Arkham Witch - I Am Providence

ARKHAM WITCH have always had a penchant for weirdness but on their 3rd full-length they've taken things one step further, showing an even more whimsical side, and serving a subtle mix of chanting doom mongering, sing-along metallicisms and anthemic mosh agencies, all wrapped in the amorphous tentacles of Lovecraft's concepts and stories. The shift in style is quite noticeable: while it's still mostly British heavy metal rooted in the '70s and '80s tradition, the doom element present on their previous releases is subdued in favour of some punky refrains and a dose of thrash/crossover. Shorter and more melodic songs with strong emphasis on backing vocals and harmonies (though the instantly recognizable brigand-like vocals are still there too), are spiced up with some odd synth and piano, and have an overall lighter spirit, but they also deliver punches with chunky riffs that would make for a good mosh-pit fodder. It's a light-hearted fun take on the pulpy side of the Mythos, with hooks the size of Cthulhu's claws... pure Lovecraftian cheekiness!