They Come from the Land of the Eggs, Sugar and Milk

They came from the trees of Portland, Oregon to, as their website says, “wander the cosmos in search of nothing, for their path is a simple one: The riffs must be heavy and the smoke must be heavier.” On their newest release, Covered in Pudding Vol. 1, Blackwitch Pudding deliver on their promise, making a doom record worthy of the heaviest riffs and thickest smoke.

The opening track on the album, Night of the Blackwitch, is five and half minutes of the slowest and heaviest riffs this side of the Mississippi. Pudding proclaims throughout the song that “Tonight is the night of the blackwitch,” in the dark growl that only these wizards can deliver. The next track “Toke n’ Man,” a wonderful play on words here, is arguably the heaviest riff this year. You won’t be able to help yourself from the slow head banging that will ensue. Even the solo is played at half speed. Slow and steady wins the race with these guys.

The third track on Covered in Pudding Vol. 1 is entitled “Gods of Grungus.” It starts off with what sounds like a party inside the studio. It goes back and forth from that party into a full-boar tear of a tune. It’s a slow burning song; loud and heavy is the formula the wizards abide by. The final track on the EP has the best title of any song ever. “Bong Hits and Lust” is the epic conclusion to this EP.  At over ten minutes, its lyrics have no real meaning, and the song just slowly moves along, pulling you further and further into the cosmos. By the sixth minute it turns into a full on jam session with a Sabbath-like breakdown that only a band like this can perform.

One would think by looking at the song titles that these wizards don’t take themselves seriously. But after listening to the music, you can tell Blackwitch Pudding are thoroughly invested in what they do, how they do it and what it looks like. The whole production is great. Let’s hope we can all take a ride to the cosmos with the wizards of Blackwitch Pudding.