The Vision Bleak – Witching Hour (2013)

Born from the imagination of Schwadorf and Konstanz, this Horror Metal outfit has been terrorizing Metalheads since its conception back in 2000. Presenting their fifth full-length release titled “Witching Hour”, the band has managed to further refine their deranged sound that combines creepy atmospheric elements, powerful guitars, and very diverse vocals. Clocking in around 40 minutes, the eight tracks of this release will put you to the edge of your seat thanks to their inventive ways of creating unique musical journeys.

Opening with the album title track, the mood is set to a mysterious and dark old-school horror movie tone. The incisive guitars of Schwadorf quickly fill the soundscape on “A Witch Is Born”, a very catchy track that is filled with weird keyboards, crazy vocals, and very solid drumming. The band has a knack for making very catchy songs that are filled with powerful guitars and odd vocal melodies that give the songs that extra creepy vibe. Other times, the atmosphere created by the keyboards (handled by both Schwadorf and Konstanz) is what crawls under your skin, like on the opening of “The Blocksberg Rite”.

The band keeps warming up until we hit the ritualistic “Cannibal Witch”, a track that very nicely unravels via melodic riffs and cool vocal arrangements. One of our favorite tracks is the playful Victorian-esque “The Wood Hag”. The guitars again steal the show, but it is the cool combination of keyboards and diverse vocals that give it that extra level of originality. For a good headbanging time, “Hexenmeister” is one hell of a hard-rocking track that delivers excellent intensity and more atmospheric weirdness.

Before closing this release, “Pesta Approaches” has some very chilling melodic passages that nicely transform the shape of this song into another chilling tale. “The Valkyrie” has a very cool Thrash/Speed Metal esque structure to it, that shows The Vision Bleak’s versatility and extended musical range when they set out to do something even more different.

As a whole, “Witching Hour” is a very unique release that is filled with creepy atmospheric/vocal passages and massive guitars that keep everything Metal enough for the fans. We appreciate how The Vision Bleak as continue to refine their ‘Horror Metal’ over the years, and with excellent musicians like Schwadorf and Konstanz under the hood, this is one hell of a band. If you are a fan of the band, you will not be disappointed in one bit, and if you are not a fan, you need to listen to this album.

Label: Prophecy Productions

Release: September 27th, 2013 (Europe) / October 7th, 2013 (North America)

Genre: Gothic Metal

Country: Germany