WITCHING HOUR - Descending… Where Time Has Ceased To Exist (Review)

Written by: Blackie Skulless

With the astounding eight year gap since the German black/thrash outfit’s prior overly long-titled album, Witching Hour has finally mustered up a follow-up to the one record that really snagged me. Earlier efforts stuck to a digestible yet predictable formula, but it was album three that seemed to give the band an identity. Descending… Where Time Has Ceased To Exist continues the name trend as much as it does the stylistic evolution. In other words, there’s a lot more emphasis on heavy/speed metal than there is on the blackened side of things.

In fact, I would almost struggle to call this a blackened thrash record, as it emphasizes rhythm and melody and all but ditches the hazy atmosphere that still drew melancholic layers the last time. True, the vocalist still boasts a pretty gruff and throaty delivery, one that’s admittedly an acquired taste, but it’s quite comprehensible and lets the band feel a bit more unique, if nothing else. Moreover, the instrumentation seems to have a bit more clarity in its delivery thanks to the cleaner atmosphere. Hell, even sharp basslines come through tighter than ever, quite evident on “The Graves Yearn For The Dead.”

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Given that, it should be easy to figure that Descending… Where Time Has Ceased To Exist is full of catchiness as is it full of aggression. The opening title track(s) are a fine example, highlighting an emotional appeal with the piano opening that leads into one of the speediest tracks on the album, letting go of no consistency. On the opposite end, “A Night Under A Crystal Moon’s Lament” cools things off to a degree that, without the harsh vocals, could pass for an ‘80s traditional metal epic. Actually, this one has as much strength in the bass as it does the lead guitars as well, which I greatly appreciate.
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Witching Hour may not have gone full mind-blowing this time around, but the fact that they’ve stuck to their path and maintained an identity without going stale really means something. An easy comparison to make would be Cruel Force, as their path had a similar trajectory, but this should sit well with anyone interested in the black/thrash/heavy sphere. It may take a minute to settle in, but the eight years have been kind of this act.

Witching Hour - Descending… Where Time Has Ceased To Exist was released May 22, 2026 via Dying Victims Productions. Find it here!​

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Witching Hour can be found at Bandcamp and Facebook​