WITCHORIOUS - OAKS - 11.10.2024 - 1001 Bières - Amiens (Fr)

“Les 1001 Bières” - considering their crazy programming, this venue should quickly establish itself as one of the ‘places to be’ in the NORTHERN part of France for all fans of underground musics. A question of time, i think !
Tonight's line-up includes OAKS, a 100% instrumental stoner/doom band, and WITCHORIOUS, who play a very interesting DOOM style, 2 bands from Paris who tour together.

OAKS starts the fire ... 100% instrumental... okay, I admit I'm wondering whether I'm going to be won over, fear of a repetitive, boring band perhaps, but my doubts are soon dispelled ! OAKS know how to compose songs that are rich and varied enough to captivate the listeners/spectators and take them far and high ! Cascades of riffs and breaks for atmospheres that are at times energetic, melodic, soaring, heavy and oppressive... you feel yourself being jostled, taken where you don't think you're going, quite disconcerting but very enjoyable ! The songs, mostly from the first album, follow on perfectly from one another, the whole sounding very coherent, and you quickly get the idea of letting go and letting yourself be baffled.



The 3 musicians are perfectly at ease on stage, well in place, they know each other and enjoy being together to share their music with the audience. Because it's instrumental, there's little interaction with the audience, but in their case, it's really the music that does the talking!
A truly surprising band to discover as soon as possible on record or live if you get the chance, especially if you like bands like TOOL, MASTODON, RUSSIAN CIRCLES or simply if you're looking for something a little off the beaten track.



A short “Beer” break (and here, there's a choice... 1001 they say! ha!) and WITCHORIOUS kicks off their set with “Watch Me Die” from their debut album (like the rest of the set, actually)... a melodic intro and big, leaden riffs that put us straight into the mood of an Occult DOOM STONER with BLACK SABBATH (Of course! Who else?!) and COVEN influences... we're in a very 70's-inspired style, no doubt about it! The musicians are motivated, pumped up and determined to give it their all ! Tonight's set is of the highest quality, the tracks are solid and coherent, and the on-stage performance is highly enjoyable. The members of WITCHORIOUS are clearly diligent and eager to deliver a quality set!
“Monster” and ‘Why’ follow without a moment's hesitation, and then comes ‘Eternal Night’, the most intriguing track, with its trippy, occult atmospheres well enhanced by the use of the theremin, one of the world's very first electronic instruments, yeah! The surprise is also visual, and to great effect!
“The Witch“/”Sanctuaire” keeps on nailing it, and we appreciate the vocal combinations (male/female) which add an undeniable plus to the band's style. This excellent set concludes with “Blood”, another very successful track from the album!
These youngsters show great maturity, astonishing creativity and a real sense of composition! A HUGE surprise! Check them out as soon as you can! Join the Sabbat !

On a personal note, I'd also like to thank "Les 1001 Bières" for their wonderful welcome! U rock guys!

Pics used with kind permission from MESS WITH ME Photography.