Hailing from the USA and formed in 2015, Stoner/Doom Metal trio WITCHHELM present their fifth full-length release here titled "Wild Eldritch." The album has nine tracks. "In the Dark" opens the album. It's a short, mood-setting instrumental, with clean guitars and an air of positivity...on a Doom Metal album? Let's continue to the first proper track. "Drawing Down the Moon" begins with solemn organ notes. A chugging riff then comes in for a spell, realizing its fullness shortly thereafter. The vocals sort of just hang out there without much emotion, almost spoken matter-of-factly, and the riff is elementary, but quite effective.

"Nightflower" is close to ten-minutes in length. It opens with more clean guitar notes...very timid in their delivery, but in the background, feedback swells, leading to some very fuzzy and heavy notes. It's lightly melodic, but mostly longing. It drags on for what seems like days, with some leads filling the background. The longing gets more disturbing as it plods forward. "Howling Fires of Dead Monoliths" begins with more clean notes, rich with reverb and chorus, before the main riff drops. The vocals are harsh this time. The riff changes just a bit before the half-way mark, and the strings are so low, it takes a few seconds between strikes before the intonation subsides.

"Old Autumn" is a shorter song that develops more quickly, with smooth and clean guitar tones. The flute notes are a nice accompaniment to the guitars. When you think of autumn, you think of chilly nights and fallen leaves, not necessarily that plans and trees are dying (headed into hibernation). "I Invoke" is also a shorter song that begins with spoken words and a faster pace. This song has a completely different feeling to it. With the invocation of melodies, I am reminded of THE CURE. "Wendigo" opens with more spoken words from a very abyssal voice. The main riff leaves holes in the ground many feet deep, and swirling in the background are trippy psychedelic elements.

"Life's Too Short, Join a Cult" features a very weighted riff and a slow, lumbering pace, with a combination of clean and harsh vocals. This is a darker song with occult leanings. "Shadow Dweller" closes the album. It's an eight-minute opus, beginning with clean and tense tones from organ notes. The somber mood is oddly pleasing. Heavy and melodic electronica follows, and this is completely unexpected. What a powerful closing song! Don't make the mistake of considering this band a one-trick pony, because they have crossed a few different genres here on the album, not content to just sticking to an overly sticky Doom Metal sound. Their riffs are inventive, and their sound is fresh. I found the album to be interesting and engaging, and I am sure you will as well.