August/September - Late Summer The Witching Hour 2022

September 03, 2022

It's been months since the last time I got to put out The Witching Hour. If you are new to The Witching Hour, it primarily focuses on the more extreme side of black/death metal, bizarre and/or harsh industrial music, dark ambient, neofolk and more. As long as it's esoteric, ritualistic, harsh or bizarre, it's got a home here. At The Witching Hour.

One of the artists I've discovered within the mix set Victoria Carmilla Hazemaze who has many, many various projects under her belt. From goth to dark ambient to black metal and more. Careus would be one of them. All her music can be found on her bandcamp page, V.C.H. Music. Another promising black metal project is Italian raw vampyric psychedelic black metal, Medwegya. Track was taken from the Raw Psychedelic Compilation released through one of my favorite label, WereGnome Records. I recommend the label if you are heavy into dungeon synth, black metal, chiptune music or anything weird.

While these mix sets are usually metal oriented for the most part, you will notice the array of various industrial soundscapes that playthrough. So many great newer industrial acts have popped up. Unfortunately there was no way to cover them all but hey, check out my Subterranean mixes which will gladly gloss over those that aren't not featured here. These industrial acts are a bit more extreme to say the least. One that really caught my ear is Cromlech who just recently released an LP on Deathbed Tapes, your number one home for power electronics/noise music. It sounds like Godflesh went to hell but what sets them apart is the hellish sounding atmosphere mixed in with dark ambient and power electronics that become blurry from one song to the next containing it all in one perfect masterpiece of an album. Deathbed Tapes also being the home of former experimental black metal gone industrial metal project Primitive Knot. If you haven't heard of them please do check them out who are also featured within the mix set. I highly recommend them for fans of older late 80's/early 90's 90 era Ministry.

Another wonderful piece that caught my attention is another recent band by the name of Tot with their debut Blackened released on Amsterdam power electronics label Strange Therapy. At the time of writing this, there are copies of the album for you cassette enthusiasts if you want to secure a copy. The album is a blend of extreme industrial metal and power electronics. Almost reminds me of Paul Lemos and Chris Moriarty's noisy industrial death metal side project Skin Chamber if it was pushed further. Another newcomer into the fold is Calvaire who is actually the very first goth band featured within The Witching Hour. These guys were just too extreme to be featured onto Subterranean with their unique blend of deathrock and death industrial. Which is an odd combo but it works. What caught my attention was their logo and cover art which looks like it belongs on a black metal band. This French band is something as their music is highly influenced by the likes of MZ. 412, Christian Death and Premature Ejaculation to name a few. I would like to feature more goth bands within The Witching Hour given the opportunity.

And of course a Witching Hour is never a Witching Hour without my good friend Michael Idehall with his unique blend of ritualistic/occultic approach to industrial. If you want esoteric, look no further. All his music can be found through Michael Idehall's bandcamp page. He doesnt only appear once but twice within the set. Another track that is featured here is with experimental artist Chaos Doll from the remix piece New Dark Ages. Please check out her works as her music dives into the erotic and mystic arts.

Just some of the highlights, however all these artists are amazing. Tracklist down below with their respective links on where to purchase/listen to the music.

Mix set can be heard here and my secondary youtube channel Mistress of the Moon.

Tracklist:

Cold Sanctum - Act 1 (from the Nosferatu - A Symphony of Horror soundtrack)

Careus -Transilvanian Hunger (Darkthrone cover) (from the In Absentia EP)

Cromlech – TheWest was Made Flesh (from the Questionable Strategies album)

Michael Idehall -Invocation Of War (from the War Magic album)

Dawn & Dusk Entwined - Mass Hysteria (from the Godwin Point II album)

Eternal Contempt -Black Horn Daughter (from the Ritual Humiliation album)

Calvaire - Soleilde Mort (from the Calvaire demo)

Isolated Path -Identified by Dental Records (from the Opening A Gateway Through Ritualistic Extermination EP)

Vuajtje -Amongst TheDead (from the Amongst the Dead Lay The Horrors of War demo)

TOT - ShatteringSilence (from the Blackened album)