‘L.A. Witch’ instantly conjures up images and sounds of the ‘goth’ subculture, however the band claiming this title have never fit in neatly with the term, instead emerging from the garage rock scene of their native California. But with their bewitching third effort, DOGGOD, they live up to their name more than ever.
The trio of Sade Sanchez (guitar/vocals), Irita Pai (bass), and Ellie English (drums) have been playing together casually for over a decade, but sparked wider interest with their self-titled debut in 2017, before fanning the flames with their follow up Play With Fire in 2020.
Choosing to record the new material overseas in Paris, it’s of little surprise that DOGGOD draws upon European influences, in particular the vibrant post-punk scene. It serves as a further expansion of their established sound, with the razor sharp guitars and tearing rhythm section they made their name with still evident across this album.
Lyrically, rather than focusing on moving forward in love and life like on their last record, DOGGOD contends with how it feels to be held back. “I feel like I’m some sort of servant or slave to love,” Sanchez explains. “There’s a willingness to die for love in the process of serving it or suffering for it or in search of it… just in the way a loyal, devoted servant dog would.”
Diving headfirst into opening track ‘Icicle’, one is immediately splashed in the face with Sanchez’ biting cold vocals. Fuzzy guitars soak through as her voice melts, drowned in a plunge pool of sounds paying homage to 70’s trailblazers Joy Division and The Cure.
‘Kiss Me Deep’s passionate lyrics of love transcending lifetimes are served up with stripped back stoicism, while lead single ‘777’ sees Sanchez circling the drain, her reverb drenched drawl spiralling down a tub full of sticky riffs. Combined with Pai’s muted bass and a driving rhythm, the song proves impossible to scrub from the mind after just one listen.
‘I Hunt You Pray’ presents a slow, smokey trip rolled up into song form. English’s thumping drums are the beating heart of the track, whilst Sanchez slurred voice inject into its veins the image of an abandoned dog, wandering aimlessly along a highway in the depth of the night.
The meditative ‘Eyes of Love’ pulls spiritual spoken word sections from a higher plane, raising arms and ears to the heavens. Coming back down to earth, ‘The Lines’ emerges: a blurry vision of a stumbling drumbeat sprinting through the trees, chased by a thudding bassline and repetitive riffs. The single’s release was accompanied by a haunting clip featuring dancer Lark Detweiler, who interpreted the song’s lyrics into American Sign Language and incorporated them into her mesmerising performance.
‘Lost At Sea’ dilutes things down to the bare basics, before the tide swiftly turns with the title track, a rough textured return to Play With Fire’s grungy sound. “Hang me on a leash/‘Till I wait for my release” Sanchez sings, giving into submission. Devotion turns to desperation on chilling finale ‘SOS’: “Mayday mayday/I’m here to stay/Deliverance is on it’s way”.
Brooding and introspective, but without giving too much of itself away, L.A. Witch have unleashed their most enigmatic creature to date with DOGGOD. It’s snarling jaws grip tight from the get go, and won’t let up on you without a fight.
DOGGOD is out April 4 via Suicide Squeeze.
