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Burning Witch

From Alfawiki
Burning Witch
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1995
Defunct1998
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington
,
United States
ProductsDoom metal, sludge metal music releases (EPs, split releases, compilation album)

Burning Witch was a doom and sludge metal group originating from Seattle, Washington, active between 1995 and 1998. Their discography includes EPs, split releases, and the compilation album Crippled Lucifer, which gathers selections from their initial EPs.

History

The band came together in Capitol Hill, Seattle, at the beginning of 1995. Following the dissolution of the doom/death outfit Thorr's Hammer, Stephen O'Malley, Greg Anderson, and Jamie Sykes founded Burning Witch. They subsequently recruited G. Stuart Dahlquist along with vocalist Edgy 59. Prior to any major recordings, Anderson exited to concentrate on his work with Goatsnake.

In 1996, the band collaborated with independent producer Steve Albini to record material that became the Towers... EP, officially released two years later by Slap A Ham Records. After these sessions, Sykes departed and was succeeded by B.R.A.D.

Their next recording effort resulted in the Rift.Canyon.Dreams EP, marking their final release before disbandment. Issued through Merciless Records, it remained relatively obscure outside their dedicated fanbase.

Post-breakup

Shortly after their split, Southern Lord Records—co-founded by Anderson and O'Malley—issued Crippled Lucifer, compiling tracks from both EPs. Burning Witch's final performances occurred in late 1998; following this, Edgy 59 joined Sinisstar, O'Malley reunited with Anderson to form Sunn O))), and Dahlquist became part of Anderson’s Goatsnake project. Presently, O'Malley leads several musical ventures including Sunn O))), while Dahlquist and B.R.A.D are active members of Asva.

Musical style

Burning Witch's sound is distinguished by its deliberate tempo and weighty rhythms supported by minimalist bass and guitar riffs that emphasize silence between notes for enhanced resonance. O'Malley occasionally introduces feedback elements that complement the typically synchronized guitar and bass interplay. Vocalist Edgy 59 delivers a range spanning nasal melodic tones to intense screams and shrieks.

The Towers... EP showcases a more forceful approach, whereas Rift.Canyon.Dreams adopts a darker and more somber mood. The compilation Crippled Lucifer contains nearly all tracks from these works. Additional splits include the Goatsnake/Burning Witch release featuring one track from each session (including a piece excluded from Crippled Lucifer) as well as the Asva/Burning Witch split presenting "Rift. Canyon.Dreams".

Various descriptors have been applied to Burning Witch’s unique style such as "suicide doom," "transdimensional drone doom," "true blackened doom," and "molasses sludge." However, Stephen O'Malley regards these labels as overstated, defining the band simply as slow-paced, heavy doom metal with distinctive vocals. Their sonic identity significantly influenced O'Malley’s subsequent project Sunn O))), particularly on the album Black One, and shares similarities with his work in Khanate.

Discography

  • Towers... 12" EP (Slap-a-Ham Records, 1996)
  • Rift.Canyon.Dreams 12" EP (Merciless Records, 1997)
  • Crippled Lucifer (Seven Psalms for Our Lord of Light) CD (Southern Lord Records, 1998)
  • Goatsnake/Burning Witch split CD with Goatsnake (Hydra Head Records, 2000)
  • Split 12" with Asva (Dos Fatales Records, 2004)
  • Crippled Lucifer (Ten Psalms for Our Lord of Light) 2xCD (Southern Lord Records, 2008), including a limited edition featuring downloadable unreleased 1996 demo tracks and a live set with Greg Anderson

External links

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