In case you didn't know, GREEN LUNG has already graced my 2019 Top Ten list with "Woodland Rites", coming in at #6 in a talent packed docket. There's a reason, though It's a hard one to quantify. There's something about the London band that captures a glory of olde both in the mystic and the rock-n-roll they create. It's about the vibe as much as tone. So, here I am again checking out the band's formal re-release of their EP, "Free The Witch" which was only available originally in a limited cassette version.

"Free The Witch" is rawer, but no less powerful than "Woodland Rites". Where "Woodland Rites" carries a more polished, dare I say, lush production, "Free The Witch" comes at you more like a filthy derelict, than nobility, which serves it well. The release kicks off with enchanting guitar hammer-on leads from Scott Masson. The track surges ahead establishing one helluva crushing riff as Andrew Cave (Bass) and Matt Wiseman (Drums) drive home the thunderous pace. But it's the final piece that really serves to complete the magical conjuring here, and that's Tom Templar's haunting and substantive vocals.

The EP contains the original 4 tracks plus a bonus addition of "When The Axe Comes Down" which was captured in the original "Free The Witch" recording sessions, but was left off the original issue. So, altogether the re-issue provides a solid 30 minutes of Occult/Doom/Psych that hits like a ton of bricks. Top track for me was "Older Than The Hills" which I found fascinating with the higher dual vocal effects that reminded me of ZEPPELIN era Robert Plant at times.

GREEN LUNG is a band that crafts a potent Doom/Psych that assails and connects with all the senses simultaneously. The sound and vocals are layered with sonic heft and swagger as the lyrical content wields a visual kaleidoscope of psychedelia. Ultimately it finds you shaking your head with disbelief all while smiling like a Cheshire cat. You don't know exactly what you just experienced, but you know it was unlike anything you've experienced thus far. The crazy thing? Or maybe the really crafty thing is that each time you spin it, it produces the exact same effect. Even after multiple listens, it still sounds original, fresh and actually vitally important. Definitely seek out GREEN LUNG's "Free The Witch" via your preferred method of processing music. The EP is available now from Kozmik Artifactz, and should be a must have for any Doomer's collection.