Concert Review with PHOTOS: Conan & Bell Witch

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By Mark Derricutt

Artist: Conan & Bell Witch with special guests Mothra

Date / Venue: Tuesday November 13th, 2018 - Whammy Bar, Auckland

I don't think I'll ever understand how musicians survive the touring life. There I was still recovering from Monday night’s Def Leppard and Scorpions show; my body stiff and creaking with a lack of sleep and old age, and here I am on another night out - this time not as loud; but a thousand times heavier.

UK doom outfit Conan joined forces with Seattle's Bell Witch and local post rock outfit Mothra to bring an ungodly evening of cacophony.

Mothra are always a pleasure to hear, down-tuned driving bass and moody guitars and drums that kick you down only to catch you with a flick of the heel and pick you back up. Mothra teeteron a line between post-rock and doom, with a heavyset rhythm that - dare I invent another horrible genre label to associate with the set? I would label post-doom. Whatever we call it, they were worthy as the opener tonight.

Bell Witch… I'm not even sure where to start. A two piece drum and bass outfit armed with a six-string bass and a penchant for songs longer than most albums. We open with a beautiful bass melody that slowly (and I truly mean ever so slowly) builds,until after several minutes in the drums land, for one lingering beat, is just as slow.

As the lumbering instrumental gives way to a dirge of unsettling death growls and scathing screams from Jesse Shreibman (drums/vocals) to clean chants and wails from Dylan Desmond on bass; we're taken on a sonic journey that never ends. With such a slow performance it was inspiring to watch the serene, cathartic precision that comes from such a drawn out moment. Normally the heart wouldbe racing, but tonight an entire room is transfixed.

Conan, polar opposites to Bell Witch, displays a ferociousness that while still doom slow, felt like switching to high energy EBM in comparison; which was handy as my body was starting to fade from lack of sleep. That rush of energy was a welcome reboot from Bell Witch.

When the show was first announced, I had thought that the pairing of Conan with Bell Witch would be an interesting combination. The juxtaposition of the two (three including Mothra) complemented each other, resulted in an incredible evening.