Gothic, dramatic and sinister, Esben and the Witch have created the Tim Burton of albums. Guitars churn and cymbals clash with ferocious intensity, creating a haunting, cavernous experience. Equipped with a stunningly chilling wail, lead singer Rachael Davies’ vocals take these songs to new, darker places as she shifts seamlessly between themes of love, war and death. At times, however, the gothic shtick sounds a little forced, and the drones, hisses and ominous percussion takes priority over hooks. Sadly, atmosphere is no replacement for songcraft. When they get the mix right, it’s fantastic – beautiful, engaging and as scary as hell.
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