King Witch formed
in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has steadily built a reputation as one of the more
consistent modern acts in the doom and heavy rock underground. Blending weighty
traditional doom with elements of classic metal and occasional stoner rock
flair, the band is fronted by Laura Donnelly,
whose commanding vocal presence has been a central part of their sound since
their debut. Their previous albums, "Under The Mountain" and "Body
Of Light," showed a steady evolution in songwriting, pacing, and
intensity, gaining them a strong following within doom circles and beyond.
"III"
feels like a natural extension of everything King
Witch has developed so far, and it's delivered with a sense of
confidence and focus. The band sticks closely to what works best for
them—slow-burning grooves, weighty riffs, and vocals that soar without sounding
theatrical. Compared to earlier releases, there’s a noticeable emphasis on
shorter, punchier songs that still manage to preserve the atmosphere and
density the genre calls for.
The
production is full-bodied and gives the band’s heavier tendencies the space
they need to hit hard without dragging. Riffs are thick but never muddled, and
the drums push the pace forward effectively, lending the album a sharper
momentum than its predecessors. The vocals remain the centerpiece, and Donnelly’s delivery carries conviction without
leaning too far into excess.
There’s a stronger sense of urgency on tracks like “Suffer In Life” and “Deal With The Devil,” which open the album with a direct and immediate feel. Mid-album tracks like “Sea Of Lies” and “Behind The Veil” manage to carry weight without feeling overwrought or sluggish. The band sounds tighter than ever, striking a balance between doom’s long-form weight and traditional heavy metal’s sense of motion.
The closing
song, “Last Great Wilderness,” offers a fitting end with a sense of scale that
doesn’t stretch into indulgence. The bonus CD-only cover of Soundgarden’s “Jesus Christ Pose” is an unexpected
but fitting tribute that’s delivered with conviction and control.
"III"
doesn’t try to change the identity of King Witch,
but it does refine and tighten it. It's a strong, well-paced, and fully
realized doom album that plays to the band’s strengths without becoming static
or overly familiar.
Score: 8.2
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