┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │■ ■│ │ .-/ .-. │ │ _.-~ / ___ | ~-._ │ │ \:/ -~| / __/| .\:/ │ │ / || (:/:| \ │ │ / /\/| |:\___\| |\ \ │ │ / /:::|.::/:::/:.|:\ \ │ │ / /:::/ \\/:::/::/:::\ \ │ │ / .::\ \-~~~~-/\/:.. \ │ │ /..:::::\ /:::::..\ │ │ /::::::::- -::::::::\ │ │ \:::::-~ ~-:::::/ │ │ \:-~ ~-:/ │ │ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ P R E S E N T S │ │ │ │ │ │ + Burning Witches - Hexenhammer-(27361 45160) + │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Information ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Release Date.nov-11-2018 Encoder......L3.98.4 -V0 --lowpas ║ │ │║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │ │║ Year.........2018 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........14 ║ │ │║ Covers.......Yes Url... n/a ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Notes ║ │ │╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Artist : Burning Witches Rating : You Decide! ║ │ │║ Album : Hexenhammer-(27361 45160) Label : Nuclear Blast ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Description : ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Out of Switzerland, the ladies of Burning ║ │ │║ Witches arrived to scorch the Metal scene two ║ │ │║ short years ago, and now return Friday, November ║ │ │║ 9, 2018 with their latest album, Hexenhammer. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ A quick follow-up to the 2017 self-titled debut ║ │ │║ LP, and first since joining Nuclear Blast ║ │ │║ Records earlier this year, it marks the latest ║ │ │║ update to the winding journey the band has ║ │ │║ undertaken since descending from the Swiss Alps ║ │ │║ in 2016. Looking back, their home-grown self- ║ │ │║ titled demo was released late that first year, ║ │ │║ followed by a proper full-length in 2017, one ║ │ │║ produced by the legendary Marcel ôSchmierö ║ │ │║ Schirmer of Teutonic neighbors Destruction. A ║ │ │║ live sampler in early 2018 was the last ║ │ │║ independent release from the band before Nuclear ║ │ │║ Blast announced, on ValentineÆs Day 2018, that ║ │ │║ the band had signed. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ For Hexenhammer, Schmier again helms the ║ │ │║ production, and the cover art, by popular ║ │ │║ Hungarian Metal Artist Gyula, features an ║ │ │║ unnamed woman standing in front of a ║ │ │║ representation of the book, with all five ║ │ │║ Burning Witches flying free from pages as smoky ║ │ │║ ghosts, no doubt escaping the cruel fate of the ║ │ │║ words within. Behind this cover stands a dozen ║ │ │║ tracks which highlight the diverse, talented ║ │ │║ lineup of Seraina on vocals, Romana and Sonia on ║ │ │║ guitars, Jay on bass, and Lala on drums. With ║ │ │║ styles moving from Power, to Speed, to ║ │ │║ Progressive, to Death Metal, each context switch ║ │ │║ is done with an effortless ease on Burning ║ │ │║ WitchesÆ follow-up effort. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Titling the record Hexenhammer, the name is from ║ │ │║ the German term for the Malleus Maleficarum, ║ │ │║ otherwise known as the Hammer of Witches. Penned ║ │ │║ in the late fifteenth century by disgraced ║ │ │║ Catholic cleric Heinrich Kramer, this writing ║ │ │║ described complex theological reasons and ║ │ │║ methods for exterminating witches and ║ │ │║ witchcraft. To paraphrase Seraina, the book ║ │ │║ describes how to seek out witches and force ║ │ │║ confessions through torture, before ultimately ║ │ │║ executing any offenders. Witches were an easy ║ │ │║ target at the time, but overall, persecution for ║ │ │║ being ôdifferentö is neither a new topic nor an ║ │ │║ extinguished one, and that sense of repeated ║ │ │║ history comes through here as well. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Consisting of fourteen tracks in total, ôThe ║ │ │║ Witch Circleö serves as a subtle, spectral ║ │ │║ introduction before the raw power and scathing ║ │ │║ guitar of ôExecutedö enters the fray. Both in ║ │ │║ terms of sound and style, there are loose ║ │ │║ parallels to be made to Judas Priest and other ║ │ │║ NWOBHM pioneers, though Burning Witches are ║ │ │║ quick and careful to put a unique stamp on their ║ │ │║ influences, and always put forth a sound that is ║ │ │║ original. An early promotional video for ║ │ │║ ôExecutedö was released by the band, followed by ║ │ │║ a more thorough video for the title track soon ║ │ │║ thereafter. