Review Summary: An epic metal embrace on the line between acquired taste and intentionally obscure
As Smoulder’s third album kicks off with the speedy “Water Wars,” it’s become clear that the group has left behind their doom roots in favor of a full epic metal embrace. It’s a pretty good opener as dramatic vocals and fiery guitar work compete above crunchy bass and frantic drums. “Shadow Of The Vulture” follows it up as the sort of anthem that reminds me of something that a band like Blood Star would do, featuring an upbeat chug and a catchy chorus whose layered bellows of ‘blood, fire, death’ proudly broadcast one of the album’s driving influences.
The musicians keep that fire burning over the course of Witch Wife In An Alien World, even if the results are already more controversial this time around. Much has already been made of the more unhinged vocal delivery and the greater emphasis on wicked sneers and almost atonal melodies ala Cirith Ungol. While the acrobatics don’t quite have the finesse of a John Arch, they still have a lot of character and the lowered backing vocals help round things out well enough. It helps that the instrumentalists keep a healthy presence in the mix with plenty of dexterity on display.
However, that dexterity can sometimes come at the expense of the songs not being as memorable here as before. It’s never egregious but the intriguing forays into blasting black metal sections on songs like “Crush The Neophytes” and “Cathedral Of The Trees” are prone to getting caught up in their rather jumbled structures. Fortunately, “Smouldering Remains” comes back to close the album on a higher note with a bass rumble and a dark chorus that may come the closest to hitting those old doom vibes.
While I find Witch Wife In An Alien World to be a step down from Smoulder’s first two full-lengths, it’s more of a rocky transitional effort than anything disastrous. It’s clearly meant to be more of a grower in comparison with some decisions made straddling the lines of acquired taste and intentionally obscure. Fortunately, the musicianship is packed with energy and there are some great songs at hand. At the very least, one gets the sense that the lessons learned here could be applied with even greater focus on the next go around.
