
The Persistent Onslaught Of The Witch
(Disordera Records)
24:52min
ATOMIC SPELL is a young band from Santa Marta, Colombia formed in 2022. I remember when I first heard about them. I didn’t pay that much attention at that time if I’m honest, but later I listened to a track from their demo (the subject of this review) and man, I was immediately hooked, so I got interested in the band. The demo was released in July 2023 via Disordera Records (from Colombia) on a limited cassette edition. That was my story, now, let’s dive into it: “The Persistent Onslaught Of The Witch” is a demo of six tracks and almost 25 minutes of Black / Thrash Metal with a clear Hardcore Punk vibe lurking in the background. The demo is raw and steeped in both aggression and darkness, which, by the way, I think they represent very well in the artwork, a putrid witch collecting her putrid bones. When you listen to ATOMIC SPELL you easily find influences of MOTÖRHEAD, DISCHARGE, old DESTRUCTION, old KREATOR, MIDNIGHT (United States), CRUEL FORCE, INEPSY (Canada) or TOXIC HOLOCAUST, putting on the table this mix of Rock’n’Roll, Thrash and Hardcore Punk energies on this atom about to explode. The demo opens with ‘Witches Onslaught’, a dense and evil sounding intro. The second track, ‘Prince Of Darkness’, doesn’t hold back, diving deep into sinister themes of darkness and evil, with both riffs and an unstoppable rhythm driving the track forward. ‘Lycanthropya’ follows, drawing inspiration from the classic werewolf mythos. ‘Vat 69’ comes next, a track infected with high energy rooting in an undeniable Thrash / Hardcore mix. Then we jump into ‘Trascendencia / Anomalía Nocturna’, a song in Spanish that leans heavily into the band’s Thrash Metal roots. Its intro is a vicious call to the dark, and the song itself embodies that spirit. This track is a highlight, not just for its technical execution, but for the atmosphere it creates, making it feel both evil and timeless. The demo closes with ‘Bodies Of Sin’, a track that serves as the perfect conclusion, tying together the album’s themes and musical ideas. It’s the kind of track that lingers long after the final note fades, leaving a solid echo in your ears. So, putting things in order, “The Persistent Onslaught Of The Witch” is definitely one of my favorite demos released in Colombia during the last five years or so and I really see in ATOMIC SPELL a very serious promise to keep the underground where it is supposed to be. Time shall tell! www.facebook.com/atomic666spell, www.facebook.com/disorderarecs
Oswaldo Gonzalez