The vile witch of doom from Denmark is back with its venomous sophomore offering, a 36-minute descent into an occult nightmare.

Built from colossal low-tuned riffs, crushing drums, ritualistic vocals, psychedelic textures and an absolutely massive wall of sound, Cult, the new opus by Aarhus, Denmark-based Sludge/Doom Metal entity Dread Witch, and the follow-up to their 2023 debut Tower of the Severed Serpent, is a 36-minute descent into an occult nightmare. Recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio, and showcasing a sinister artwork by Deliriavision, the new album by Mikael Rise on lead vocals and rhythm guitars, Jesper Kragh on lead and rhythm guitars, Andreas Cadaver on rhythm guitars and backing vocals, Leifur Sørensen on bass and backing vocals, and Dennis Larsen on drums once again creates an immersive sonic experience in an occult universe of serpents, witches, human sacrifices and unspeakable horrors, unfolding like a horror movie translated into sound. Think Conan, Triptykon and Devin Townsend, but dragged through a Boschian hellscape.

Gloomy and pensive, the intro Born Again will darken the skies before the witch from Denmark consumes our souls in the title-track Cult, with the thunderous, heavy-as-hell riffs by Mikael, Jesper and Andreas melting our faces mercilessly while Dennis deliver those slow, steady and massive beats we all love so much in Doom Metal. The Summoning continues with their reverberating, inhumane heaviness, with Leifur’s demonic bass walking hand in hand with the phantasmagorical drums by Dennis, offering Mikael exactly what he needs to vociferate in absolute darkness. And then they switch gears to a faster, more infernal tune titled Cyclops, adding Death and even Post-Metal elements to their core sound.

Altar offers more of their trademark fusion of somber Doom Metal with sluggish and visceral Sludge Metal, again showcasing hammering drums and the always vile gnarls by Mikael, while Sofia Schmidt of Ethereal Kingdoms makes a guest appearance as the Dread Witch herself, delivering haunting vocals for our total delight. Marrow feels utterly dissonant and experimental, with their guitars breathing fire, therefore sending shivers down our spines with their disturbing sounds. And then after the imposing interlude Vesexuff we face their coup-de-grace in the form of Omen of Oblivion, offering us all eight minutes of no hope, no happiness nor any positive feelings, only the crushing venom of Doom Metal. Moreover, Mikael is once again bestial on vocals, while Jesper and Andreas extract sheer insanity from their stringed axes.

Fans of such bands as Conan, With the Dead and Triptykon will feel right at home in Dread Witch’s murky universe, where light itself is sought extinguished by dark incantations of cultic evil and apocalyptic worship. Their new album, Cult, certainly feels like a descent into the darkness of a foreboding, mad abyss that is meant to be enjoyed in its entirety from beginning to end, and you can do so by purchasing the album from BandCamp. Don’t forget to also give the guys from Dread Witch a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their music on Spotify, or simply click HERE for all things Dread Witch. Because, in the end, the vile witch from Denmark is back more venomous than ever with Cult, and there’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

Best moments of the album: Cult, Cyclops and Omen of Oblivion.

Worst moments of the album: Vesexuff.

Released in 2026 Independent

Track listing
1. Born Again 1:53
2. Cult 4:56
3. The Summoning 5:39
4. Cyclops 2:21
5. Altar 6:44
6. Marrow 4:21
7. Vesexuff 2:18
8. Omen of Oblivion 8:18

Band members
Mikael Rise – lead vocals, rhythm guitars
Jesper Kragh – lead and rhythm guitars
Andreas Cadaver – rhythm guitars, backing vocals
Leifur Sørensen – bass, backing vocals
Dennis Larsen – drums

Guest musician
Sofia Schmidt – vocals on “Altar”