Live'n'Loud: Ancient Warlocks!
Let me first disclose that I am not generally disposed to live albums. Somehow, most of them end up sounding, well, kind of "thin," tinny, and one-dimensional. It all depends on who's at the soundboard, right? And in this case, ANCIENT WARLOCKS are in the absolute right hands, captured with amazing clarity, depth, and atmosphere by Chris Mathews Jr. of Joonior Studios and mastered by Steve Jones at Big Sound Productions, both based in the band's native Seattle.
Ancient Warlocks 'Live!' by Ancient Warlocks
The result is a fine record that gives the listener an authentic feel for an Ancient Warlocks performance, with all the panache and spontaneity these four bring. 'Ancient Warlocks - LIVE!' (2016) was recently released on vinyl via STB Records (lucky duck if you get one of the remaining 150 limited pressings), with an album cover that I absolutely adore (a nice throwback touch from Joshua M. Wilkinson). Here we are presented with eight choice tracks, a nice mingling of the older favs with the coveted newer material you'll find on their second album (which came out in March).
All-in-all, a fine testament to a band I feared would be the Pacific Northwest's best kept secret for far to long, but in 2016 has discovered new life, new outlets, and a whole new audience of Doomers & Stoners looking for the real deal.
