WITCHFIELD – Sabbatai Zevi review

 WITCHFIELD – Sabbatai Zevi

Black Widow Records

http://myspace.com/witchfield

Doom metal from Italy… This is how most websites categorize this band and although the description is true, it’s not entirely accurate… WITCHFIELD was formed approximately a decade ago by Thomas Hand Chaste, in fact this is his side project, and “Sabbatai Zevi” is their sophomore release coming about six years after their debut, “Sleepless”. 

The album is based on a concept story regarding a rabbi who thought himself as the new Messiah but later converted to Islam. I said doom metal which is partially true since the compositions are creeping slow or mid paced and have this doom-y atmosphere surrounding them, but the truth is that “Sabbatai Zevi” is more into the rock sound with 70s psychedelic melodies while it’s also enriched with some gothic touches and accompanied by new wave kind of vocals. The keyboards play a dominant role and go hand in hand with the guitar that delivers blues oriented solos and tunes. The vocals are mainly male but there are also some female vocals in some songs to enhance the variety of the end result and the production is powerful and clear. I can’t say this is my favourite kind of music, in fact I know few things about rock music so I can’t say much more other than the fact that I liked the dark atmosphere of the album… It’s always nice to broaden your horizons, learn new things and come across new bands, so if you are fans of this genre or would like to check it out, give WITCHFIELD a try to see if this style suits you…

Christine  Parastatidou