Witch Fever - Congregation

Religion and its wares have been mined for inspiration within art for centuries, but it’s not often explored in the way it is within ‘Congregation’. The debut full-length from Manchester quartet Witch Fever, here faith is surveyed via the first-hand experiences of lyricist Amy Walpole, digging back into her childhood as part of the cult-like Charismatic Church. A means to reclaim the experiences of pressure and control she felt, ‘Congregation’ is a darkly powerful record that sees Amy twisting familiar language and tropes (“Blessed be thy shame / It’s time to let it go”) and giving them a wholly different meaning. It’s also powerful in a sonic way, too; the presence of producer Sam Grant (of Pigs x7 fame) can be felt in the sludgy sledgehammer of ‘Blessed Be Thy’ and the creeping ‘Saw You Dancing’, while the band’s melting pot of personal influences shines through via the grungy ‘Slow Burn’ and mesmerising build of ‘Bloom’. A vulnerable, accomplished but, most importantly, empowering debut.