Band:	Void Witch
Album:	Horripilating Presence
Style:	Death doom metal
Release date:	July 26, 2024
Guest review by:	Blackcrowe

01. Grave Mistake
02. Second Demon
03. Malevolent Demiurge
04. Supernova Of Brain And Bone
05. Thousand-Eyed Stalactite
06. Horripilating Presence

Unyielding in Shadows

Death-doom metal takes you to dark, eerie places, creating a tough world that only the brave dare to explore. To stand out in this genre is hard, and many bands fail to do so. But Void Witch from Austin, Texas, has quickly gained attention. The band - Luke on bass and vocals, Nick and Jason on guitars, and Adrian on drums - brings raw power with its debut album, Horripilating Presence.

The album starts with “Grave Mistake,” which pulls you into a thick, heavy sound. Void Witch mixes slow, crushing riffs with sludge, classic thrash, and heavy metal, adding a touch of something more progressive. The guitars stand out, leading you through heavy riffs and solos, switching smoothly from clean to distorted tones. Pedal effects add more layers, making the sound even deeper.

Void Witch are great at creating dark, slow-building progressions that drag you deeper into their eerie world. The bass is solid, while Luke’s growls are strong and clear, focusing on themes of death, spirituality, and the supernatural. The drumming keeps everything grounded, even during the more experimental parts, keeping the same gloomy feel throughout the album. The cover art by Jaime Zuverza also fits the album perfectly, adding to the eerie atmosphere. In less than 40 minutes, the album makes its mark, with “Grave Mistake” being a highlight.

Though Horripilating Presence strikes a good balance, sometimes it sounds a lot like other bands like Acid Witch, Hooded Menace, and early Opeth. While this is impressive, it takes away from the album’s originality. At times, the vocals overpower the music, which can make the sound feel a bit too much. Void Witch seems to play it safe, sticking to familiar ideas instead of breaking new ground. Still, Void Witch’s debut deserves attention. Their blend of death-doom with a vintage twist and their ability to create a strong, unsettling atmosphere makes Horripilating Presence worth a listen.