2017 seems to have been a year for posthumous
releases in metal. Several established bands like Pagan Altar and Bell Witch
have put out albums in which a featured musician died after a recording was
finished but before it could be released. It’s not the sort of trend that explicitly
“starts” by any means but Witherfall’s debut album was where I sure took
notice, as drummer Adam Sagan tragically passed on shortly a couple months
before its release. I hate to associate the band with such a tag, since
Nocturnes and Requiems is a strong debut by a group of musicians that clearly
knew what they were doing.
Considering how Witherfall is masterminded by
former White Wizzard vocalist Michael Joseph and current Iced Earth lead
guitarist Jake Dreyer, the music on here is more complex and perhaps deeper
than those associations would suggest. Comparisons can be immediately made to
Nevermore or Control Denied as the crunchy guitar tone allows for a mix of
shredding solos and elaborate riffs, the percussion is as lush and flexible as
it is hard hitting, and the vocals always retain their melody whether they opt
for mid-range bellows or layered falsettos.
These influences also reflect in the often
elaborate songwriting. With a majority of the songs reaching over six or seven
minute durations, a lot of ground is covered as songs like “Portrait” and “What
We Are Dying For” go from chunky speed metal to Opeth-esque acoustic segments
and back again without feeling at all haphazard. The exploration is made
consistent and even enhanced by the album’s dark tone and conceptual narrative,
though I’ll be the first to admit that I have no idea what said narrative is
about.
As with many power prog hybrids, the degree of
catchiness in the songwriting (or minimal amount thereof) may be this album’s
biggest concerns. There’s definitely purpose in the compositions and tracks
become distinct with further listens, but tracks like “Sacrifice” can feel a
bit long-winded due to the rather hook-free approach. Fortunately there are
still plenty of memorable moments with “End of Time” leaving the deepest
impression due to the gorgeous acoustic work in the beginning, commanding
gallops, and climactic choruses. “The Great Awakening” is also worth noting
thanks to some ominously melodic guitar work that could’ve come straight out of
the first two Testament albums.
While Witherfall’s debut may take a bit too
much absorption time to be seen as an immediate classic, it is a powerful album
that’ll no doubt leave a strong impression on fans of prog and power metal. I’m
glad that the band has chosen to carry on in the wake of their loss and I think
they’ll become a major player once they get more experience under their belt.
With the degrees of confidence and control that are already on display here,
the sky’s the limit.
Highlights:
“Portrait”
“What We Are Dying For”
“The Great Awakening”
“End of Time”
Final Grade: A-
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