Joy

Witnesses

This release is a different Doom Rock/Doom Metal expression that is filled with Ambient Music influences.
January 3, 2025

The creation inside a musician’s mind is a process that can’t be described with words, and it’s hard to understand avant-garde music sometimes because it makes no sense at all for those addicted to models that already exist. What HELLHAMMER supported od critics in the hands of writers with “Apocalyptic Raids” is something that can’t be described (maybe the label ‘the worst band that ever existed’ can give an idea of what they endured), and the persecution that CELTIC FROST suffered due the release of “Into the Pandemonium” by the fans (the Avant-Garde Metal approach was too much for us on those days) depict how is hard for musicians, fas and writers to get in tune sometimes. And to deal with “Joy”, the latest full-length of the North American band WITNESSES demands a lot of many fans.

What’s inside the band’s work: a melodic form of Doom Metal filled with tender influences Ambient/Electronic music. It’s not that hard to like their music due the tons of melodic hooks that it bears, but in a moment, you’re dealing with a heavier and bitter form of Doom Metal, and soon things become tender and Prog Metal-like introspective, and it’s not as simple as it seems to those who aren’t used to unusual musical ways. It’s really very good, but it can take a time to get used to it. Greg Schwan (the mastermind behind the band) did the mixing, while the mastering is a work of Erik Peabody. All the efforts were done to create a sonority that is clean and defined to allow the melodies to flow free, but always allowing things to be heavy. It’s not what one would expect from a Doom Metal act, but it works perfectly for the band’s music. The graphic arts of Welder Wings (artwork) and Andreas Lever (layout) complete what the music depicts. And as guests, here are Matt Kozar (of MY SILENT WAKE, SEVENTH ANGEL and THY LISTLESS HEART) on the additional guitars and Arianna Mahsayeh (of HEX MORBIDITY) on the cello on “Joy (Like a River)”; Gabbi Coenen (of RVBY MY DEAR) on the vocals on “Joy (Safety in Me)”, and the session musicians Simon Bibby on the vocals and Angel Hernandez on the drums.

Al the songs of “Joy” have the same word as title (‘joy’) and a second title between parenthesis (except for “Interlude”, an instrumental moment), what gives the idea of a conceptual album, with few aggressive moments are heard on the album (as heard clearly on “Joy (Safety in Me)”), but to deal with “Joy (Like a River)”, “Joy (I See Everything)”, “Joy (Beyond the Sound of My Voice)”, “Interlude”, “Joy (The Endings)” and “Joy (Safety in Me)” is to deal with a carrousel of feelings and sensations, always with deeper melodies shaping things. And all of them are really very good one.

Take the trial of the unexpected, deal with “Joy” and praise the work of WITNESSES.

8 / 10

Excellent

Songwriting

9

Musicianship

8

Memorability

8

Production

8
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"Joy" Track-listing:
  1. Joy (Like a River)
  2. Joy (I See Everything)
  3. Joy (Beyond the Sound of My Voice)
  4. Interlude (instrumental)
  5. Joy (The Endings)
  6. Joy (Safety in Me)
Witnesses Lineup:

Greg Schwan - Bass, Guitars, Keyboards
Simon Bibby - Vocals (session)
Angel Hernandez - Drums (session)

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