WitcheR - 2025 - Öröklet

(40:17; Filosofem Records)






















Track list:
1. Örökseg 9:36
2. Szelhozo 8:08
3. Röghöz Kötött 9:10
4. Öröklet 9:36
5. Piano Trio No. 2, Andante Con Moto [Franz Schubert] 3:47

Line-up:
Gere Karola - keyboards, vocals
Neubauer  Roland - guitars, drums, vocals


Prolusion.
Hungarian band Witcher started out back in 2010, and in between split album releases and EPs they have released four full length studio productions so far, with the first of these appearing in 2015. "Öröklet" dates back to the fall of 2025, and was released by Hungarian label Filosofem Records.

Analysis.
This album isn't one I'd really describe as being an example of progressive rock or progressive metal as such, and indeed I got this CD due to another venture I have (The Viking in the Wilderness) where I cover music that isn't of a strictly progressive nature or inclination. But this is one of those productions where my thoughts are that the landscapes explored may well be of interest for some progressive metal fans. Hence why I cover this album on this website rather than my other music reviews venture.

It is a distinctly atmospheric laden variety of extreme metal we get here. The arrangements are majestic but smooth, the distorted vocals are kept slightly subdued and somewhat unobtrusive, and the influx of classical music influences in general and the orchestral variety of this in particular is a bit of a defining feature for this production as a whole.

This obviously isn't the only extreme metal band that play around with orchestral details, but on this latest album by Witcher it comes across as a more defining feature than in many other cases. Up to and including segments and interludes that step away from the metal aspects of it all to focus on the classical music sounds, moods and harmonies. In addition that band does make use of a more textured guitar sound in places, which does expand the landscapes explored with a little bit of a slightly understated post-rock presence.

The songs as such are otherwise slower paced affairs, where the construction of a flowing, majestic landscape is the fundamental focus. We do get some tempo changes along the way, albeit often with the rhythm section being the main part that executes a tempo increase, and obviously we have the aforementioned more delicate passages and interludes that appear at regular intervals too. 

Personally I find the landscapes explored here to be of a generally captivating nature. With some vocal inspired textures in the orchestral overlays and backdrops being one of the elements that draw me into this universe. 

Conclusion.
While perhaps not an album that will ever have an extensively broad appeal, for my sake at least I'd describe this as a very solid venture into the atmospheric laden extreme metal realm, complete with details that may be of interest also for a progressive metal interested audience. In particular for those who enjoy some influx of classical music elements into this type of landscape.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, January 2026

Links:
https://witcherband.hu/
https://www.facebook.com/filosofemrecords

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