Band: Necronomicon
Title: The Return Of The Witch
Label: Napalm Records
Distribution: Rough Trade Benelux
Release date: September 4th 2010
Review: CD

Canadian horde NecronomicoN was already active during the nineties. The band had several ups (like sharing stage with e.g. Cradle Of Filth, Morbid Angel, Dimmu Borgir, Cannibal Corpse or Behemoth) and downs during their existence, yet most of their releases (including a few full lengths with a so-called ‘Egyptian Death Metal’-approach – damn, what a silly definition) were rather well accepted by both press and fans. Nowadays the band works with Napalm Records, and even though this album is much more extreme than most bands on Napalm’s rooster lately, I can understand why this album gets released by this Austrian label.
The Return Of The Witch was recorded in 2009, yet it wasn’t until recently that this slightly occult album got released officially. And whatever you might expect, this album is such a progression in comparison to any former effort. The harsh effort combines extreme and technical-skilled riffs, double bass interludes, firm rhythmic percussion patterns and deep growls. The tempo varies a lot, from slow over mid-tempo to blasting fast, and the addition of a few keyboard lines gives the whole a refreshing touch of neo-Gothicism. And the dark, heavy and hammering sound / production, well, nothing negative to ad on it… …almost a modernised metallic interpretation of 70s/80s horror movies???
Pervious, penetrable, accessible, yet rough all right… For fans of Absu, Sacred Sin, Samael, Blood Of Christ, Morbid Angel, Nile, Graveworm, Behemoth, Shaarimoth, Atrocity etc.

75/100

Ivan Tibos.