With Gaz Jennings ‘Death Penalty’ Michelle Nocon had made a welcome return to the musical front after departing ways with Serpentcult.
This was , however, not her only venture. As was quickly apparent from ‘The Sleepless Gods’ EP she was also quite busy whith a second project called Batsheba.. Together with her Death Penalty colleage Raf Meukens on bass, she is joined by Disinterred Dwight on six string and none other than Sardonis’ drum basher Jelle Stevens. While Death Penalty is equal parts doom and proto NWOBHM like Witchfinder General, Bathseba is much more inclined towards doom although that doesn’t mean they’re just another occultly tinged female doom band like Jex Thoth or Blood Cermony. Jellye’s at times frenetic drumming brings a sense of tension to the songs while the occasional curveball like the jazzy sax on “Ain Soph” keeps you on your toes. The Siren from Genk has proven herself to be a vocal powerhouse ever since her first work on Sepentcult and she does not disappoint here neither. Besides here well known Candlemeassesque style Nocon is also experimenting here with some careful extreme vocals which fit the darker lyrical matter quite well. Next to the already known ‘The Sleepless Gods” from the previous EP the standout track is the epic ‘Manifest” with some awesome guitar work from Dwight. World class from Limburg.
Tracklist
- Conjuration of Fire
- Ain Soph
- Manifest
- Demon 13
- The Sleepless Gods
- I At the end of Everything
Label: Svart Records
www.facebook.com/bathshebakills
9/10
