Just in time for Halloween .... Dehumanized Witch, A Mark II Black Sabbath Tribute!

A review by Ken Boyd

Each track will include my own opinion based review after  listening to every track. Also a few of the track titles will be hyper links to check out a Real Audio stream of the song in its entirety. Finally, there will be some ordering information at the bottom in case you wish to make a purchase of this tribute album.

My first thought upon hearing about this album, quite some time back while it was still in the works, was: "Oh, NO! Another tribute album!" Then this thought was immediately followed with the thought that this was a nice approach to do strictly a Dio era(s) Sabbath Tribute. 

On to the album itself....

The cover art has some really cool images that just didn't seem to come off quite as well as maybe it could have. It is just a little too Saturday Morning Cartoon-ish. The most striking image would have to be the baby in the spherical bubble the witch is pulling form the cauldron--(though this REALLY suggests Born Again of a different Sabbath era entirely!).  Perhaps this album could have been better served with the picture on the BACK of the album. Though it does not look that much like Ronnie, it is quite well done and depicts the Sabbath Era clothing that Ronnie often donned. It does look like someone familiar--though I cannot place it for the life of me. Finally, the fonts are a little Halloween-ish for the title and the rest resembles that of a type writer print, just not quite...well, exciting.

Neon Knights--Forsaken

The lead in introduction to this track is quite differently done--but the neat thing is you can definitely hear the elements of E5150 without Forsaken just playing it straight out. As the band moves into the heart of the song you quickly realize that the sound is without question heavier and more plodding. Over all this tune is enjoyable to listen to, but the vocals come across as being over pronounced--I think mostly due to the band being founded out of Malta.

Musically, the guitar solo has a lot of Iommi flavor to it, and is quite good actually. There are a few particular twists where the band really moves to make a mark on this cover tune: Going into "Circles and Rings, Dragons and King..." Well done. A double bass drumming goes from the bridge into the chorus as well as the ending of the song fading out has some unique guitar leads taking us out of the experience.

Country Girl--Memory Garden

The introduction to this second track is suggestive of a more epic sound than the original. The band seems to make its mark on this tune by the interesting stops between vocal and guitar right from the start. The vocalist is hard to understand--this due in part to his being a Swed. Though I must say, I really liked the choir sounding backing vocals leading into the guitar solo. The solo itself, unlike the original sported little Iommi flavor, but was quite good none the less. Finally, I think the biggest loss came with the missed mood to the tune that was so prevalent in the original release.

Letters From Earth--Bernice

The cover of this tune is even more dark and plodding (if you can believe that) than the original. Right off you can tell, perhaps the weakest point of the song, that the vocalist has a surprisingly light voice compared to the music. Instead of an interesting contrast, this actually comes off as a bit disturbing and disjointed. This group definitely placed their own flavor in the track, so much so in fact that I felt like I was playing an LP on the wrong speed. The most notable portion of this song would have to go to the guitar solo. There is an interesting two guitar trade off leading in and though it is not very reflective of the original, it is not too bad in and of its own regard.

Children Of The Sea--Last Chapter

Opening with some great initial guitar sound that is textured and  layered, the track is solidly held together by a strong bass track. The vocals are quite effect ridden and, though this makes the bands mark upon the song itself, reminds me of so many other Euro-Metal bands' sound. Likewise, the drums sound light on the low end--somewhat tinny on the symbols and the ride. (Likely all falling on the production end of everything rather than the band) There is a good lead in with vocals and guitar rhythms that takes us into the guitar solo. This solo has some textures of Iommi while still keeping his own identity. There is a great chorusing of voices that come back into the recapitulation of the verse--this I particularly found interesting and strongly the mark of this band's own moniker on the cover tune. Over all, this is definitely one of the better tracks on the album in my opinion.

Lonely Is The Word--Mood

This song sports a great vocalist with a modern sound that is not stuck in that Euro-Metal trap most existing metal had been left to. The guitar and drums are solid and add much original flavor to this track with some drum fills throughout that I found quite noteworthy. Additionally, the bass line to this is VERY solid and well exicuted. But, perhaps the most remarkable part of the song has to go to the guitar solo--two tracks well done to add a level of texture that is gentle and subtle while still aggressively demanding your attention. Though I liked the vocalist very much, he seemed to have lost some of the mood of the original, while the guitar keeps some of that classically trapped saddness alive. As the tune itself leads out it again returns to that nice double guitar tracking to add a lot of difference to the track from the original.

