I suppose if you are going to perform in a Jam-out Doom Metal style, you need an equally appropriate tripped out band moniker. These Norwegians certainly have with PURPLE HILL WITCH, and the trio formed in 2010, releasing the "Doomstone Blues" demo in 2011 and last year unleashing their "Alchemy" EP (a limited edition 7" with 2 tracks, but still totaling 11 + minutes). Now that we are up to speed on their past accomplishments, it's time to go full force into this 7 song debut album which happens to be self-titled.

It's very important in a doom band to have all instruments play an equal role in the overall aural landscape - because the feeling of despair carries just as much appeal through a low end, fuzzed out bass tone as it does the feedback orientation and chord choices of the electric guitar - beyond the pounding swing and groove nature of the drums. PURPLE HILL WITCH has no trouble conveying all of these elements and a little more - using wah wah pedal effects and a psychedelic vocal delivery to make you feel like you are transported 40 years or more into the past. As much as BLACK SABBATH becomes an obvious influence to look at, I think there is great homage paid to BLUE CHEER, CATHEDRAL, and a little bit of that early RUSH sound (wait until you hear some of the intricate bass lines from Andreas Schafferer).

Be it the mind melting, bluesy swagger on opener "Queen of the Hill", the epic mountaintop vocals against an equally metal riff hook on "The Final Procession", all the way to the 11 minute plus title track closer, where all three musicians get a chance to showcase their instrumental interplay abilities - PURPLE HILL WITCH should set your speakers on fire through their Doom Metal adaptations. I do think they have some Stoner tendencies, but overall the band lock onto the right hook combinations and know how to drive things home without bogging things down into a feedback cacophony.

Curious to follow where this trio will go, for now "Purple Hill Witch" should appease a healthy Doom contingency.