Album Review: HolyRoller – Swimming Witches

A flawless blend of metal and melody

Heavy metal aficionados looking for an exciting new album need only press “play” to enjoy everything that HolyRoller has to offer. Swimming Witches is a fast-paced album complete with rapid guitar solos and powerful drum beats guaranteed to satiate any music lover. The vocals command attention throughout the entire album and blend seamlessly with each track’s melody.

Swimming Witches opens with a robust kick bass and vigorous vocals that flow with the tempo of “Atheist Prayer” and, despite the heavy metal appeal of the music, there is a palpable melody that only the most accomplished metal bands can procure. The vocals ebb and flow, the emotion unmistakable.

“Stumbling Towards Death” is an offering with grainy distortion that bleeds effortlessly into a melodic overture, toggling between major and minor chords, the vocal styling a kind of musical poetry in and of itself. As with the album’s introductory track, “Stumbling Towards Death” is heavy but catchy, the instruments perfectly in sync with the accompanying vocals.

“Earthdweller” opens with a punchy drum beat and delivers a more subdued feel while still retaining the album’s high-octane appeal. The vocals have an impressive range and showcase a raw, unbridled talent that the music industry simply needs more of. The guitars remain a constant presence but never overpower the rest of the music.

As Swimming Witches advances into another aggressive yet emotive track, “The Deuce” opens with a solid guitar riff with just enough distortion to lend it a gritty feel without eclipsing the talent behind the fretboard. The vocals once again blend seamlessly with the melody; the drums, although forceful, are never overpowering, offering the perfect amount of rhythm and mood to enrapture any audience.

“Bloodhound” immediately kicks into gear and draws the listener in, the perfect mix of percussion and powerful guitar riffs. “Swimming Witches,” the title track, boasts even more vivacious guitar licks replete with lyrics that provide a symbiotic juxtaposition, the vocals attaining a higher octave than the guitar, complementing one another perfectly. We don’t know what HolyRoller has planned next, but one thing is for sure— if they stick to this musical formula, it’s guaranteed to be as captivating as Swimming Witches.