Artist: Cannon Fodder
Title: Debut & VVitchstorm
Type: Album
Label: Digital / Sokol Keep
Now this appeared last week, in physical form, but VVitchstorm had been meandering around my playlist for a while as my brain tried to make sense of it. And despite my reluctance to promote anything that advocates pointy hats (which we all know are NOT to be trusted, I mean look at that picture) here I am as it had enough of my procrastination, barged in uninvited, cleared a space amongst the debris of my life and refused to move.
‘The Coffin Opens’ with a crash of lightning and a creaky hinge, a discussion over science, (little of which goes on here) and a slow, creeping keyboard buzz for a ‘I Am The Warlock!’ to stomp in on a growling guitar. It’s a dense, chugging riff; part death metal part monster before speeding up into a blackened thrash style with nicely snarling vocals. It’s weirdly cool, somehow. There’s a nice level of filth under its fingernails (all that coffin bothering I guess), which keeps it sticking in my brain. ‘The Beast Ov Bodmin Moor’ leans much more into the blackthrash with less of the death. The guitar run is brutally to the point and its around this moment you start to realise that if it wasn’t for the dark, gleeful humour in the titles here and the unhinged squealing guitar at the end that this could also be deadpan serious. I think I’m right in saying (fatal words from any reviewer) that at this point one ‘Hex Ghoul’ was responsible for everything too which is all the more impressive,
Things take a turn for the mean when we reach the unnecessary ‘Flagellate The Goblins’. Poor innocent gobos. It is a fun nasty little song though; the opening a ponderous, ominous stomp before all hell hurtles out into the the thrash. It’s weirdly catchy, one of those songs you would love to see live.
‘Necro Manse’ has one of those camp, eerie swirls of guitar and some glorious b-movie grade keyboard and organ swirls in the background. Perfect spooky season fodder; you can almost see the wires shaking the undead limbs. But its the dark, gloomy atmosphere and some excellent howling vocals that make this so fun.
‘Two Minutes To Vampirism’ is actually two minutes and six seconds to vampirism…Its a deluge of riff and snarl, squealing guitar and keyboards and not a whiff of Maiden. Its one of those great ‘downhill with the brakes off’ songs and an excellent close to part one..
Part two, VVitchstorm and the title track begins with a wonderful cackle, something mad sneaking into a ghost train ride, and the song with guitar and organ sound in harmony. Here the vocals are now handled, I think, by Phlack Billip. They have a slightly higher tone and add a fantastic creepy layer to the songs, bringing out the the gleeful darkness in these assaults. It’s is indeed a storm, a maelstrom of thrash and Hammer keyboards and hurtling drums and you cannot help but want to dance like the dead to this.
‘Wampyric Monstros’ty’ has a spine of chugging thrash and a monster at the mic. It has a turbulence to it, a shifting to the tempo and you really see the huge step forward Coffin Fodder took with this second EP. This is blackthrash for horror fans, the kind that can’t stop the sick little grin from creeping out. ‘Gates Ov Restormel’ next… Yes I had to look it up. It’s in Cornwall, from whence this dubious lot sneak out. It’s also another black and twisted bundle; the energy here just bounces around like a pack of black dogs excited to scare you to death at some crossroads. We finish with ‘Downpour Over Gunwalloe’ (yep, had to look it up again. It’s a parish in Cornwall, now guaranteed to have no visitors…). Rain, haunted keyboards beautifully smooth and eerie, a strange rattling sound. The wind. It goes still, perhaps sheltering in some ill-advised building. Then the a curious, delicate notes of a chime. It’s so oddly sweet and enticing that perhaps I might stay here for a while, just a while you understand. I’ll be alright, I’m sure…
The best thing here is a sheer delight and fun this has in being dark, spooky and all things perfect for this time of year (or all year if you’re like you and me). The step up in songwriting and arrangement between the debut and VVitchstorm is just a joy to see. Coffin Fodder know their way around atmosphere and sound, they have a gleeful energy that is irresistible.
The band has expanded into a full lineup of Phlack Billip (vocals), Hex Ghoul (guitars/keyboards), Kowanden (bass) and Malignant Ted (drums) and are gigging so, you know, go watch the the monsters play I say. And buy this by whatever means and format you can.
Mind you I still say they’re a bunch of troublemakers….
Gizmo
Coffin Fodder – Debut & VVitchstorm | Coffin Fodder | SOKOL KEEPeath-metal
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