Music Review: All Them Witches’ “House of Mirrors”
All Them Witches embody a timeless quality that defies the constraints of era. With a discography spanning six albums from 2012 to 2020, these enigmatic Nashville rockers initially exuded an air of seasoned musicians who had reemerged from the shadows of a southern dive bar to unleash a treasure trove of music accumulated over decades. It seemed as though they had discovered a secret to transcending time with their sound.
The band’s prolific output was abruptly halted by the onset of COVID, with only the 2022 release of the somewhat casual Baker’s Dozen singles in the past six years. However, their seventh album, House Of Mirrors, reassures fans that they are in no hurry to fix what is not broken. The album opens with a haunting six-and-a-half-minute cover of the traditional Appalachian folk song, Red Rocking Chair, setting the tone for a journey into the eerie depths of Americana, anchored by a riff reminiscent of doom legends Cathedral.
Tracks like Culling Line build on creeping guitar lines that escalate into a frenzied storm of sound, while Aethernet, despite its modern-sounding title, retains a rustic quality that could easily be stripped down to an acoustic performance with pedal steel and banjo accompaniment. Hold Up, Say What? injects a dose of playful energy with its dynamic grooves, and Go-getter layers on a dreamy atmosphere that envelops the listener in its ethereal embrace.
While aficionados will undoubtedly appreciate the masterful execution of these tracks, it is undeniable that All Them Witches tread familiar territory. The wistful Starting Line and retro-rock gem Angel On The Wayside exude a timeless quality that harkens back to radio classics of yesteryears. This album is not for the faint of heart, catering to those with a taste for the truly old-school.
Despite traversing well-trodden musical ground, House Of Mirrors showcases the band’s return to the spotlight with strength and vigor. The penultimate track, The Welterweight, channels underdog spirit and folkloric storytelling, making it one of the standout compositions on the record. Saturn Song closes the album with resplendent vocals and a shimmering sense of hope, proving that All Them Witches’ enchanting allure is still captivating.
In conclusion, House Of Mirrors may not reinvent the wheel, but it reaffirms the band’s ability to craft immersive, evocative music that resonates with fans of bands like Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, King Buffalo, and Elder. Scheduled for release on May 29 via BMG, this album is a testament to All Them Witches’ enduring spellbinding charm.