating lead vocalist Amy Hope Walpole’s history in the Church.
As the opener and first single release, ‘DEAD TO ME!’ is bold and aggressive in all the best ways. Rolling, forceful drums from Annabelle Joyce are a common element throughout both this song and the album, adding that driving force so desperately needed in punk. It screams of defiance and vengeance to kick us off in style and doesn’t falter throughout.
It’s hard to pinpoint the highlights of ‘FEVEREATEN’, but one thing is for sure: this is the best Walpole has sounded yet. From each guttural scream to each passionate yell, her vocals elevate already dynamic pieces to a higher level. Each member stands their ground, but without such a powerful frontwoman, this presence wouldn’t be felt to a fraction of that degree. Such personal, vivid lyricism, written primarily by Walpole, hits every bit harder with her raw delivery. On the titular track, she sings of how “God put my weight under his thumb/Told me I’d soon become undone”. The religious trauma of her past seems to always feature a place in Witch Fever’s writing and is shown here to be a truly impactful element.
Another strong point of the album comes through the track ‘SAFE’, released as the final single before full release. Here, the band puts their own spin on a heartbreak ballad, unearthing the deeper, vengeful extent behind it all. Bassist Alex Thompson comes into play here with the song’s gentler opening, undercutting a quiet foundation of bass. It works as not only an elevation to the track, but pretty much essential factor throughout. Hearing the band experiment with their sound in such newfound territory here is a bold move pulled off to perfection, thankfully, and can’t help but leave us wanting more in this vein.
In all, 'FEVEREATEN’ is an extremely strong sophomore addition to Witch Fever’s discography and proves the group’s resilience in an ever-changing industry. With lyrical content of both socially relevant quality and a poetic mastery, we can only hope this release earns them even more acclaim than before - something I couldn’t help but consider as the final track ‘I SEE IT’ fades into sharp distortion, a wonderfully dark crescendo.
Sofia Neal
Image: Frank Fieber