New Witchfinder General "Resurrected" CD

nightsblood · Post by **nightsblood** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:00 pm

Add me to the list of those who think this release is awful. I'm leery of reunion projects like this, but I gave the album a fair chance and played it several times. Bottom line: IMO it's pretty bad. The vocalist is not good; he sounds very hoarse, has no range, and seems to just speak the words rather than actually sing. The songwriting is very bland; any 2nd or 3rd tier wannabe doom band could come up with similar stuff. A few tracks, like 'A Night to Remember' and 'Gift of Life' are so bad they're actually embarrassing to listen to; these songs should never have left the rehearsal room. The production also does them no favors, it sounds like it was done very cheaply and quickly.
Though I hate to say it, this feels like a rush job and captures nothing of the classic WFG sound. Other bands used to copy WFG, now WFG seems to be copying the copycats and the result is just sad. Lesson to other bands working on reunion albums: don't just throw together a half-baked pile of songs and expect everyone to love them b/c you have some cult street cred based on a few recordings you did 25 years ago. If you can put out new music that's good, bring it on, but it takes more than a classic logo to make great record.

DESECRATOR777 · Post by **DESECRATOR777** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:25 pm

yes alan you are correct on all counts. it is embarassing to call this "record" witchfinder general. the joke is on all of us that spent money on this piece of crap. if any of you folks want it, pm me for a trade or purchase.

The Knell · Post by **The Knell** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:42 pm

yes, on a second listen I noticed it too, very ulrich drums

Still not awful, but hell no WFG goodness too

"average"

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:00 pm

I haven't heard it yet, but this is what impresses me from all the feedback left so far: those who found it awful, they found it awful on all aspects, musically, the vocals, in terms of originality etc. On the other hand, those who liked it, they found it great both in music and vocals. I haven't seen anyone who gave negative feedback saying for example that it is a great album, but the vocals ruin it or something like that. Strange i must admit. I have to hear it myself i guess, but i'm afraid it won't be the exception to the rule of the shitty and uninteresting reunion albums of 80s bands, those were really few. I'll be back with opinions and thoughts as soon as i listen to it carefully.

The Knell · Post by **The Knell** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:18 pm

I only heard one song so I can't fully judge it.

So far the drums : bad, the vocals : OK but no competition for the original, the music : average and hardly reminding of the old days

If the rest is the same it's not awful, but just average at best

And no damn Witchfinder General!!!

Without the tag I wouldn't be able to identify it as WFG

Post by **DaN** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:08 pm

All the neggy reviews here left me no other choice but to Do The Evil Deed and download it just to make sure I'm not about to waste my money on the upcoming record fair next weekend.

I'm only on 3rd listening by now, but efFiN' ChrXst are we listening to same album?!? In 2 words: I luwit!

In more words:
As much as I've always loved WFG they were never a 'perfect band' to me. Musicianship was always so-so, both of thee olde albums had songs that probably shouldn't have left the rehearsal room either, but the genious of their heights made for a unique and delightfully schizo listening experience. Sometimes you come to enjoy a band as much for their flaws as for their perfections, don't you think? In this case I'm fanboy simply because the SONGS on "Resurrected" are some of the best they've ever written and musically I'd probably rate it as their best album to date. I might agree w/ Alan about "A Night To Remember", but to me it's just this album's "No Stayer" - a completely useless track from a still great album. "Gift Of Life" on the other hand... leaves me speechless. So fucking awesome... If you don't fall unto you knees in front of that opening riff you simply have no heart.

So we don't get Zeeb Parkes. A pity, I'm the first one to agree. Still I think we could have gotten something INFINITELY worse: A "good", "talented" but hopelessly booooring, standard, Generic Rock-singer with zero originality. Be honest: would you rather have someone like, let's say Tony Martin doing the vocals on such a sick MF of a band like WITCHFINDER GENERAL(!)? No, as for me I'd rather take the youthful imperfections of Gary Martin over some 2nd rate Zeeb-wannabe or washed up 'Session Vocalist'. Just listen to the magnificent "Final Justice" and it will all make sense, trust me.

