Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep within the forest, there lived a renowned witch hunter named Samuel. His reputation preceded him, as he was rumored to possess an uncanny ability to detect and eliminate witches with just a mere glance. The villagers revered him, for they believed that he was their protection against the dark forces that encircled their lives. Samuel was a solitary man who had dedicated his life to his craft. He had dedicated years to studying the art of witch hunting, learning about the ancient rituals, spells, and incantations that witches were said to possess. Armed with this knowledge, he embarked on his quest to rid the world of these nefarious beings.
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That s not to say that HolyRoller immediately dives off a cliff, but it feels like they go too hard, too early and, just like my 19-year old self at a uni party, are then struggling to maintain the energy. This quartet clearly have talent and I hope, for their sophomore effort, will lean a bit more into the big, rolling intensity of Atheist Prayer and the harsher edge of Earthdweller.
Armed with this knowledge, he embarked on his quest to rid the world of these nefarious beings. Despite his successful endeavors, Samuel remained haunted by the memory of his younger sister, Anna, who had been accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake. This event had ignited his passion for hunting witches, as he vowed to prevent others from suffering the same fate as his sister.
HolyRoller – Swimming Witches Review
The stoner rock / stoner metal scene is one littered, perhaps more than many sub genres, with tepid mediocrity. One where the utterly forgettable bands seem to massively outnumber both the outstanding and the awe-inspiringly awful acts. While the likes of Clutch, Monster Magnet and Red Fang stand head and shoulders above most in the genre, I have begun to wonder whether there is something intrinsic in the style that leads to so much tediousness. Can North Carolina quartet HolyRoller buck this trend and avoid the apparent pitfalls that trap so many of their baked brethren to deliver something truly interesting with debut Swimming Witches?
Straight out of the gates, my interest is indeed piqued, attention grabbed. Opener “Atheist Prayer” has a real vibrancy to it, as rollicking, rolling riffs pair with energetic drumming and some belting vocals courtesy of rhythm guitarist Adam Cody (at least, as lead vocalist, I assume it’s him although all four members of the band are credited with vocals of some sort). Reminiscent of early Red Fang and The Elephant Riders-era Clutch, with dollops of psychedelia around the edges, it’s a hugely promising start to Swimming Witches. It seems, however, like it might be a tall task for HolyRoller to deliver a full album—even a nice trim one clocking in just over the half hour mark—of this quality.
Sadly, so it proves. That’s not to say that HolyRoller immediately dives off a cliff, but it feels like they go too hard, too early and, just like my 19-year old self at a uni party, are then struggling to maintain the energy. 1 The gritty urgency of the lead vocals on “Atheist Prayer” is what makes that song such a banger but they are never to return on Swimming Witches. Instead, the tempo drops a bit and the band leans that little bit harder into psych tropes. Distorted leads and semi-spoken vocal passages (“Last Embrace”) become more common, as do tired-sounding repetitive riffs and grunted or chanted backing vocals (“The Deuce”). There are brief sparks of life, like the very good “Earthdweller” with its harsher vocals and twanging bass, but I’m sorry to say that Swimming Witches saved its best for first. Thereafter, the record lacks edge and, to a degree, ideas.
It’s a shame that the album’s two standout cuts—”Atheist Prayer” and “Earthdweller”—are tracks 1 and 3 because Swimming Witches feels like a slog after you’ve had those two, even though you’ve only got about another 20 minutes to go. HolyRoller can all handle their instruments and kudos goes to drummer Jay Ovittore for his desperate, if ultimately futile, attempt to instill some interest and progressive flare into the turgid “With Time.” The title track, which closes Swimming Witches, is a solid way to finish, its progressive leads and grimy bass pairing well with the vocals, which briefly rediscover an urgent, yearning edge. Coupled with the two early picks, this shows that the band can pen very good tracks but not consistently. Not yet anyway. The production does not help HolyRoller, Despite a DR of 8, Swimming Witches feels too loud and flat, making it a tiring experience for these old ears. The vocals, which are often leads plus backing chants or call/response work, are too far forward in the mix, dominating the instruments, while the drums sound somehow slightly out of focus, with the cymbals in particular a bit ragged around the edges.
Swimming Witches opens in such strong fashion that I really wanted to love it. Or even like it. As it is, however, I like elements of it and think that HolyRoller have a lot of promise but the overall package is a bit tedious. Frustratingly so because of what the band shows itself capable of. I am willing to be patient, however. It seems HolyRoller has only been around for three years and few bands knock it out the park on the debut. This quartet clearly have talent and I hope, for their sophomore effort, will lean a bit more into the big, rolling intensity of “Atheist Prayer” and the harsher edge of “Earthdweller.”
Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Black Doomba Records
Websites: holyroller2.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/profile.php?id=100047348095331
Releases Worldwide: July 8th, 2022
Swimming Witches opens in such strong fashion that I really wanted to love it. Or even like it. As it is, however, I like elements of it and think that HolyRoller have a lot of promise but the overall package is a bit tedious. Frustratingly so because of what the band shows itself capable of. I am willing to be patient, however. It seems HolyRoller has only been around for three years and few bands knock it out the park on the debut. This quartet clearly have talent and I hope, for their sophomore effort, will lean a bit more into the big, rolling intensity of “Atheist Prayer” and the harsher edge of “Earthdweller.”
One fateful day, Samuel received news of a witch residing in a nearby locality. Determined to apprehend her, he set out on his mission, armed with his trusty crossbow, silver dagger, and a vial of holy water. As he journeyed through the eerie forest, the howls of wolves echoed in the distance, engulfing him with an air of foreboding. Upon reaching the village, Samuel discovered that the witch had already cast her spell upon the villagers, causing an outbreak of illness and misfortune. Desperate for a solution, the villagers turned to Samuel, begging him to vanquish the witch and restore their tranquility. Samuel meticulously devised a plan to confront the witch and break her curse. He gathered the villagers in the village square and spoke words of hope and strength. With a rallying cry, they set out towards the witch's lair, armed with torches and a newfound determination. Guided by his instincts, Samuel led the villagers through the treacherous forest, navigating the hidden paths that only he seemed to know. As they approached the witch's lair, an aura of darkness hung heavy in the air, causing even the bravest villagers to tremble with fear. Undeterred, Samuel burst through the entrance, ready to face the witch head-on. The sight before him was nothing short of haunting, as the witch stood tall, surrounded by a cloud of black smoke. They engaged in a fierce battle, with Samuel wielding his weapons with precision and the witch retaliating with her ancient powers. After an intense struggle, Samuel managed to weaken the witch and deliver the final blow, successfully vanquishing her. The villagers rejoiced, as their misfortunes dissipated, and the village was restored to its former glory. Samuel's victory brought him a sense of closure, as he knew he had avenged his sister's tragic fate. He continued his work as a witch hunter, determined to protect innocent lives from the clutches of evil. Although he carried the weight of his past, Samuel knew that in his own way, he was making a difference in the world. And so, he ventured forth, ready to face whatever darkness lay ahead..
Reviews for "Hunting Down Evil: The Witch Hunter's Never-Ending Battle"
1. John - 2 stars
I found "Witch Hunter Story" to be a highly disappointing read. The plot felt highly predictable and lacked any kind of originality. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with or care about their fates. The writing itself was also mediocre, featuring cliched dialogue and a lack of descriptive language. Overall, I was left unimpressed and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
2. Emily - 2 stars
"Witch Hunter Story" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver on its potential. The world-building was underdeveloped, leaving many unanswered questions and leaving me feeling disconnected from the story. The pacing was also off, with long stretches of boredom followed by hurried action sequences that felt forced. Additionally, the romance subplot felt forced and unnecessary, adding nothing to the overall plot. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
3. Sarah - 1 star
I couldn't even finish "Witch Hunter Story." The writing was juvenile and riddled with grammatical errors. The protagonist was incredibly annoying and made irrational decisions throughout the entire book. The magic system was poorly explained, leaving me confused and disengaged. I found the whole reading experience to be highly frustrating and would not recommend this book to anyone.
4. Michael - 2 stars
For a book titled "Witch Hunter Story," I was expecting more action and excitement. However, the majority of the book was focused on the main character's internal struggles and self-doubt. The pacing was slow, and the action scenes were few and far between. The plot twists were predictable, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. Overall, I was left disappointed and felt that the book didn't deliver on its promised premise.
5. Mia - 1 star
I found "Witch Hunter Story" to be extremely problematic in its portrayal of witches. The book relied on harmful stereotypes and tropes, perpetuating negative and harmful ideas about witches. Additionally, the writing was weak, filled with repetitive phrases and awkward sentence structures. The characters lacked depth, and the romance felt forced and unrealistic. I would not recommend this book, especially to those looking for a more inclusive and progressive portrayal of witches.