Out of Brattleboro, Vermont and Amherst, Massachusetts comes Witch. The four-piece, consisting of legendary Dinosaur Jr. guitarist J. Mascis on drums, bassist Dave Sweetapple, and guitarists Asa Irons and Kyle Thomas, was born out of a mutual desire to bring rock’n’roll back to their hometown, which had become known for it’s flourishing freak folk scene (including Thomas and Irons’ band Feathers). 2006’s self-titled debut on Tee Pee Records was so full of memorable tunes and heavy psychedelic riffs that as a whole, listening was a self-indulgent experience, the rock equivalent to premium ice-cream. Despite the wide appeal, the songs’ similar texture left the listener wondering if the band had any other tricks up their sleeves. With their follow-up album Paralyzed, Witch thoroughly answers this question, illustrating a band that has grown into it’s own. Witch has produced a solid effort that will undoubtedly appeal to a wider audience as well as their steadfast fans. They’ve expanded their concept, incorporated high-energy punk rock with their classic psychedelic rock. Catchy garage punk tracks such as “Mutated,” and “1000mph,” place Thomas’s newfound snarl alongside squealing rock guitars while “Psychotic Rock,” and dreamy “Sweet Sue” show that the spacey, heavy sounds that have become their trademark have not been forgotten.
-Jamie Ludwig
Tee Pee Records: www.teepeerecords.com