Hellwitch - Omnipotent Convocation

From way back in the late 80’s and early 90’s (during my trading days) when Pat Ranieri and I used to trade videos and demo tapes back and forth to one another, Hellwitch has been one of those memorable bands from my youth. They just stood out as one of the best in that tremendous rush that emanated from the so-called underground of Florida. Aside from some great demos, the 1990 masterpiece Syzygial Miscreancy and a couple of EP’s Hellwitch were not given even close to the accolades they deserved. Well, they’re back with a newer full-length titled Omnipotent Convocation, and it is one of the better ‘comebacks’ in metal music’s celebrated underbelly.

From the get-go, this album takes the early 90’s death metal sound and not only brings it up to date, but keeps every bit of the fury and style that made the scene legendary. While some comparisons could be made to Death, it’s unfair to place such restraints on Hellwitch. The technicality of death metal’s legitimate son is certainly prevalent here, but where Death or Control Denied might have left us wanting for more Hellwitch provides it in spades. Not only does some stellar production make Omnipotent Convocation a natural selection post-Chuck Schuldiner-esque death, the music, expertly played and cautiously near perfect, really keeps our country atop the leader board in quality death metal. Sweden has its incredible bands, past and present, but nothing comes close to that Floridian sound and Hellwitch provides just deserts for my taste.

Ranieri’s technique is top-notch, and I’m very surprised he hasn’t gotten more notice and nods over the years. I understand the band’s output wasn’t as pregnant as some of the other bands over the years, and maybe that plays a large part; not to be denied or ignored any longer, any fan of the true ‘techy’ death metal sound simply has to hear Hellwitch, past and present. It’s easy to quickly dismiss a guitarist or guitarist(s) as “shredders” or “riff-meisters” or whatever other adjective seems to fit, but Pat and fellow guitarist J.P. Brown simply raise the bar with some purely potent scales and riffs that destroy nine-tenths of what emerges from the genre in the modern day. One only needs to listen to “Mythologicalies” or “Vicious Avidity” to understand and be impressed with the sheer brilliance that makes up this record. Oh, yeah…the cover of Death’s “Infernal Death”? One of the better Death covers I’ve heard, and that’s a fact. Chuck would be very happy I’m sure. 

To the untrained ear, a lot of the fluid guitars might sound fast for fast’s sake or sloppily-regarded music; sadly, those people simply miss the tech side of death metal, and yes, it’s a puzzling bedfellow to the layman. I don’t propose to have any formal training in this area, as my bass is my chosen work, but from all sides of the genre that I’ve heard and seen over the last 20-plus years there is the infinitely gifted or the shamefully embarrassing; thankfully, the latter doesn’t apply to Hellwitch. Each song has its own personality if you will, or its own small center of the album showcasing just that piece. The vocals are very much in the vein of Mr. Schuldiner, which is a far more enjoyable fix than the guttural, undecipherable mutterings or one-level Glen Benton effort. There is certain flair to tracks like “Neolithic Journey” that is undeniable, bordering on casual embellishment, but long before that sets in the tone changes and the song moves into another part of the brain that absorbs it like a happy sponge. As I said, if you’ll permit to repeat myself here, this marks one of the better rebirths in metal that I can immediately recall.

All I can say is please seek out Hellwitch and just listen for yourself. It can consume you from the inside out or confuse you to no end…but you aren’t Jonas Brothers fans I’m writing to; I know you can handle it and you deserve to!                       

Release Date: August, 2009
Label: Xtreem Music

TRACK LISTING

1.  Vicious Avidity
2.  Sought To Beguile
3.  Opiatic Luminance
4.  Neolithic Journey
5.  Mysteria
6.  Mythologicalies
     (Enlightened Paganus)
7.  Irreverent Salvation
8.  Final Approach
9.  Days Of Nemesis
10.  Epitome Of Disgrace
11.  Infernal Death (Death cover)

Total playing time:  39:54

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*Comments:

Reviewer: Chris

March 25, 2011