Review by Carl on September 17, 2024.

It has been quite the wait, but Witchfukker has finally gobbed up their first full length, and I can say that it's certainly a malicious blob of black bile and phlegm that has been spit at this unsuspecting world.

Being underground old-school metal in their utterly relentless ways, the band plow themselves through a collection of maliciously blackened sounding collection of putrid sounding, and especially primitive sort of extreme metal. While it had me thinking of the early stuff by acts such as Sarcofago, Mayhem, Psychic Possessor, Sadistik Exekution, Vulcano, Beherit, and Mutilator (and more of the like), I can't really point to a particular band that this sounds like. An impressive feature, because this lands Witchfukker pretty much in a league of their own. Granted, the ingredients used here all have a familiar sound to them, but it's what the band does with them that makes it click, in their own way. It's all old school and underground as fuck, of course. From the primitive blasts to the angry swarming guitar riffing, sharp vitriolic leads, and cavernous growling vocals, it all has that old time-y obscure feeling to it. That the band took their influences and molded them into a collection of varied tracks with something as a face of their own is absolutely admirable.

In practice, this gives us tracks that are surprisingly varied, utilizing both blunt, primitive riffing underpinned by speedy percussive blasting, as well as stomping midtempo sections and crawling, doomed-out parts, with these last ones calling to mind names such as Dream Death or Saint Vitus. This acidic concoction is poured into simple but deliciously nasty songs, surrounded by a pitch-black, pretty volatile atmosphere. The production keeps it all suitably obscure, while still sounding clear as day. The balance between the separate instruments is pretty good, even if the bass could've used more room up front in the mix. I have to say that I have seldom heard of a production job that so effortlessly straddles the line between underground and old-school atmosphere on one side, and clarity and balance on the other. This is a damn fine job indeed, although I am again going to state that I would not have minded more low-end in the mix.

For a debut full-length, this is quite an impressive album. It sounds excellent, while it dishes out great music rolled into a malignant blackened style of thrash/death metal, with added points for the enthusiasm on show throughout. It is one of those albums that also keeps growing the more you hear it, so I don't think I'll be tiring of this one just yet. This is a bloody good slice of underground delight, that I can recommend to all into authentic old-school metal-isms, for sure!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Carl on September 17, 2024.

It has been quite the wait, but Witchfukker has finally gobbed up their first full length, and I can say that it's certainly a malicious blob of black bile and phlegm that has been spit at this unsuspecting world.

Being underground old-school metal in their utterly relentless ways, the band plow themselves through a collection of maliciously blackened sounding collection of putrid sounding, and especially primitive sort of extreme metal. While it had me thinking of the early stuff by acts such as Sarcofago, Mayhem, Psychic Possessor, Sadistik Exekution, Vulcano, Beherit, and Mutilator (and more of the like), I can't really point to a particular band that this sounds like. An impressive feature, because this lands Witchfukker pretty much in a league of their own. Granted, the ingredients used here all have a familiar sound to them, but it's what the band does with them that makes it click, in their own way. It's all old school and underground as fuck, of course. From the primitive blasts to the angry swarming guitar riffing, sharp vitriolic leads, and cavernous growling vocals, it all has that old time-y obscure feeling to it. That the band took their influences and molded them into a collection of varied tracks with something as a face of their own is absolutely admirable.

In practice, this gives us tracks that are surprisingly varied, utilizing both blunt, primitive riffing underpinned by speedy percussive blasting, as well as stomping midtempo sections and crawling, doomed-out parts, with these last ones calling to mind names such as Dream Death or Saint Vitus. This acidic concoction is poured into simple but deliciously nasty songs, surrounded by a pitch-black, pretty volatile atmosphere. The production keeps it all suitably obscure, while still sounding clear as day. The balance between the separate instruments is pretty good, even if the bass could've used more room up front in the mix. I have to say that I have seldom heard of a production job that so effortlessly straddles the line between underground and old-school atmosphere on one side, and clarity and balance on the other. This is a damn fine job indeed, although I am again going to state that I would not have minded more low-end in the mix.

For a debut full-length, this is quite an impressive album. It sounds excellent, while it dishes out great music rolled into a malignant blackened style of thrash/death metal, with added points for the enthusiasm on show throughout. It is one of those albums that also keeps growing the more you hear it, so I don't think I'll be tiring of this one just yet. This is a bloody good slice of underground delight, that I can recommend to all into authentic old-school metal-isms, for sure!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Carl on February 6, 2024.

On offer here are two bands that would go on to try to put the country of France on the extreme metal map, Loudblast and Agressor. Both would go on to reach a modest rate of success, but I do not have the impression that either got beyond the level of insider tip. At least not much further than their home country or its neighbors, it seems.

Kicking off proceedings are Loudblast, an act that sounds pretty thrash metal orientated here, but would adopt more of a death metal edge further on in their career. Honesty dictates me to admit that I never was that impressed by them, for me they always remained an act that was merely 'OK', and nothing more, really. As mentioned, these early recordings by the band sees them operating in thrash metal territory, kinda akin to other acts like Belgium's Cyclone, Germany's Darkness, Estigia from Spain, while at their most fierce, I hear Sweden's Merciless popping up as well. Their brand of metal is very riff-driven, giving me this sped-up Bay Area thrash feeling, and makes use of a lot of different parts, tempo's and breaks. At times they go fast, other times they do their thing at midtempo, then speed it up again, and so on. It's the kind of stuff you need to take your time for to let it all sink in, and that's not really my bag, you know. It must be said that these guys are way above decent musicians, as evidenced by the great solo's and excellent execution, but the bulk of their material doesn't do much for me, I'm afraid. It's just too busy and crowded, music-wise, but the bland gruff thrash vocals of Stéphane Buriez get on my nerves a bit as well. However, I do admit that there is one outlier, and that is the second cut "Let the Blood Run Red", that starts off as a slow Voivod song, but speeds up to a decent German thrash style banger, to culminate in a beefed up Megadeth inspired section, with some lethal riffing and lead work present. It's by far the one Loudblast track that had me raising my eyebrows and mouthing "Yeah!" to myself. The rest of their stuff not so much, though.

I have more appreciation for their compatriots Agressor. Taking more of their cues from the early works of Bathory, Kreator, Wehrmacht, Sadus, Minotaur and Sodom, this stuff is faster, simpler, and a good deal more aggressive than what Loudblast delivered on the A-side of this LP. It has speedy riffing, an audible bass that sounds crunchy as hell, a vicious croaking vocal style, and a drummer that gives me the impression like he was raised on strong coffee loaded with handfuls of sugar and meth, delivering a truly frenzied performance. The overal execution is somewhat rough around the edges, and not all of the transitions between the different sections go as smooth, but that is made up for by the enthusiasm the band displays throughout their side of the record. It's not all relentless thrash all the time, though. In a track like "Bloodfeast", Agressor lets the influence of old US speed/thrash bands like Hallows Eve, Abattoir, and the first few Metallica and Exodus albums trickle in, and this to great effect, giving the abrasive thrash/death metal some variation and room to breathe. It's a welcome something on an offering that is brimming with belligerence and near unchecked aggression.

Both bands would go on to release further albums, to eventually break up in the course of the 90's, as well as reforming later on to continue where they left off. As I said earlier, Loudblast never really managed to capture my interest to the fullest, capable as they are at what they do. This is purely a matter of personal taste, because I know people who hold them in very high regard. Agressor did manage to get my attention with their absolutely awesome "Neverending Destiny" debut album, an offering of high speed thrash/death metal that should not be missed by anyone with any heart for the style, it's just that incredible. After that, the music became more intricate, and while still good, it never topped their debut for me.

This split LP shows both bands at the crude and somewhat naive beginning of their journey, and that makes this an interesting recording well enough, but to get the full scope of what both are about, their albums are probably the most reliable routes to discovery.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Review by Carl on February 6, 2024.

On offer here are two bands that would go on to try to put the country of France on the extreme metal map, Loudblast and Agressor. Both would go on to reach a modest rate of success, but I do not have the impression that either got beyond the level of insider tip. At least not much further than their home country or its neighbors, it seems.

Kicking off proceedings are Loudblast, an act that sounds pretty thrash metal orientated here, but would adopt more of a death metal edge further on in their career. Honesty dictates me to admit that I never was that impressed by them, for me they always remained an act that was merely 'OK', and nothing more, really. As mentioned, these early recordings by the band sees them operating in thrash metal territory, kinda akin to other acts like Belgium's Cyclone, Germany's Darkness, Estigia from Spain, while at their most fierce, I hear Sweden's Merciless popping up as well. Their brand of metal is very riff-driven, giving me this sped-up Bay Area thrash feeling, and makes use of a lot of different parts, tempo's and breaks. At times they go fast, other times they do their thing at midtempo, then speed it up again, and so on. It's the kind of stuff you need to take your time for to let it all sink in, and that's not really my bag, you know. It must be said that these guys are way above decent musicians, as evidenced by the great solo's and excellent execution, but the bulk of their material doesn't do much for me, I'm afraid. It's just too busy and crowded, music-wise, but the bland gruff thrash vocals of Stéphane Buriez get on my nerves a bit as well. However, I do admit that there is one outlier, and that is the second cut "Let the Blood Run Red", that starts off as a slow Voivod song, but speeds up to a decent German thrash style banger, to culminate in a beefed up Megadeth inspired section, with some lethal riffing and lead work present. It's by far the one Loudblast track that had me raising my eyebrows and mouthing "Yeah!" to myself. The rest of their stuff not so much, though.

I have more appreciation for their compatriots Agressor. Taking more of their cues from the early works of Bathory, Kreator, Wehrmacht, Sadus, Minotaur and Sodom, this stuff is faster, simpler, and a good deal more aggressive than what Loudblast delivered on the A-side of this LP. It has speedy riffing, an audible bass that sounds crunchy as hell, a vicious croaking vocal style, and a drummer that gives me the impression like he was raised on strong coffee loaded with handfuls of sugar and meth, delivering a truly frenzied performance. The overal execution is somewhat rough around the edges, and not all of the transitions between the different sections go as smooth, but that is made up for by the enthusiasm the band displays throughout their side of the record. It's not all relentless thrash all the time, though. In a track like "Bloodfeast", Agressor lets the influence of old US speed/thrash bands like Hallows Eve, Abattoir, and the first few Metallica and Exodus albums trickle in, and this to great effect, giving the abrasive thrash/death metal some variation and room to breathe. It's a welcome something on an offering that is brimming with belligerence and near unchecked aggression.

Both bands would go on to release further albums, to eventually break up in the course of the 90's, as well as reforming later on to continue where they left off. As I said earlier, Loudblast never really managed to capture my interest to the fullest, capable as they are at what they do. This is purely a matter of personal taste, because I know people who hold them in very high regard. Agressor did manage to get my attention with their absolutely awesome "Neverending Destiny" debut album, an offering of high speed thrash/death metal that should not be missed by anyone with any heart for the style, it's just that incredible. After that, the music became more intricate, and while still good, it never topped their debut for me.

This split LP shows both bands at the crude and somewhat naive beginning of their journey, and that makes this an interesting recording well enough, but to get the full scope of what both are about, their albums are probably the most reliable routes to discovery.

Rating: 7 out of 10