‘Dying Surfer Meets His Maker’
All Them Witches (New West)
4 stars out of 5
You should know going in that the music of Tennessee-based hard rockers All Them Witches is not for the faint of heart. The hard and heavy “Dying Surfer Meets His Maker” is the band’s third studio effort — and first for New West — and figures to leave you emotional spent after the 46-minute sonic assault.
“While the songs may be enjoyed individually, in my mind the balance is only complete when the album is played as a whole,” notes vocalist/bassist Charles Michael Parks, who’s joined in All Them Witches by Ben McLeod (guitar), Allan Van Cleave (keys) and Robby Staebler (drums).
The nine-track release gets off to a solid start with “Call Me Star” before shifting into high gear with sprawling instrumental “El Centro,” my favorite cut on the album. Additional highlights include “This Is Where It Falls Apart,” “Mellowing,” “Talisman” and set closer “Blood and Sand / Milk and Endless Waters.” Rock on, fellas. (Jeffrey Sisk)
Pittsburgh In Tune 