Witchrider - Unmountable Stairs
Formed in 2012, and describing themselves as 'stoner rock/occult rock from Austria', Witchrider present a new and refreshing take on the grunge/alternative rock template. The front cover, of their debut album, with its unnerving collage of images, put together by the band itself, provides just the right sort of visual context for the creative span of the music on this album.
The opening track OCD is a very strong beginning to the album, with a catchy rolling riff and a well-sung and suitably grungy melody, with just a hint of underlying menace. The impressive rhythm section lay down a very nimble and driving backbeat. It's a very infectious musical beginning, which will stay around in your head, with its irresistible catchiness.
Black starts up with some atmospheric guitar feedback, and then a terrific meandering guitar led melody kicks in, accompanied by some impressive and contrasting dynamic musical sections. The guitar playing throughout is very lyrical, and the whole track builds in intensity, somewhat like a full on doom metal treatment might do. There are lots of fresh musical ideas at work here, on this lengthier workout. I'm Outta Breath, which follows, has the most beautiful instrumental section, gently building towards some soaring guitar sounds, and provides more evidence of the band's remarkable level of inventiveness, on what after all is a debut album.
Unmountable Stairs is a surprisingly beautiful title track, with Daniel Dorninger sounding, quite incredibly, like a love struck Bob Mould (of Husker Du and Sugar fame), with some great harmonies at work too. This is very much a standout track. More of this please! Styx is the very bluesy final track. With the downcast opening line, "There is a place where the sad men go to die", it has a very fatalistic feel, and some fabulous classic blues rock stylings. The guitars really let lose in the last section of the song, which is not to be missed.
Witchrider show a lot of promise on this their first album, and we hope that they continue to take risks and experiment with their music, and ultimately transcend any limiting alternative rock tag. The band is on tour this November across the UK, as main support to Truckfighters. It's actually their first proper tour, and definitely a gig worth attending, if this album is anything to go on.