Witchcraft -Firewood

This album actually came out back in the summer I believe and my friend Ray actually recommended them to me back then. However, I just now got around to buying it and better late then never certainly applies here. This is the second album from Sweden's Witchcraft and it far exceeded my expectations. These guys will probably get dumped in with other bands under the doom or stoner labels, but they are different than most bands. The influences include Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Pentagram, Uriah Heep, Budgie and probably others as well. I know most stoner and doom bands have influences from Sabbath and other bands from the 70's but these guys really sound like a 70's band. If you didn't known better and were told that this album was recorded in say 1972 then you would probably believe it because it sure sounds like it. Now some naysayers might bring up the question "what's the point in sounding exactly like a 70's band?" That is a legitimate question and I will try to answer it. A lot of the doom and stoner bands have 70's influences, but they use slick production on it or they may have a very heavy distorted sound but that may just be the tone and the actual music is oftentimes very redundant. Now I am not putting down bands of that variety, but Witchcraft bring not just heaviness but also a true sense of timing and very strong songwriting. The solos are very fluid as are the vocals and most importantly they bring a true basic rock sound that is sorely missed by some stoner rock bands. A lot of bands can play Sabbath riffs, but Witchcraft take their influences and seamlessly combined them with their own sound and they play with a lot of fire and heart. I truly enjoyed this album and look forward to seeing what direction this band will take with future releases.