Burning Witches – Inquisition

When Courtney Cox joined Burning Witches due to Larissa’s pregnancy, I knew this is the ultimate line-up for this Swiss metal band. I am therefore more than happy to review the band’s forthcoming release “Inquisition” which is the first to feature Courtney as one of the two lead guitarists. Hopefully, there will be more to come in the future. Praising the excellent technical skills of the five musicians would be like taking coals to Newcastle. So, without further ado, let’s check out the 12 tracks.

Inquisition

Sanguini Hominum

Funnily enough, we first hear a kind of medieval male choir, followed by the drums with a marching beat. During this short intro, the guitars play their first tunes and prepare you for the…

Soul Eater

Overwhelming speed, furious vocals and infernal guitars, combined with an all-female chorus, will drive you into the claws and crushing jaws of ‘Soul Eater’. Despite being a fast and tight song with lots of distortion, it still has a melodic vibe that only a few bands can deliver.

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Shame

The intro of ‘Shame’ can’t hide its dark attitude. It is brutal, mean and insane. I remember the shout of ‘shame’ during Cersei Lannister‘s procession. This is the perfect metal version, and Laura‘s thrilling vocals are a key part of it!

The Spell of the Skull

Double lead guitars open ‘The Spell of the Skull’, and the vocals become even darker. The strings and drums work together like a marching battalion in warfare – at least, that’s what comes to mind when I listen to this great tune.

Inquisition

The title track of the album offers no escape. What applies to the medieval ‘Inquisition’ also applies to the song. You are found guilty either way. The only difference is that you won’t lose your life, but you will be damned to listen to the song again and again. The vocals, drums and strings work together like a metal power station. The lead guitar playing is excellent, by the way.

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High Priestess of the Night

This song has a more traditional sound than the previous tracks. The ‘High Priestess of the Night’ arrives like rolling thunder, slowly overcoming your last resistance until you surrender to the guitars’ convincing harmony. Romana and Courtney know exactly what they’re doing.

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Burn In Hell

I remember there was a song with the same name by Twisted Sister in the ’80s, but this has nothing to do with it apart from the title. After the first few chords, the pace quickens considerably, so don’t be surprised if you can’t keep up but it simply blows you away. And ‘Burn In Hell’ if you don’t like the song, the fast lane on the motorway is nothing for faint hearted!

Release Me

We slow down with ‘Release Me’, the album’s ballad. We hear Laura from an unusual side here, and the backing vocals of Jay, Lala, Courtney and Romana support her, taking the song to a level we hadn’t heard before. I raise my lighter and wave it while listening to this masterpiece. I’m sure you’ll do the same!

In for the Kill

Lala starts with a drum intro, marching in time, accompanied by guitars, and then the pace quickens. It becomes infernal again, of course — the five musicians are ‘In for the Kill’. Do you want to be the victim? I’d say it’s not the worst choice you could make.

In the Eye of the Storm

It’s getting mean again. ‘In The Eye Of The Storm’, you have nothing to lose. As soon as you leave, your time has come, and there is little you can do about it. There is no escape, and neither is there from this song. The instrumental double lead guitar at the beginning is unusual and very much in the style of old-school hard rock – I’m sorry, but I can’t describe it any better, and I’m totally in love with it.

Mirror, Mirror

My first thought was, ‘Okay, they’re talking about Snow White now’, but I failes, so I have to do the talking about her. The guitars crash in and wake you up. If only Snow White had heard this intro, she wouldn’t have needed a prince to kiss her back to life. And if her stepmother had listened to ‘Mirror, Mirror’, she would have given up immediately. The beauty of the song is unparalleled.

Malus Maga

The outro of the album features a medieval tune, but without the male choir. Instead, whispering female voices seduce and flatter you, leading you out of the Inquisition.

 

What is left to say?

Burning Witches simply deliver what I expected from this fantastic line-up. Not a single piece of music less, but a lot more. The whole production, from songwriting to recording, is tighter than ever. It’s a pity that Jay on bass doesn’t have her moment in the spotlight with a cool bass intro or intermediate part. Otherwise, I like the precise double lead guitar work, which is almost perfect and very harmonious. Courtney brought in her own style and tuning which makes the songs sound darker, almost like Black Sabbath with double speed. I also like that Laura’s vocals sound slightly harsher and raspier than before. The range of her vocals is very impressive and surely demanding to perform it live. I’m pretty sure, we will be surprised how excellent and powerful the live versions will sound.  Personally, I can’t wait to enjoy these brand new songs live during the forthcoming tour. I would definitely recommend getting this album — there are several upgraded versions available, so choose the one that suits you best! Have a look at Romana unboxing and introducing “Inquisition”. And if you want to find out more, read our interview with Laura just a few days before the album release day, it will be published soon, so stay tuned!

Short Facts

 

 

 

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Online:  

Burning Witches

Burning Witches at Napalm Records

Interview with Laura

Please buy merch and physical music or downloads from the bands official sources and don’t stream it for free because it steals your artists’ income.

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Review by Friend.X aka Mr. Deep

Live Pics taken at Rock & Metal Day’z 2024