Read any review of an album or EP by Austria’s Witchrider and you can almost guarantee that somewhere in that review a reference to Queens of the Stone Age will crop up and no doubt we at Desert Psychlist will be doing the same during the course of our review of the band s latest EP “Metamorph“. The reason for that is not because Witchrider have specifically set out to capture a similar musical vibe to Josh Homme’s band of ragamuffins it is just that the two bands mine similar musical fields. Like QOTSA Witchrider are not afraid to step outside of the riff over a riff over another riff blueprint followed by so many bands in this scene and are willing to experiment with elements that are a little more accessible and dare we say it radio friendly while still being able to remain true to their fuzz rock roots. This approach has remained consistent throughout the bands existence, from their self titled debut EP “Witchrider” through 2014’s “Unmountable Stairs” to 2020’s “Electric Storm” Witchrider have never having fallen into the trap of trying to get by on the strength of just a good guitar refrain, these guys put as much thought into their melodies, their lyrics and their dynamics as they do the tones of their fuzz pedals and on their latest EP, “Metamorph” (Fuzzorama Records) they manage take that approach to a whole other level.
“Used To Be A King” opens “Metamorph” and although you can immediately recognise the song as being a Witchrider composition there are subtle differences to be found, the songs overall sound is a little more rounded, the guitar tones a touch more crunchier and caustic and the vocals a touch crisper. The song admittedly does wear its QOTSA influences on its sleeve but then it has been five years since the bands last release and its totally understandable that the band would want to give their fans a reminder of where the bands roots still lay. Second number “Sound of the Presidents” is an intriguing mix of bluesiness and alternative rockiness with vocals that lean towards wearied and melancholic, there is also an element of doominosity at play here which adds nicely to the songs overall wistful feel. “Hold My Mind” follows and although musically a little bit more upbeat than its predecessor, with great drumming and deft bass work supporting swooning guitar textures and a superb vocal melody, the song nonetheless shares a similar downbeat outlook on the world lyrically. Witchrider return to QOTSA territory for the stoner-ish and slightly grungy “Safe to Say” then catapult into alternative waters for the absolutely superb “Wake Me Up” a song that also carries in its musical undercarriage a little post-punkishness. Final number “Alive (Extended)” is a slightly laid back tome with a mix of acoustic and electric guitars underscored by liquid bass and subtle drumming that reminds Desert Psychlist, in places, of Stone Temple Pilots at their more languid and off-centred.
