L.A. Witch channels dominance, devotion, and the divine on expansive 'DOGGOD'
Since their inception, L.A. Witch has shrouded themselves in a cloak of beguiling mysticism inspired by the darkest fringes of their metropolitan namesake, crafting an aura of icy detachment and impenetrable serenity that masks unfathomable emotional depth and a furiously beating heart. On their latest release the band reveals a riveting new facet to their collective persona, expanding their sonic territory with the fearlessness of a pack of alphas on the prowl.
DOGGOD represents another dynamic turn for L.A. Witch, as the band continues to move beyond the heady but nearly obfuscating reverb of their self-titled debut LP, embracing cleaner production that showcases their growing technical prowess and confessional songwriting. 2020’s Play With Fire took the first steps in this new journey, but remained deeply indebted to the Gun Club-worshiping desert blues of its predecessor. On DOGGOD the band has nearly completely shed all but the most fundamental elements of that original sound, realigning their approach with the architectural, high-contrast brutalism of post-punk and darkwave’s haunting angularity.
L.A. Witch remains a guitar-forward band, and DOGGOD is a celebration of the versatility and malleability of instrument, rendered in a veritable banquet of tones that excite and electrify, propelled by some of the most brilliant basswork in the band’s catalog. The Irita Pai’s rolling, energetic four-string fretwork emerges as the primary driving force behind nearly every track, bouncing kinetically with a shadowy insistence that informs the core of the band’s new language and enables Sade Sanchez to unfurl thrilling turns of phrase on guitar. Perhaps most surprisingly is the album’s percussion, delivered by Ellie English with a nimble, jazz-like shuffle that skitters softly with feline precision and measured restraint. Its an approach that seems at times completely at odds with the surrounding instrumentation, but is executed so flawlessly that English succeeds in leveraging the intentional minimalism to enhance each compositional statement with the declarative impact of a perfectly placed underline.
Springing into existence with a chiming riff that conjures the the expansive loneliness of The Replacements’ “Answering Machine,” “Icicle” sets the stage with dramatic aplomb, establishing a sonic frame of reference that reverently sources inspiration the gothic end of the alternative rock spectrum while sidestepping the overly morose tendencies of the style. L.A. Witch retain their fiercely independent streak, imbuing the darkness with an electric vivaciousness that adds a jagged edge to “777” and “The Lines,” expressions of resolute determination that refuses to wallow in the mire of self-loathing or the unending spiral of existential doom.
DOGGOD’s heart of darkness lies within “I Hunt You Pray,” a smoldering slow burner that undulates with carnal sensuality and a deliciously droll vocal delivery recalling “Dancing Girls” by Farah. Hypnotizing rhythms and spartan guitar lines accumulate like a thunderstorm passing on the horizon, chilling the air and carrying with it the scent of a torrential baptism that never comes, slowly receding into sighing synth and the sound of chimes dancing in the fading breeze.
Sanchez’s lyrical skill is in top form throughout DOGGOD, and the spoken word passages of “Eyes Of Love” spotlight the masterful vulnerability and resolute strength woven into every fiber of this album’s being, intermingling with complex imagery that taps into the wellspring truth found within the sanctified arms of a lover and a companion. “Lost At The Sea” features lush balladeering that captures the listless and untethered sensation of insurmountable separation, viewed from drearily pebbled shores scribbled on the margins of a vast seascape sparsely populated with passing ships.
The juxtaposing thematics of DOGGOD extend beyond the anadrome title expanding on the concepts of dominance and submission that span the gulf between the mongrel and the divine. Animalistic references to the bloodthirsty nature of the wild canine crop up in “777” and “I Hunt You Pray,” as apex predators leading the pack through sheer force of will and expressions of physical might, manifestations of the wilderness itself made corporeal as living goddesses of the hunt. Despite the concentration of the entirety of nature’s ferocity within a single being, the dog is ultimately brought to heel, beholden to the commands of a much weaker animal and devoted to a symbiotic relationship that requires the willful sacrifice of the untamed spirit. Behind the bluesy S&M stomp of the title track Sanchez herself becomes a full grown dog, set in her ways and tugging against the leash, but ultimately finding a kind of salvation in the ancient power dynamic of domestication.
It is telling, however, that “DOGGOD” is not the final statement the album has to offer. “SOS” recaptures the restlessness of the beast unchained, howling from the shrinking surface of an iceberg adrift yet still doggedly pursuing the meaning of existence even as the space to roam rapidly falls off into the sea.
DOGGOD is available now via Suicide Squeeze Records. Limited vinyl and other physical formats available on Bandcamp. Stream the album on Spotify and follow L.A. Witch on Instagram.
Upcoming Shows
4/19 - Sacramento, CA @ The Starlet Room*
4/21 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios*
4/22 - Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl*
4/23 - Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern*
4/25 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge*
4/26 - Grand Junction, CO @ Grand Junction Botanical Gardens*
4/27 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive*
4/29 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club*
4/30 - Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall*
5/1 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall*
5/2 - Detroit, MI @ Lager House*
5/3 - Toronto, ON @ Longboat Hall*
5/4 - Montreal, QC @ Bar "Le Ritz" PDB*
5/6 - Troy, NY @ No Fun*
5/7 - Cambridge, MA @ Sonia*
5/8 - Brooklyn, NY at TV Eye*
5/9 - Brooklyn, NY @ TV Eye*
5/10 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's*
5/12 - Washington, D.C. @ DC9*
5/13 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle*
5/14 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl*
5/15 - New Orleans, LA at Gasa Gasa*
5/16 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall*
5/17 - Austin, TX @ Hotel Vegas*
5/18 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger*
5/20 - Albuquerque, NM @ Juno Brewery*
5/21 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar*
5/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room*
6/13 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Moe's Alley^
6/14 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel^
6/20 - Las Vegas, NV @ Swan Dive^
6/21 - Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet's^
6/27 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah^
6/28 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
*with DAIISTAR
^with Chokecherry