Falling Off The Edge Of The World--The Tempter

I have to say right off that I feel this particular track is not an easy track to cover. That said, I must say that this band starts out with a great lead in--very mood setting draws you in--but it loses you right after this. In part I think because of the vocals. I think to listen to this song you have to be very open minded in not comparing this cover attempt with the original. With that in mind the vocals DO attempt to keep much of the melancholy mood, though not quite, but I found it somewhat grating and annoying. While the guitar is somewhat traditional Iommi, the drums are loud in the mix with some reverb effect to add some of their own unique flavor to the song. Unfortunately, the vocalist does not get into the passionate areas of the song and as a result does not pull off what could have been a GREAT achievement. 

After All (The Dead)--Leaf

From the very first guitar note the listener is prompted to ask What Is To Come? When the vocals do kick in, I was SO pleased to note that it was not only pleasant and liked it quite a lot, but was also NOT the Euro Metal sound of which I spoke earlier. There are some really nice screams for mood effect--especially appropriate with this particular song. At the first time change, this band pulls if off WO well that  they add this unique flavor that almost makes the song theirs! WELL DONE! Likewise the chorus is very well done with little voice fills, not unlike Ronnie often does, but with the vocalist's own style. I have to say, I was so impressed with these guys cover of this tune, that I am even considering buying some of their own material. Without a single doubt, this is one of the TOP tracks on this new tribute ablum. 

Buried Alive--Seasons OF The Wolf

The introduction to this track is very well done--cryptic and suspenseful, making it very mood setting. The vocals comes in and is well articulated, but not overly done. Maybe one of the best vocalists on the album as a whole. The guitar comes in to capture some essence of Iommi while changing it to their own flavor right form the start--this mostly due to some differing effects that Tony often uses. I liked the solo a lot. It was good--only a light hint of Iommi while doing his own thing. Especially the section coming out of the solo back into the song was really impressive. The over all mix was quite good--maybe the best of any of the other tracks. (I do not know if all the bands did their cutting in the same studio or differing ones). The drums and the bass held the piece together nicely while not being overbearing, nor buried. As the tune faded there is a nice texture created from multi-tracked guitar that takes the song out quite reverently. One of the VERY top tracks on this album and a great band over all--well selected for this project.

Wishing Well--Syris

This is another of the top tracks. It is immediately recognizable with a good bass line (not very Geezer-like, but excellently executed none the less), along with one of the better vocalists. The guitarist is flexible and give the listener some measure of originality and uniqueness while also reflecting much of the original. When the vocal kicks in "Time is a never ending journey..." there is a double bass and ride that kicks in to make the tune very catchy--sticks out in my mind as one of the better emphasized segments of the song itself. The guitar solo is quite well done as well with a good level of interplay with the bass--back and forth in an interesting dance. There is a nice out on this song as well--leaving you ready to get up and hit the repeat button. 

Die Young--Mesmerize

The opening of this particular track is much like the original, but still has a hint of the tribute guitarist's touch to it. As the guitarist continues, I find that I like his playing very much. The vocalist, it should be noted is one of the better on the album as well. The time change is where this band really shines, in my observation--the guitar work is different with some weird effect with keyboards woven in with some multi track vocals that come off VERY nice. All this proves out to be quite a unique texture that I recommend you take a listen to.  It is the chorus that you can really feel Mezmerize--I have one of their albums and you can really recognize them at this point. Again, one of the GREATEST tracks on this album as a whole.

Over all, I would have to say that the album starts out a little weak, but ends on a very strong note. The more powerful tracks are at the end of the album instead of the beginning, as is traditional to capture the interest of the listener right from the get go. It is my opinion that the album should have kicked off with tracks 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Secondly I think it important to have it said: If I wanted to hear a tribute band that sounded exactly like the original, then why bother? Why not just listen to the original in the first place?! It is the interpretation of the music by the tribute band that I find so compelling to listen to. It cries out why the band often got into music and what effects the band they are tributing to have contributed to them. 

To conclude, I think that this album is a good buy. Particularly if you are a dedicated Dio/Sabbath fan that is willing to approach this a bit open minded. 

I would like to thank Tom Blackwell for sending out the promo disc to me! I have enjoyed the CD and wish your start up label all the best of luck.

Order Information for DEHUMANIZED WITCH

Postal money orders of $16.00 Payable to Tom Blackwell to:

MIDWEST METAL

PO BOX 5177

St Louis, MO

63139-0177 USA