Wykked Wytch-The Ultimate Deception

Goomba Music

2012

What do you make of a band who plan to release an album called "The Ultimate Deception" on February 14th? Anyone else see the irony? Wykked Wytch (not to be confused with J.J. Merciless' Wicked Witch) is fronted by the one and only Ipek (one of the few female vocalists I can think of who can go from death growls to high pitched screams to operatic and not even blink) and features session drummer Kevin Talley (Daath, Six Feet Under, Chimaira) and new lead guitarist / songwriter Nate Poulson. Musically this is a mixture of black metal, gothic metal, technical thrash and melodic thrash. Production work came courtesy of engineer Daniel Castleman (As I Lay Dying, Winds of Plague) who recorded & mixed Wykked Wytch's fifth full-length and gave the group an upfront sound. Finishing touches were handled by Alan Douches (The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Black Dahlia Murder) and the result is an album that captures the raw nature of this unique band. What I liked about the album was the fact that it moved along keeping you on your toes with it's technical drumming and guitar solos. Musically this release is very interesting. The down side though is of the nine original tracks there wasn't any in particular that really stood out. So as good as the album is there isn't that one moment or song that really did it for me. The group throws in a black metal inspired cover of Metallica’s “Fade To Black” which is interesting even if it doesn't add anything to the original. As the promo states Ipek and company were determined to break new ground on this release and judging from the different elements I would say they succeeded. It's a good release even if it doesn't scream "must own".