Witches Mark Exemplify Heaviest Doom, Black and Thrash Metal in Texas

Life is changing for Austin, Texas-based Witches Mark. The band is signed to Heaven and Hell Records and is hard at work on a new full-length album. Live shows are planned for the summer, and Witches Mark are finally getting some attention in the metal world after five years of relative obscurity.

"Pretty much the second we completed the ['A Grim Apparition' EP], we started work on the new album," Witches Mark guitarist Robert Williams tells Noisecreep. "It's a new experience for all of us to have a label helping us and to have a PR person behind us, helping Witches Mark get attention in the press. Keep in mind, when we recorded 'Grim Apparition,' we knew we had a great record. The great thing about Heaven and Hell is they have strong distribution."

The "strong distribution" means fans all over the world can check out Witches Mark's unique mix of sounds. Not afraid to show influences, they effortlessly mix doom with black metal, thrash with straight ahead rock. And just when you think you might have it all figured out, Witches Mark throw in some subtle keys and synth just to keep you guessing.

"Everyone in the band -- we're all fans of true metal. Be it classic heavy metal, thrash metal, doom metal ... we're fans of all those styles of metal music. That comes out in our playing and writing," Williams continues.

Just because Witches Mark like to mix genres, doesn't mean they are not evolving their own sound.

"We've got a new song we're almost finished recording, and it's almost full-on doom metal from beginning to end. I would say the new material is going to mix up other styles and our appreciation of metal genres as a band, but even more so than on the EP, there will be less transitioning between genres mid-song. We're still mixing things up, but each song will kind of be more of a separate musical journey -- and a lot more developed."

Witches Mark hope to hit the road in June. Find 'A Grim Apparition' online via Century Media or Relapse Records.