The Vision Bleak – Witching Hour

Good gothick metal with more of a steampunk vibe than an ancient pagan one even though the subject is witches from The Vision Bleak on this album. I like their sense of drama and dynamism, which tends not to degenerate into schlock. They must also be commended on the recording and production values: there's decent bass weight here, and a clean treble. I am not sure I rate this as highly as the next album "The Unknown", which is slower, more varied and more atmospheric. This record has some death/black blast beats and thrashy elements, which at times strike me as a bit of a straitjacket. Still enjoyable though, with notable melodies.