...and "Friends Of Hell" (the song) is still their best song ever made and thus their heaviest oak to bear when it comes to superseding their legacy. With "Resurrection" they've at least given us some solid runner-ups in anthems like "Brutal Existence", "The Living Hell" and the aforementioned "Final Justice". In conclusion I proclaim "Resurrected" the best and most underrated come-back album since SARCOFAGUS' "Core Values" (a comparison that will probably do more bad than good, but what can you do...)

mordred · Post by **mordred** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 9:07 am

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna love it.

great_knuthulhu · Post by **great_knuthulhu** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:53 am

ION BRITTON wrote:I haven't heard it yet, but this is what impresses me from all the feedback left so far: those who found it awful, they found it awful on all aspects, musically, the vocals, in terms of originality etc. On the other hand, those who liked it, they found it great both in music and vocals. I haven't seen anyone who gave negative feedback saying for example that it is a great album, but the vocals ruin it or something like that. Strange i must admit. I have to hear it myself i guess, but i'm afraid it won't be the exception to the rule of the shitty and uninteresting reunion albums of 80s bands, those were really few. I'll be back with opinions and thoughts as soon as i listen to it carefully.

If that's your impression, I didn't word my say correctly. I think there are great moments on it. Dan is right that they were never 100% consistent and the musicianship wasn't fantastic either. What has happened with this album though is that the lows are that much lower and the vocals aren't good enough to rescue those moments (IMO Zeeb Parkes' vocals were that good). There are still good parts on it - very good even - which are well worth listening to. However, they are too few and far between.

I know giving ratings is a bit of a cowardly way out, but I'll do it anyway. A 3 out of 6 for this album, and when you think of the fantastic stuff they did 25 years ago, that's a huge downturn.

The Knell · Post by **The Knell** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:27 pm

WFG were always a bit sloppy but who cares!? I miss the athmosphere

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:38 pm

Well, basically i was looking at the last posts of nightsblood and DESECRATOR, who left absolutely negative feedback, i didn't mean to say that everyone who didn't find it that great thought it was awful on all aspects, maybe it was me who put it wrong. I'm now looking back at the first posts and there are indeed some people who thought that only the vocals were the big problem. It's still confusing though 'cause you can't figure out what's going on with the album when one says that it's crap and a waste of money and the other says that it's the best comeback in years. That usually happens with ''love it or hate it'' bands who have a very special sound/identity, but anyway...I'll try to hear asap.

Cochino · Post by **Cochino** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:17 pm

I'm absolutely dissapointed myself. The music is decent, they kinda lost the NWOBHM thing which made them so special, but still it could have been a nice traditional doom album, with some filler songs and average riffs, but not necessarily bad. And then came the vocals. Awful, it sounds like I'm the one singing. The vocalist really ruined the whole album for me. Not a huge disappointment to me 'cause I wasn't expecting much, but still is sad to see so many good bands going down like that.

EzraCobb · Post by **EzraCobb** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:36 pm

great_knuthulhu wrote:But all the last three or four posts on Miskatonic do NOT rate the album very highly (except for Pat, I think it was). Or do you read a different Miskatonic board from the one I read?

I agree with Daniel - The new W.F.G. vocalist (gaz?) sucks!!!! The riffs are good and it is great to hear a DOOM legend like Phil riff again -- but the vocals are painful.... And some of the lyrics are just stupid.

Zeeb are u out there!!!?? we miss u!

Black Axe · Post by **Black Axe** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:07 pm

EzraCobb wrote:
great_knuthulhu wrote:But all the last three or four posts on Miskatonic do NOT rate the album very highly (except for Pat, I think it was). Or do you read a different Miskatonic board from the one I read?
I agree with Daniel - The new W.F.G. vocalist (gaz?) sucks!!!! The riffs are good and it is great to hear a DOOM legend like Phil riff again -- but the vocals are painful.... And some of the lyrics are just stupid.

Zeeb are u out there!!!?? we miss u!

The lyrics are also written by Phil.