Witching Hour
The Vision Bleak · 2013
44 min · 9 tracks · gothic metal
Dark, atmospheric melodies intertwine with haunting vocals to create a chilling soundscape steeped in gothic lore.
Top tracks — play these first
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A Witch Is Born — This track captures the essence of the album with its haunting melodies and vivid imagery of dark rituals, making it a standout representation of the band’s thematic focus.
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The Blocksberg Rite — With its dramatic orchestration and intense vocals, this track embodies the album's narrative arc, illustrating the dark ceremonies associated with witchcraft.
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The Call of the Banshee — This song showcases a powerful blend of melodic hooks and atmospheric elements, encapsulating the ethereal quality that defines much of the band's work.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends dark themes with strong instrumentation, creating a cohesive gothic metal experience.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the fourth track introduces a faster tempo that shifts the energy.
- Each song features layered instrumentation, with guitars and keyboards creating a dense atmospheric backdrop for the vocals.
- The album employs recurring motifs and themes related to witchcraft, enhancing its narrative cohesion across the tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- eerie atmosphere for night drives
- captivating tales of myth and
- haunting melodies for introspection
- dark themes for immersive listening
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of upbeat tempos
- prefer light-hearted music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2013, Witching Hour marked The Vision Bleak's fourth studio album and continued their exploration of horror-themed narratives. Following the well-received Set Sail to Mystery in 2010, this album further solidified their place within the gothic metal genre, showcasing a matured sound and lyrical depth.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Moonspell· Type O Negative· Katatonia
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Witching Hour 1:34
- 2 A Witch Is Born 4:10
- 3 The Blocksberg Rite 5:32
- 4 Cannibal Witch 6:06
- 5 The Wood Hag 3:57
- 6 Hexenmeister 4:00
- 7 Pesta Approaches 6:12
- 8 The Call of the Banshee 5:02
- 9 The Valkyrie 7:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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