Album Of The Week: All Them Witches’ Dying Surfer Meets His Maker

When there’s a slight chill in the air and the leaves start to turn to shades of amber and mahogany, there’s a sense of celebration on the horizon. No, I’m not talking about pumpkin spice on everything. I’m talking about Halloween, a time yours truly starts to listening to music in the doom, fuzz and goth realm. It just seems appropriate, much like checking out Nashville doom rockers All Them Witches and their upcoming release Dying Surfer Meets His Maker. Due out on October 30 via New West Records (a Nashville label that you wouldn’t expect to be putting something like this out), this quartet brings a thunderous array of riffs and drum beats to create a mesmerizing sound. Dim the lights and turn it all the way up to 11.

Bands like All Them Witches are putting The Music City they call home in a different light. Everyone knows about the pop country mainstream, but more people should be aware of everything else that’s going on in Nashville. Why? Because it’s way better than the crap you hear on terrestrial radio. One thing that’s enjoyable about All Them Witches’ new album is the contrasting tracks. Some are folky and uniquely elegant while others are amplified and crushingly loud. A few have a tad bit of blues badassness as well, a spectacular smorgasbord of variety and style. Dying Surfer Meets His Maker has something for everyone.

What’s with the pumpkin spice craze anyway? Remember the good old days was everyone thought the coolest thing to do with a pumpkin was make a pie or a jack-o’-lantern? I like the flavor of apple cinnamon better during the fall anyway. Speaking of flavor, my top tracks off of the Album Of The Week will provide the robust taste your ears have been looking for.

That badass blues I mentioned earlier is best exemplified in “Dirt Preachers;” a rhythmic intro jets into a powerful chorus and back again for a fast-paced experience. An acoustic one I like a lot is “Call Me Star;” the first track on the album brings a soothing tone that is abundant throughout each song. Instrumental, wide ranging and epic, “El Centro” is fantastic in so many ways with an arsenal of guitars destroying everything in its path.

It’s going to be a little while, but New Englanders can go check out All Them Witches live at Great Scott in Allston, Massachusetts on December 5. With a sound like theirs, it’s a guarantee that the walls will be shaking in that little venue once the quartet takes the stage. While you’re there, grab a copy of Dying Surfer Meets His Maker. Plug it in and let it ride; when you turn this album up there will be nowhere you can hide.

Download All Them Witches’ Dying Surfer Meets His Maker Bonus Bundle on Noisetrade for free: http://noisetrade.com/allthemwitches/dying-surfer-meets-his-maker-bonus
All Them Witches’ Website: http://www.allthemwitches.org