Burning Witches
Inquisition
Napalm Records
Switzerland: home to high quality and efficient watches, as well as high quality and efficient metal bands? Based on Burning Witches’ output in their ten years as a band, the latter point could certainly be argued. With five albums already under their belts, their tenth anniversary sees the release of the pulsating ‘Inquisition’ – how does it fare? Immediately, the chorus to “Soul Eater” is quintessential traditional heavy metal, and those of an 80s-persuasion will feel right at home. At once heavy and anthemic, Laura Guldemond’s Halford-esque highs soar and encapsulate the band and the album’s sound in one. Yet it is not all straight-ahead heavy metal pomp, with “Release Me” bringing proceedings down a little in the album’s token ballad-like, whilst the swaggering “High Priestess Of The Night” provides a hard rock bend to the album’s make-up. However, these are mere detours from what ‘Inquisition’ provides best: galloping rhythms, riffs and dual-harmonies aplenty. Burning Witches are not here to reinvent the wheel, and their sixth album certainly does not change that. But the wheel is a cracking invention and does not warrant reinventing, and nor does the Swiss five-piece’s brand of heavy metal. If you want traditional heavy metal to set the pulse racing, then look no further than ‘Inquisition’.
Review by Lee Carter