Mp3 exclusive: Witch

Anyone who’s listened to Dinosaur Jr.’s latter-day albums (or was around to see the pre-Dino hardcore group Deep Wound) knows that alt-rock guitar hero J Mascis is also a pretty decent drummer. Following last year’s Dinosaur reunion tour, he got back behind the kit with WITCH, his new band with long-time pal Dave Sweetapple and Kyle Thomas and Asa Irons from the Vermont-based, Devendra Banhart–collaborating avant-folkies Feathers. (And resemblance of this scenario to Banhart-approved "soft-metal" maniacs Metallic Falcons is, of course, strictly coincidental.) Witch’s new homonymous debut, a swampfest of Sabbathian stoner rock, came out on Tee Pee earlier this month. And though one of our calendar-editing colleagues called it "nothing to write home about" in the fishwrap, some of us who actually love metal for a living think it's the balls. This swirling, seven-minute slab is easily the best (also the only-est) psych-doom track we've posted since Major Stars. As mentioned below, Witch make their local debut tonight at the Abbey with BLACK HELICOPTER, NEPTUNE, and KETMAN | 3 Beacon St, Somerville | 617.441.9631. [Click here for more info.]

DOWNLOAD: Witch, "Seer" (mp3)