It has long been our suspicion that Italian bands Witchsnake, Sonic Demon, Demonio. Wizard Master and Black Spell are the work of a small revolving collective of musicians, Desert Psychlist has no proof of this but it does seem like the same names (or variations of those names) keep cropping up again and again and the fact that all these "bands" seem to have connections with the same merchandise outlets and labels does add fuel to that theory. Whether our suspicions are founded or not does not really matter as each of these "bands" make a noise that is very pleasing to the ear, a fuzz fuelled and distortion drenched onslaught of guitar riffs and solos underscored by thunderous rhythms. The subject of todays review concerns the last of those names Black Spell who have just recently released their new album "Into Darkness", an opus in possession of all the filthiness and nastiness we've come to expect from the Italian scuzz/acid doom scene but played at a more traditionally doomic gait.
Opening/title track "Into Darkness" begins with a dark atmospheric echoing guitar motif before effects pedals are engaged and we are plunged into a world of distorted gnarliness worthy of Electric Wizard at their very best., all of which is accompanied by slightly sneery clean vocals telling us of "consuming numbness" and a "spirit of deception". before the song signs off in an onslaught of spiralling guitar. "The Omen" follows, its full on assault of crunchy chugging chord progressions and fuzz drenched bass is driven by uber busy drumming and is decorated in sleazy vocals but unlike its predecessor this song boasts a more stoner(ish) dynamic. There is no doubting the doom credentials of next track "Black Witchery" its mix of Sabbath and Wizard like proto riffage is twinned with a semi sung, semi-narrated vocal that references Succubus, and speaks of witches and "sons of the pentagram". "A Sinner's Hell" begins life experimental and slightly lysergic then erupts into a deliciously dank doom refrain replete with Iommi-esque guitar trills and string bends over a thunderous bass and drum groove that lets up only for a brief passage of eastern tinted heavy psych before sprinting for the finish line on another wave of gnarliness. The remainder of the album follows much similar paths with "Saturn's Death", "Winds of Doom" and "Dungeons of Death" all boasting a variety of heavily fuzzed and distorted refrains crunched out over punchy rhythms enhanced with swirling six string pyrotechnics and decorated with occult lyrical imagery. There are exceptions though with "Note For the Devil" allowing Black Spell to show us that they also have a bluesy side and the eerie "Enter the Shrine of the Black Gods" showing that if anyone out there is looking for someone to score a soundtrack for a horror movie then Black Spell might just be available for offers.
Whether Black Spell are part of a collective of musicians or they are a bona fide band does not detract from the quality of the doom they serve up with "Into Darkness", this is a scintillating fuzzed to the max collection of tunes that'll leave your ears ringing your head spinning and your face a melted puddle beneath your feet.
Check it out .....
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