Premiere: WitchTit ‘Traveler’ – Debut Album ‘Intoxicating Lethargy’ Drops 12th March
OK, let’s get the elephant out of the room first. In this modern era, society would probably pigeon hole me as WOKE (whatever the hell that actually means), so when I saw the name WitchTit pop into my inbox, my initial reaction was to question if they’re sexist, juvenile or it’s simply a bad joke. After hovering over the delete button, curiosity got the better of me, and wow, I’m so glad it did as there’s often more to a name than meets the eye.
Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, WitchTit are a five piece who positively embrace the occult traditions of heavy doom metal, complete with Reign‘s outstanding banshee like vocal reach, but before we delve further, I asked the band if there was a meaning behind their moniker…
‘Back in Salem during the 1600’s, Witch’s were portrayed as old hags with wrinkly skin and icy blood. So the phrase ‘…colder than a witch’s tit…’ was used during very cold weather because of the reference to their cold blood and skin.’
The band continues… ‘A few sources quote that a witch’s tit (or witch’s teat) supposedly left a marking that witch hunters and courts would look for on the body of an accused witch. Supposedly, witches would suckle their familiars, and sometimes the Devil himself, from this ‘unholy’ body part. To find these marks, as well as insensitive spots on the skin called devil’s marks – caused by the Devil’s claws or teeth – the suspects were stripped, shaven, then closely examined for any blemishes, moles, or even scars that could be labeled as diabolical.’
So the mark of the devil is a fitting testament for the thunderous tones WitchTit bring forth, and as the band prepare to unleash their debut five tracker, Intoxicating Lethargy, independently on the 12th March, today, we can bring you the third cut from the album, Traveler. The band comments…
‘The track Traveler came with a name bestowed upon it by our former bass player Jason ‘RadDad’ Starless. When he left the band he took his lyrics and melody with him but I kept the name as tribute. It ended up working out thematically since the song is about the uprising of native men and women to take back the land that was stolen from them by ‘traveler’s’. It was written during the fight against the North Dakota Access Pipeline.’
Now click play below, get lost in the near six minute doom onslaught of the Traveler, while pre-orders are available over on Bandcamp.
More on WitchTit & ‘Intoxicating Lethargy’
‘That is what I fear most, that I become so caught up in the pursuit of the pleasures of life that I am never truly alive.’ That is the power of Intoxicating Lethargy, which is also the title of WitchTit’s debut album. The crushing five-piece doom metal outfit from Raleigh, North Carolina are releasing the follow-up after testing the waters via a split with Etiolated, but it’s a very different band that walked into the studio this time.
The most marked change in WitchTit is the addition of vocalist Reign, whose delivery hits the wailing tones of Messiah Marcolin crossed with a young Iggy Pop in his The Stooges days. Her words cover a myriad of topics, from the alcohol-tinged Silver Tongue to the call away from inaction in the title track alluded to in the quote. Each line is delivered with relish, whether belting to the rafters or slinking on the floor, oozing with character.
The music is also a veritable conundrum in itself – how can one group blend together the horror-spun doom of Celtic Frost and Candlemass with the NWOBM elements of Witchfinder General and Manilla Road, and yet have it sound so fresh? The drumming is a major highlight of this, especially on the closer Home Invasion. There’s even some thrash in their influences, as the ripping guitar solo at the end of Intoxicating Lethargy can attest. The result is a debut full-length which simultaneously fits right in with other releases of 2020/2021 and also has the sensation of having tumbled out of the 80s.
Intoxicating Lethargy Tracklisting:
01. Silver Tongue
02. Crimson Tide
03. Intoxicating Lethargy
04. Traveler
05. Home Invasion
WitchTit are:
Reign – Vocals
Justin Hill – Bass
Daniel Brown – Guitar
Nate Stokes – Guitar
Patrick Cotter – Drums
WitchTit and their debut album Intoxicating Lethargy will be released independently on 12th March and is available for pre-order on Bandcamp.
Label: Independent
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram
