Burning witches has a long and dark history, filled with fear, persecution, and superstition. The infamous witch hunts that took place in Europe and the United States during the 16th and 17th centuries resulted in the gruesome deaths of numerous individuals, often innocent women accused of practicing witchcraft. The concept of burning witches stemmed from the belief that witches made a pact with the devil and used their supernatural powers to cause harm to others. This fear was fueled by religious authorities, who condemned any form of witchcraft as heresy and an affront to God. The resulting hysteria led to mass trials and executions, with burning at the stake as the preferred method of punishment. The process of burning witches was a horrific and painful ordeal.
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The process of burning witches was a horrific and painful ordeal. Accused witches were typically tied to a stake in a public square or designated area and surrounded by wood or other flammable material. The executioner would then light the fire, and the victim would be subjected to intense heat and smoke as they were consumed by the flames.
Album of the Week 18-2023: Burning Witches – The Dark Tower
Traditional heavy metal is a difficult field to stand out in. Even the better of the younger bands occasionally have moments that make you wish you were listening to the bands that inspired them instead. That used to be my exact opinion about Burning Witches: why would I listen to them if I could listen to Warlock instead? Over the last few albums, however, they have gradually been improving, eventually becoming a mainly mid-tempo, yet surprisingly varied heavy metal band with a more pronounced aggressive edge than most of their peers. Admittedly: the excellent vocals of Laura Guldemond have contributed to that immensely.
Compared to its direct predecessor ‘The Witch of the North’, Burning Witches’ new album ‘The Dark Tower’ feels a bit more straightforward and less theatrical. Fortunately though, the band further expands upon the improvements heard on that album. Due to most of the material being mid-tempo, variation in the riff and melody department is of vital importance to a band like Burning Witches. Their early albums were frequently lacking that variation, but lately each song on their albums has a clear identity of its own. Somehow I suspect Guldemond’s multi-faceted voice was the catalyst of that, but the guitar parts are very well thought-out.
Interestingly, while most heavy metal albums in this style tend to peter out towards the end, some of the best moments on ‘The Dark Tower’ are actually on its second half. Especially back to back highlights ‘Heart of Ice’ and ‘Arrow of Time’ are simply great. The former is full of gorgeous guitar harmonies and that verse riff is just fantastic, while the latter reaches incredible heights when it opens op for its beautiful chorus and features a blink and you miss it tribute to Dio’s ‘Holy Diver’. The more aggressive ‘Doomed to Die’ and the pulsating closer ‘The Lost Souls’ even feature some vocal nods to Guldemond’s more extreme metal roots.
‘The Dark Tower’ is not just about its latter half though. Opening track ‘Unleash the Beast’ was an early favorite due to Romana Kalkuhl’s borderline speed metal riffs and the overall aggression in everyone’s delivery. ‘World on Fire’ has just been released as a single and that is probably the right choice, as it has one of the most memorable choruses on the album. The surprisingly sutble ‘Tomorrow’ is possibly the best Burning Witches ballad to date, as it breaks with power ballad clichés by remaining fairly introspective all the way through, while ‘Renegade’ has an almost hardrock-ish vibe that makes it a cool semi-departure.
Over the last few years, Burning Witches went from being an act that might be interesting to check out on a festival to a band whose albums are very much worth hearing. And while I think ‘The Dark Tower’ is a bit too long for its own good at nearly an hour, I would have a really hard time picking which songs should have been dropped. In a genre where many bands are content to just keep doing the same thing over and over again, it is good to hear Burning Witches consistently finding new strengths, with especially the guitars of Kalkuhl and Larissa Ernst getting better each time.
Recommended tracks: ‘Heart of Ice’, ‘Unleash the Beast’, ‘Arrow of Time’
Death usually came slowly and agonizingly, with the victim often suffocating from the smoke or dying from shock and burns. Burning witches served multiple purposes in society. It was seen as a means of purging evil and protecting communities from the perceived threat of witchcraft. Additionally, the public spectacle of a witch burning served as a deterrent, instilling fear in those who might have considered practicing witchcraft or challenging the established order. However, as time went on and attitudes towards witchcraft shifted, burning witches gradually fell out of favor. Enlightenment ideals of reason, logic, and skepticism eroded the belief in witchcraft, leading to a decline in witch trials and executions. By the 18th century, burning witches had largely faded into history, replaced by less brutal methods of punishment. Today, the practice of burning witches is viewed as a dark chapter in human history, a symbol of prejudice, irrationality, and unchecked hysteria. The idea that innocent individuals could be tortured and killed based on nothing more than hearsay and superstition is a stark reminder of the dangers of mob mentality and the importance of protecting individual rights and justice. As we look back on the atrocities committed in the name of witch-hunting, we must remember the victims and strive to learn from our past mistakes..
Reviews for "The Burning Witch Rhyme: Folklore or Historical Fact?"
1. Jessica - 2/5 - I was really disappointed by "Burning Witch Rym". The story seemed to drag on and on without much happening. The characters were uninteresting and lacked depth, making it hard for me to care about their plight. The pacing was slow and the writing style was dry, making it a struggle for me to stay engaged. Overall, I found the book to be tedious and not enjoyable.
2. Mike - 1/5 - "Burning Witch Rym" was a complete waste of time for me. The plot was confusing and poorly developed, leaving me with more questions than answers. The dialogue was stiff and unrealistic, making it hard for me to connect with any of the characters. Additionally, the writing seemed disjointed and lacked coherence, making it a challenge to follow along. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Burning Witch Rym", but ultimately, it fell flat for me. The world-building was weak and left me feeling disconnected from the story. The main character lacked depth and development, making it hard for me to root for them. The pacing was all over the place, with slow moments dragging on and action scenes feeling rushed. Overall, I found the book to be unremarkable and forgettable.
4. Alex - 2.5/5 - While "Burning Witch Rym" had some interesting ideas, it failed to deliver on its potential. The plot felt convoluted and confusing, making it hard for me to fully grasp what was going on. The writing style was also a bit dry and lacked emotion, making it hard for me to become invested in the story. Although there were some redeeming qualities, overall, I found the book to be underwhelming.
5. Emily - 1.5/5 - "Burning Witch Rym" was a disappointing read for me. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with them. The dialogue was stiff and unnatural, taking away from the overall reading experience. Additionally, the pacing was off, with slow moments dragging and action scenes feeling rushed and chaotic. I regret picking up this book and would not recommend it.