01. Red Rocking Chair
02. Culling Line
03. Aethernet
04. Hold Up, Say What?
05. Go-getter
06. Starting Line
07. Turn On The Light
08. Angel On The Wayside
09. The Welterweight
10. Saturn Song

All Them Witches are back and despite going through the House Of Mirrors they've returned with something slightly more straightforward this time.

All Them Witches are a rock band formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2012 whose name derives from the fictional book of witchcraft featured in the classic 1968 horror film Rosemary's Baby. They are widely praised in the hard rock scene for their distinctive style that blends stoner, blues, psychedelic, and progressive rock, and for their lengthy instrumental jams and merging hypnotic sounds with heavy, groovy, fuzz-toned guitars. The band have come through a turbulent period in recent years from which they nearly disbanded after the departure of founding drummer Robby Staebler in 2024. Now after introducing new drummer Christian Powers to the fold they've revitalized the rhythm section, and 6 years after the release of Nothing As The Ideal (2020) they've returned with their 7th full-length album, House Of Mirrors.

Through House Of Mirrors they've returned tighter and more polished than ever, and with what is arguably their most straightforward and easy-listening album yet. Here they've taken a step back from the hazy psychedelic sounds, lengthy jamming, and slightly unpredictable compositions from their previous releases, favouring a heavier traditional doom, hard rock, and blues approach. The album features 10 catchy, mostly radio-friendly songs with a 43-minute runtime where the arrangements are generally shorter and tighter. The songwriting is more cohesive and accessible, and the production is punchier and weightier whilst still retaining an organic sound. This is a fresh and energizing comeback that might appeal more to newcomers of the band, but longtime fans might think this is a step too far from their roots. Either way, coming into this album with an open mind is recommended.

One of the most noticeable changes is the new drummer Powers, who adds more energy and flair to the rhythm section, but as a result this sacrifices the loose rhythmic beats of former drummer Staebler. There's a noticeably darker tone with increased emotional depth in songwriting as well. Most of this is due to vocalists Ben McLeod and Charles Michael Parks Jr. who between each other pull off their most varied, passionate, and arguably strongest vocal performance to date. From Parks's Southern charm and distorted, husky singing to McLeod's bluesy back-up harmonies they simply steal the show here.

From its slow doom tempos, fuzzy guitars, and heavy bass, the dark atmospheric revamp of the traditional 1920s Appalachian folk song "Red Rocking Chair" is the band's heaviest song to date. This is in contrast to the Southern twang and lengthy blues solo of "Aethernet", the ultra-groovy psych "Hold Up, Say What?" with its sudden and unpredictable tempo change midway, the ZZ Top-inspired classic blues rock "Angel On The Wayside", and the closing two-part highlight in which "The Welterweight" merges into "Saturn Song". These two songs finish the album in memorable fashion, particularly the spacey and progressive "Saturn Song" in which Ben McLeod pulls off a staggering vocal display.

Although the band's core style and sound still remain from their previous albums they've taken a noticeable step in a different direction here on House Of Mirrors. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, though; there are still moments drawn from their glorious discography scattered throughout this album. The psychedelic elements, stoner grooves, and bluesy leads are still a shining point, just as they were in albums beforehand, but I also welcome their heavier and more accessible approach myself. Most importantly, the vocals have really stepped up a gear, some of the solos are amongst their best yet, and the new drummer fits in so conveniently, too. It might not go down as the best album in their discography, but it's still a worthy comeback after 6 turbulent years and could be a good transitioning point for them as they move from here on.

Performance:	8
Songwriting:	7
Originality:	7
Production:	7