FOUL BODY AUTOPSY – Happy Halloween Witches
Condemned by the words of a child; the cruel pretence of a boy whose vindictive mischief making spread like plague through the tarnished hearts of those so hungry for scandal and persecution.
So excited by the prospect of the torture and death of people that, just days before, they considered neighbours, even friends. In these damned times the devil walks not in the homespun dresses of women named witches, nor dances in our night time woods in accordance with licentious and lecherous fantasies. He lives in the hearts of the profiteering Witchfinder and the self important judges, in the fear of the ignorant and the perverted piety of priests…
After the bravely experimental Shadows Without Light trilogy and the back to the roots horror and aggression of Crucifix Dreams, Tom Reynolds’ Foul Body Autopsy is back, with another fresh twist on his precision riff attack. The Discovery Of Witches is a two track EP inspired by two infamous witch trials that took place in Tom’s hometown of Leicester, a century apart. In 1616, due to the false testimony of a young boy, fifteen women were arrested. Nine were hung for crimes of wicked sorcery, another died in jail while the remaining five were released due to the intervention of King James I – to whom the boy admitted his lies. In 1717 Jane Clark and her two children were accused of witchcraft by their fellow villagers and subjected to an ordeal by water – the fact that they didn’t drown when cast into the village pond, condemning them. The 1616 hangings are explored in opening track ‘The Rough Rope And The Short Drop’, where Tom brings new elements to his customary six-string aggression. There’s a reflective feel captured by the deft interplay between guitar and bass – Linus Klausenitzer (Alkaloid, ex-Obscura etc)’s flowing notes weaving their way between Tom’s snarling guitar parts – the sections of punchy, rhythmic feel and the strong melodic awareness as the tragedy, the violence and the delusion of that awful episode are brought to life. ‘The Ordeal By Water’ is another fine example of the traditional Foul Body Autopsy sound taking on fresh hues and colours as it builds through melody and an almost progressive aura to the full force assault of fierce blast beats – masterfully delivered once again by Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth, Scarve etc). Constantly evolving, constantly exploring, constantly delivering riffs like tactical weapons – Tom Reynolds and Foul Body Autopsy have delivered another sweetly structured and imaginative burst of metal.
While all three musicians worked in their home studios in England, the US and Germany respectively, Tom’s vocals were captured at Parlour Studios (The Haunted, At The Gates, Napalm Death etc) and The Discovery Of Witches was mastered by Stephen Kerrison (The Grudge, Remote Viewing etc). The results are, as always with Foul Body Autopsy, excellent – combining clarity and power, subtlety and force. The EP will be available digitally and for the first time for Foul Body Autopsy, on limited edition lathe cut vinyl. Set to be released on the most appropriate date of October 31st, The Discovery Of Witches is another essential addition to the Foul Body Autopsy canon.
Line-up:
Tom Reynolds – Guitar/Vocals
*drums on The Discovery Of Witches by Dirk Verbeuren
*bass on The Discovery Of Witches by Linus Klausenitzer
