• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I haven't thought much of the previous Acid Witch albums I've reviewed, but 2022's Rot Among Us may have me coming around to their brand of doomy death metal ("deathy" doom?) a little bit. They've dialed back on the spoken word interludes that were so annoying on Evil Sound Screamers to a much more manageable level. They also added more creepy keyboards and minor key songwriting resulting in a thicker atmosphere with an '80s horror movie vibe underpinned by their reverb-laden riffs and doom pacing. Songs like "Gather Each Witch" and "Rot Among Us" work pretty well, and even though the middle part of "Tommyrotters" sounds suspiciously like Sabbath's "Iron Man" riff, it is still entertaining. Other songs, like "Chelsea Didn't Come Home" are too slow and plodding for their own good and can't end soon enough for me. The combo of Acid Witch's sound and atmosphere brings bands like Deceased and White Zombie to my mind, mainly in terms of the listening experience as Acid Witch sound like those bands only remotely. Rot Among Us isn't perfect but I like the vibe if not all the songwriting, so it is a step up for Acid Witch.