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Moving on, Seraina opens ôLords of Warö with a ║ │ │║ loud, impressive wail, backed by strong, ║ │ │║ screeching guitar from Romana and Sonia. ║ │ │║ Considering the historical neutrality of their ║ │ │║ home country, the subject matter is an ║ │ │║ interesting choice for the band. Then, ôDonÆt ║ │ │║ Cry My Tearsö is a rolling, sanguine ballad, ║ │ │║ with a soaring guitar solo. Furthermore, traces ║ │ │║ of Megadeth can be heard within ôMaiden of ║ │ │║ Steel,ö particularly during a slow breakdown ║ │ │║ halfway through; the rhythm guitar helps the ║ │ │║ vocals set a strong platform for the main guitar ║ │ │║ solo. Despite that track title, the Iron Maiden ║ │ │║ influence is instead more obvious during ôOpen ║ │ │║ Your Mind,ö a song which manages to mix the ║ │ │║ traditional Iron Maiden gallop with Thrash and ║ │ │║ an almost Nu Metal opening rhythm progression. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ The short interlude of ôDungeon of Infamyö is a ║ │ │║ short collection sound effects, namely rain, ║ │ │║ walking boots, moaning prisoners, and mumbled ║ │ │║ incantations, which serves as a lead-up to the ║ │ │║ crisp death march of ôDead Ender,ö a track which ║ │ │║ covers all the hallmarks of eighties Heavy ║ │ │║ Metal, including choral ôohsö and an ominous ║ │ │║ bell, all the while keeping the fresh, original ║ │ │║ vibe the band has seemingly perfected. Then ║ │ │║ comes the title-track, which exudes anger and ║ │ │║ persistence, with equal parts verse and pre- ║ │ │║ chorus leading up to the forceful chorus of ║ │ │║ ôHexenhammer!ö simply screamed over top the ║ │ │║ crushing rhythm progressions; a smattering of ║ │ │║ dueling solos take focus as the track rumbles to ║ │ │║ a close. The corresponding video for this track ║ │ │║ features shots of a monk, presumably Heinrich ║ │ │║ Kramer, penning the famous tome, mix with the ║ │ │║ band performing both the song itself and ║ │ │║ assorted mystical rites. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Other than the ballad of ôDonÆt Cry My Tears,ö ║ │ │║ the soaring ôPossessionö could be considered the ║ │ │║ lightest track on the album, relatively speaking ║ │ │║ û it is still a heavy slab of Speed and Power ║ │ │║ Metal, with more dueling solo work and a touch ║ │ │║ of Death Metal influence. The Death Metal vein ║ │ │║ continues through ôManeater,ö a dark traipse ║ │ │║ through the last of the bandÆs style changes. ║ │ │║ Some of the higher-pitched vocals are a bit out ║ │ │║ of place here over the stunted rhythm, but the ║ │ │║ guitar work is impressive enough to smooth any ║ │ │║ rough patches. This is the last original track ║ │ │║ on Hexenhammer, so the wailing outro could be ║ │ │║ taken as the close of the album itself, before ║ │ │║ the band moves on to its cover of DioÆs ôHoly ║ │ │║ Diver.ö Already a regular live number for the ║ │ │║ band, the classic cut receives proper studio ║ │ │║ treatment here; the band manages to record a ║ │ │║ nearly note-for-note replica while also putting ║ │ │║ their own touches on the track, particularly on ║ │ │║ vocals. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ With two self-released efforts already under ║ │ │║ their name, Hexenhammer is an impressive next ║ │ │║ step for the Swiss quartet Burning Witches; it ║ │ │║ deftly showcases their ability to mix a broad ║ │ │║ array of Metal genres while still keeping the ║ │ │║ material fresh and original. The recording and ║ │ │║ production gives the band a proper professional ║ │ │║ sound without introducing any polish or cleanup. ║ │ │║ That is why CrypticRock is pleased to award ║ │ │║ Hexenhammer 4 out of 5 stars. ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Review written by Adrian Breeman for ║ │ │║ www.crypticrock.com ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ Seraina Telli - Vocals ║ │ │║ Romana Kalkuhl - Guitars ║ │ │║ Sonia Nusselder - Guitars ║ │ │║ Jeanine Grob - Bass ║ │ │║ Lala Frischknecht - Drums ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │║ ║ │ │╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │╔═════════════════════╗ │ │║ Release Tracklist ║ │ │╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │ │ │ │ 01 - The Witch Circle [01:29] │ │ 02 - Executed [03:42] │ │ 03 - Lords Of War [03:38] │ │ 04 - Open Your Mind [05:18] │ │ 05 - Don┤t Cry My Tears [04:57] │ │ 06 - Maiden Of Steel [04:18] │ │ 07 - Dungeon Of Infamy [00:42] │ │ 08 - Dead Ender [05:10] │ │ 09 - Hexenhammer [06:43] │ │ 10 - Possession [04:06] │ │ 11 - Maneater [03:54] │ │ 12 - Holy Diver [04:02] │ │ 13 - Self Sacrifice (Bonus Track) [03:58] │ │ 14 - Don┤t Cry My Tears (Acoustic Version) (Bon [04:28] │ │ │ │ Total Length : [56:25 minn │ │ │ │ │ │ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ╔═════════════════════╗ │ │ ║ Greetings To: ║ │ │ ╚═════════════════════╝ │ │ │ │ Too all people who contributes to make this │ │ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │■ ■│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