Ask a group of doom metal or stoner rock enthusiasts what band was the blueprint for the doom/stoner field, and the vast majority will -- without hesitation -- say
Black Sabbath. So when a band is as
Sabbath-influenced as
Witchcraft, it is understandable that some headbangers would describe them as a doom band. But
Witchcraft isn't nearly as forceful or as heavy as
Eyehategod,
Orange Goblin, or
Toadliquor, and
Firewood isn't typical of what has been considered doom metal and stoner rock in the '90s and 2000 -- actually, this 2005 release shows no awareness of post-'80s metal or even post-'70s metal. Rather,
Firewood is a total throwback to the heavy metal, hard rock, and psychedelic rock of the late '60s and very early '70s.
Black Sabbath's first few albums with
Ozzy Osbourne are a strong influence, and the Swedish band's other inspirations include
Jethro Tull,
Cream,
Uriah Heep,
Led Zeppelin,
Jimi Hendrix, and the great but underexposed
Budgie. If one didn't know for sure that
Firewood was a 2005 recording, it would be easy to assume that the disc was recorded around 1969 or 1970 -- even the production is totally retro. And while
Witchcraft's melodic offerings aren't the least bit groundbreaking, they are enjoyable; this derivative outing won't win any awards for originality, although it leaves no doubt that these Swedes are good at what they do.
Firewood isn't in a class with the best albums that
Sabbath,
Tull, and
Hendrix had to offer back in the
Richard Nixon years, but it's a decent, worthwhile example of
Witchcraft's desire to re-create the early years of heavy metal and hard rock. ~ Alex Henderson