Customer Reviews

Wytches

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This is a re-release of "Wytches", the 1994 follow-up to "Belladonna & Aconite". A number of Inkubus Sukkubus fans will choose this as the best of the I.S. catalogue, citing the title track as the classic I.S. recording. The albulm certainly has its strengths, such as the idiosyncratic high-energy guitar/chant "Catherine", while "Conquistadors" and "Church of Madness" are what I.S. do best, which is voice straight-forward angry Pagan critiques of Christianity. "The Rape of Maude Bowen" and "Devils" achieve a lyrical gravity that no track on "Belladonna and Aconite" really approaches, although the pronunciation of 'Grandier' (the French priest immortalized in Huxley's _The Devils of Loudon_ ), may be painful to some ears.

I.S., not unlike other U.K. mid-90s Goth bands, have a tendency to force hard rock guitar cliches to maintain themselves throughout an alblum and rely on tempo changes and vocal embellishments to avoid monotony. This approach is simply more successful on "Belladonna and Aconite" than it is on this albulm. Nor do any of the Pagan anthems that one listens to I.S. to hear from this albulm compete with those from the re-release of "B&A" that includes the earlier "Beltaine" tracks (although "Call Out My Name" comes close). "Catherine" appears again on the following albulm "Heartbeat of the Earth" in a version that some find the more appealing of the two.

"Wytches" is, obviously, a defintive albulm for I.S. The band's trademark (now refreshingly) brash Paganism and Candia Ridley's vocals do rescue this albulm from mediocre goth metal. If you're not a fan of the band already, the expanded "Belladonna & Aconite" is the better starting place for goths, but others may well appreciate the more standard hard rock approach of this albulm.

I love this Cd and happy to own it....Inkubus Sukkubus are a great band and this is by far, in my opinion, their best album,
My fav tracks are : Devils, Wyches, and Song to Pan.

Buy it -- It's good :)

This is one of IS's most driving, hypnotic albums. Mesmeric rhythms back and complement intense lyricism. A beautiful album for dark days and after dark; when I want to create, think deeply or imagine more earthen possibilities. It's not as chant-like as "Heartbeat of the Earth" or "Supernature," but has its own more Dionysian rewards. The songs are diverse of theme and are musically well-crafted. A few of them are:

"Dark Mother" - song about dealing with the fact of death and being reborn.

"Witches" - is a powerful invocation for us to leave the ordinary, daylight behind for a night and fly! For e, it induces dream-travelling, often when the circle rises and round and round we go--dancing the night away!

"Queen of the May" - is a great song for inaugurating Cetsamhain (Beltaine).

"Pagan Born" - is an affirmation of life lived in the Earth under the Sun.

"Gypsy Lament" - is a love song for a dead lover; very much in the tradition of the English folk song.

"Conquistadors" - is a condemnation of the invasion of the Americas by European Imperialists; it is also a condemnation of Christianity as complicit in this genocide.

"Burning Times" - is a memorial to those who died under the reign of the Inquisition, and a plea to never let it happen again.

"Song to Pan" - a poetic poem; a call to the goat-footed god.

I heard Inkubus Sukkubus by accident on Web-radio one day ...and it was one of those rare life-altering events. I was a pure Rock n' Roll Guy for most of my life, but hearing the pristinely pure and yet somehow tormented voice of the incredibly beautiful and obscenely talented lead singer Candia, I was hooked. Some say that a picture is worth a 1000 words... well tangentially, I say this woman's voice cannot be described in words...it simply left me speechless... I bought all their albums (imports included) within the week and have told everyone I know... I am planning a trip to the UK just so I can see them perform...They are just that good...

What Makes Inkubus Sukkubus so amazing are their lyrics and instruments are fantastic as well...so there is much more to this band than the stunningly hot and super-cool lead singer who I now feel like praising all over again... (Man she is so talented its makes it even more of a sin that Brittany spears is famous and Candia is not...) But back to the band... They really are amazing... They experiment with different production techniques and sounds so that no two songs are the same despite all having a strong pagan/wiccan influence... You can download some of their songs from their Website... please give them a try... you wont be disappointed...

I cannot over-emphasize how much you need to buy this album (and all the other Inkubus Sukkubus Albums) If you are a young Goth you likely have them already... but even white collar lawyer-schmucks like me can benefit from the mind expanding experience this bands music provides...I thought I was clever before...but I have learned so much from this band... My life has been changed for the better... and yours will be too if you let this goddess sing for you...

Thanks for everything Inkubus Sukkubus... Blessed Be!

I had heard of Inkubus Sukkubus from doing a search on Pagan videos on Youtube. I listened to as many tracks as I could and when I could not hold myself back I bought the Album. Every track on this album speaks to me in ways I haven't had done in a while. As I write this review I am listening to it. My favorite tracks are: 1. Pagan Born. 2. Burning Times and 3. Church of Madness. Blessed Be.

Loved this cd was very witchy and very good sining. Loved the lyrics they are great. I put this cd in turn it up and just dance to it. So great to find pagan cds and this is a great find.