Uta Plotkin, Rob Wrong, Dave Hoopaugh, Nate Carson
Influences
Black Sabbath, Karp, The Beatles, Candlemass, Cathedral, Dazzling Killmen, Budgie, Judas Priest, Nirvana, Nemesis, Iommi Stubbs, Melvins, King Crimson, Lost Goat, Sleep, Wino, AC/DC, Hawkwind, Voivod, Slayer, Butthole Surfers, Brian Wilson/Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Rush, Raging Slab, many more...
Sounds Like
Mathy NW doom sludge; with hooks and searing left-handed leads.
"...punishing slabs of phlegmatic, groove laden grunge lying cheek to jowl with some beautifully light headed moments in the vein of classic Sabbath and especially Welsh rockers, Budgie." - Terrorizer
(Tube, 18 NW 3rd) It's odd how Black Sabbath can polarize, and unite, metal with such ease. It never seemed intentional, but each individual member of Sabbath was able to influence decade upon decade of heavy metal in different ways. Mainstream metal—and eventually, MTV—got their paws on Ozzy, and the poor fellow hasn't been the same since. Tony Iommi's guitar riffs have been co-opted by just about every kid with long hair and a Gibson SG. But the real surprise is that of drummer Bill Ward: His ability to drum alongside the heavy riffs of the band, plus those epic drum rolls, is practically the foundation of all stoner/doom metal. The trio of Witch Mountain (which features Mercury contributor Nathan Carson) does an impeccable job of utilizing Ward's Sabbath chops without aping the poor fellow. EAC
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Recent press from the Willamette Week
Tube | 18 NW 3rd Ave., 241-8823
[DOOM] Ten-year-old Witch Mountain is old-school doom--the band was responsible for booking the first Agalloch and YOB shows in Portland and its sound shows it. Intelligible lyrics, a round, fuzzy guitar sound and cymbal-focused drums bring a rock-n-roll aesthetic to the heavy/slow doom formula. Witch Mountain's sparse by doom standards, which lends the local trio lucidity and warmth. But don't get too close: Splintered chunks of drummer Nate Carson's sticks fly off with every crisp stroke. JASON SIMMS. Tube. 9:30 pm. $3. 21+.
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BAND BIO
Witch Mountain was formed in Portland, OR in 1997 by Rob Wrong (Iommi Stubbs, ex-M99) and Nate "Nanotear" Carson (Point Line Plane, Two Ton Boa, Sunn0))) collaborator, etc). By 2000, the groundwork had been laid, the demo "Homegrown Doom" was remastered and released in Europe, and Dave Hoopaugh (Iommi Stubbs, Comavoid, Towers) was brought in to be the final bass player after a string of many.
Debut album "...Come the Mountain" was released to critical acclaim in 2001. Man's Ruin tried to license it stateside, but they went under before it could happen. The first printing sold out in 2 months, and an expanded edition was released with bonus tracks composed for the unreleased PC/Dreamcast video game "Shrapnel".
A partial list of bands Witch Mountain shared the stage with between 1997 and 2002 includes: Lost Goat, Bongzilla, Goatsnake, Acid King, Bottom, High on Fire, Spaceboy, Add-X, Village Idiot, Merde, Diesto, Wapeka, Blood Hag, Crow (Japan), Orange Goblin, Electric Wizard, YOB, Sea of Green, Dixie Witch, (men of) Porn, HC Minds, Unearthly Trance, Enemymine, Unsane, EyeHateGod, Spirit Caravan, Alabama Thunderpussy, Weedeater, Stovokor, Cuda, The Glasspack, Fireballs of Freedom, Clutch, Gunpro, Unida, Solitude Aeturnus, Unorthodox, Sour Vein, Isis, Soilent Green, Jumbo's Killcrane, Karma to Burn, Nebula, Penance, Raging Slab, Shamelady, Warhorse, Agalloch, Thrones, The Whip, etc, etc.
Witch Mountain's last tour was in 2002 with Eternal Elysium from Japan. After that, a period of hibernation was in effect. Rob and Dave had children to raise and families to look after. Nate was touring constantly with PLP.
In 2005, WM shook the dust off for an appearance with the mighty YOB (their last Portland gig ever) and Totimoshi. Seasonal gigs followed with Acid King, Atomic Bitchwax, Wolves in the Throneroom, and others. It became clear that the chemistry was better than ever, and the songs had really bloomed over time.
2006-2007 marked the return of Witch Mountain to Portland stages as a trio with new songs and veteran tone and ability. Gigs with Danava, Gargantula, Green Milk from the Planet Orange, Stovokor, Buried Blood, and old friends the Glasspack made for good times and further deafened the local audience.
2008, er 2009, er 2010 will be an auspicious one for WM as the sophomore album South of Salem will finally be recorded and released. With new vocalist Uta Plotkin keeping the tunes strong and melodic, the music sounds better than ever.. Keep an eye on this Myspace page for upcoming shows, and recording news.
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