Witch Fever share new single “In Birth”
Praise for Witch Fever:
“If Witch Fever were a cult it would be incredibly difficult to refuse an offer to join them.” - CLASH
“The raw, breathless energy of early Nirvana gets coated in doom cobwebs (think Candlemass, early Black Sabbath etc)” - Louder (‘Reincarnate’)
“They look cool as fuck, they sound like a reckoning and they really mean it.” - NME 100: Essential emerging artists for 2021
“This is something that could scorch lawns and burn down buildings, this is Witch Fever” - Steve Lamacq, BBC6 Music
“With sharp percussion and a badass final verse, Witch Fever deliver a feminist punk anthem” - The Forty-Five (‘Reincarnate’)
Creating buzz in the music scene since their inception, Manchester’s Witch Fever are not long away from their debut EP Reincarnate which will be released digitally on 29th October and physical 12” on 3rd December, via Sony’s Music For Nations. Pre-order HERE.
Following title track ‘Reincarnate’ (here), and the lyrical mash up ‘In The Resurrect’ (here), today they share new single ‘In Birth’. It’s lyrics are semi-autobiographical from singer Amy and deal with the consequences of being born into a Charismatic Christian church where patriarchal structures and predatory behaviour were rife.
“‘In Birth' has been kicking around for a little while now, so it’s nice to finally exorcise it into the world.”, says Amy. “Whilst the theme of a lot of our songs is reclamation, empowerment and catharsis, it’s definitely far more vulnerable. It felt right to juxtapose this with big chuggy riffs and noisy, cymbal heavy drums. The power that Alisha, Alex and Annabelle create on this track accompanies the anger in my lyrics perfectly.”
Watch the video for ‘In Birth’ HERE.
She continues, “We created and directed the video with Sam O’Leary and it’s a tongue in cheek way of presenting the narrative. We wanted something camp and fun, but still powerful and angry. Plus, everything's better with a bucket of fake blood!”
Witch Fever also announce an in-store performance and signing at the legendary Rough Trade East for 4th December 2021. Free with vinyl purchase at Rough Trade, or tickets on sale today at 3pm via DICE here.
The new single is taken from debut EP Reincarnate, which will be released digitally on 29th October, and a 12” physical vinyl that will be available exclusively 3rd December via indie record shops and online (pre-order HERE). In a time when Independent venues and record stores suffered most, it is important to the band to support what keeps alternative music alive in the UK.
“There’s a big emphasis on female empowerment and female anger,” says bassist Alex of the message raging behind the band’s music. “It’s about celebrating yourself and self-expression. Not being stifled and held back.”
On the EP, singer Amy says, “This is the first time we’ll be releasing something longer than a single so it’s very exciting for us! The EP doesn’t really have a singular meaning behind it, it’s a mix of what our favourite songs to date were! Some of them we wrote and finished during the lockdown and some are a few years old. The overall lyrical content is a cross between biblical and horror imagery as a way to explore empowerment, catharsis and anger. It’s about owning my sexuality, my body and channelling my anger through music. With every piece of music we write we want to break the boundaries of a typical ‘Witch Fever’ song and push ourselves as musicians to keep evolving and getting out of our comfort zones! The more brutal the better!”
Reincarnate EP
out 29th October digitally / 3rd December on vinyl (pre-order HERE)
Tracklisting:
1. Reincarnate
2. In The Resurrect
3. Abject
4. In Birth
5. Initiation
6. Bully Boy
About Witch Fever:
Witch Fever’s name is inspired by the hysteria which accompanied the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, and Europe, which the band have long considered were a means to belittle, suppress and diminish women.
William Morris, owner of the UK's largest mining plant, DGC, and originator of the British Arts and Crafts movement and arguably the finest wallpaper designer of his generation, coined the term Witch Fever, which was a phrase to dismiss arsenic and- wallpaper-related public health concerns in 1885.
In Germany, in 1814, Wilhelm Sattler created an extremely toxic arsenic and verdigris compound pigment, Schweinfurt green, known also as Paris, Vienna, or emerald green, which became an instant favourite amongst designers and manufacturers the world over, thanks to its versatility in creating enduring yellows, vivid greens, and brilliant blues.
Most insidiously, the arsenic-laced pigment made its way into intricately patterned, brightly coloured wallpapers and from there, as they became increasingly in vogue, into the Victorian home. As its use became widespread, commercial arsenic mines increased production to meet the near-insatiable demand. Not least of which was whose owner was William Morris.
Concocting a potent sonic assault that recalls the foreboding darkness of Black Sabbath, Savages’ monochrome post-punk, and the dirty breathlessness of Bleach-era Nirvana, Manchester’s Witch Fever create a confrontational racket that takes no prisoners. Being named as ones to watch by NME, CLASH, Metro, and more, as well as championed by Fred Perry, Vans and even Orange Amps, Witch Fever are a band you’ll want to keep a close eye on.
TOUR DATES
WITCH FEVER
4th December 2021 - Rough Trade East
FESTIVAL DATES
11th September 2021 - Burn It Down Festival, Devon
16th April 2022 – Futurama Festival, Liverpool
IDLES & BAMBARA* SUPPORT TOUR - UK/EU
17th January 2022 - London, O2 Academy Brixton
1st March 2022 - Paris, Elysee Montmartre
2nd March 2022 - Lyon, Transbordeur
3rd March 2022 - Milan, Fabrique
4th March 2022 – Turin, Cap10100*
5th March – Nimes, La Paloma*
6th March 2022 - Toulouse, Le Bikini
7th March 2022 - Bilbao, Santana
9th March 2022 - Barcelona, Razzmattazz
10th March 2022 - Madrid, Riviera
11th March 2022 - Lisbon, Coliseum
Witch Fever are:
Amy Walpole: Lead vocals
Alex Thompson: Bass and backing vocals
Alisha Yarwood: Guitar
Annabelle Joyce: Drums
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