“titanic riffs of classic rock and the gob of punk” – The Guardian “This is something that could scorch lawns and burn down buildings, this is Witch Fever” – Steve Lamacq, BBC Radio 6 Music “These Mancunion doom-grungers summon a savage fury against patriarchy on their gloriously loud sound.” – The Observer “vital and inclusive doom-punk for a world in chaos” – NME: 4* “it’s clear that Witch Fever’s journey is just beginning, and this is the platform from which they can blaze a blinding trail, smash that stubbornly patriarchal system, and keep living deliciously” – Kerrang!: 5/5 “a winning combination of shadow and fire” – Clash
Witch Fever release their new single/video, “Dead To Me”, out today via Music For Nations / Sony. Bridging the gap between their critically acclaimed 2022 debut album, Congregation, and their next chapter, “Dead To Me” combines Witch Fever’s trademark raw, breakneck punk with a fuller, more experimental sound. The Manchester four-piece has already been playing the track live, harnessing its livid energy into a moment of collective catharsis from festival stages to sweaty venues. On record, that anger is whipped up into a full blown tempest. Produced by Chris W Ryan (NewDad, Just Mustard, Enola Gay), “Dead To Me” embraces heavier influences and darker atmospherics. Bassist Alex Thompson took the lead, beginning with a bassline and building out from there, with guitarist Alisha Yarwood playing with noise and texture over riffs, while drummer Annabelle Joyce incorporates double bass pedal and more dynamic patterns. Propelled by the thunderous instrumental, vocalist/lyricist Amy Walpole careens between screaming fits and soft, serpentine verses layered with dissonant harmonies. “We really wanted to sound bigger,” says Alex. “We wanted to push our sound in ways that we wouldn’t be able to do if we were just playing in a room together.” Thematically, Amy draws on her traumatic experiences growing up in the Charismatic Church, which informed much of Congregation’s lyrical content. Here, though, she speaks from a different emotional vantage point. Reflecting from a place of clarity rather than confusion, the song unleashes the anger of growing up with the pressures of being all the things girls are expected to be – sweet, cute, and compliant – while also being let down by the institutions in her life that failed in their duty of care, despite the ongoing support of her parents. The lyrics are unforgiving and in your face, leaving little to read into. In Amy’s words: “I’m just saying that all the elders in the church that let me down are dead to me!” At the same time, the track doubles as a “fuck you” to anyone who deserves it. “When I’m playing it live, there’s a bunch of other people I’m thinking about who are dead to me,” says Alex. “Anyone can listen to it and be like, ‘yeah, fuck this person’ – which is always a fun energy to play with. It’s like a form of release.” The band’s first release in two and a half years, “Dead To Me” bridges Witch Fever’s past and future – a “reintroduction to what we have represented, and a good path leading into what’s to come.” Listen to “Dead To Me” here, and watch the James Kennedy-directed music video below. | 
