Close the Hatch’s Modern Witchcraft: Necessary Listening

There comes a point in every person’s life when they must decide whether to leave that lingering browser tab open, delaying its task for yet another day, or close it, to be forever forgotten. That moment is crucial, when you look deep into your soul and have an honest conversation with yourself: will I ever read that long ass article or not?? Now is the time, do or die!

For Close the Hatch’s new album, Modern Witchcraft, the answer is most certainly do! I’ve had the stream open in my browser for the past month because I dug it a whole lot when I first heard it, so by leaving the tab open I set a visual reminder to myself to write about it at some nebulous point in the future and then… well, you know. But here I am! And I’m telling you, listen to it, it rules, and it’s unlike anything you’ve heard before, I swear.

Here’s how Brooklyn Vegan, who premiered the album, described it back before America exploded into civil unrest (I’ve been sitting on it for so long, I’m really sorry, y’all):

“Close The Hatch kinda have one foot in Electric Wizard-style psychedelic doom and one in Neurosis-style post-metal, and just when you feel like you’ve already heard way too much music in both of those styles, Close The Hatch come along with an album that feels fresh and not really derivative of any one thing in particular. Also, fun fact: it was co-produced with Micah Carli, a long-running/former member of emo-pop vets Hawthorne Heights (who are also from Dayton).”

I’ds also throw a touch of Pallbearer and Khemmis to those references. Sold yet? I don’t care, really, just press play. I’m pretty sure you won’t regret it.

Modern Witchcraft is out now via Red Moth Records; order here.