I recently came across an interesting listing on eBay where a seller was offering a variety of witch hats. This caught my attention as it is not a common item to find on an online marketplace like eBay. The seller had a range of different witch hats, each with its own unique design and style. Some were adorned with intricate lace and ribbons, while others were more simple yet elegant in their appearance. It was clear that the seller had put a lot of effort into creating these hats and making them stand out from the usual Halloween fare. What struck me the most about this listing was the attention to detail and craftsmanship that went into each hat.
“Stygian Bough is a reference to the theme of The Golden Bough,” observes Desmond. “The book’s theme is centered on the rites of a temple in ancient Italy where slaves were transformed into kings by slaying he who reigned as such after successfully stealing the Golden Bough from the sacred tree within the temple. Within that notion, a different sort of slavery was brought upon the newly crowned king, as he must understand sooner or later that his fate would ultimately be the same as his predecessor. In short, the golden bough made a king out of a slave only to find they were now enslaved to a different sort of tyranny, always stalking them from the darkest shadows of their imagination. From this perspective, the "golden bough" is better understood as a deception casting darkness. Thus, Stygian Bough.”
But the real fuel for Stygian Bough Volume I was the BELL WITCH track, Rows of Endless Waves , which was not only Moggridge s first appearance with BELL WITCH but also a track that has deeply resonated with BELL WITCH S Dylan Desmond over the years. Once again the slow pace allows for a heavily psychedelic edge, with strummed guitar reminiscent of some of the greats of 60s experimental rock closing the first part, The Passage , only to see a deafening return of amplified bass herald the second part, The Toll.
What struck me the most about this listing was the attention to detail and craftsmanship that went into each hat. The seller had taken the time to carefully craft each hat, ensuring that it was of the highest quality and met the expectations of buyers. This level of dedication was evident in the positive reviews left by previous customers who praised the seller's attention to detail and the durability of the hats.
Review: Bell Witch And Aerial Ruin ‘Stygian Bough Volume I’
A hugely anticipated album, Stygian Bough is the first time that the duo who make up Bell Witch have formally welcomed Erik Muggridge (Aerial Ruin) into the fold, after guest appearances on previous recordings. Bell Witch’s 2017 masterpiece Mirror Reaper graced top spot in many best of year polls, with them progressing from the more metallic edge of the first two releases, to a more ethereal and dark ambient vibe for long stretches of the single composition. Muggridge’s vocals in the latter part of Mirror Reaper made clear how important he now is to the overall sound of Bell Witch and meant many of us have been eagerly anticipating how this full collaboration would come out.
Stygian Bough opens off with a 20 minute epic The Bastard Wind. A gentle guitar build and Muggridge’s outstanding vocal range foreshadows the emotional heft that we’ve come to expect from Bell Witch. As the gentler side of the collaboration gives way to Dylan Desmond’s huge bass guitar tone the record really takes off with a crushing yet psychedelic mid-section bringing to mind early Pink Floyd recordings.
As is traditional with Bell Witch only the more patient listener will get the most out of these long songs, The Bastard Wind hitting a drawn out crescendo around 10 minutes in. Here we see, for the first time, the potential of this collaboration as the sluggish pace of Jesse Shreibman’s percussion, paired with the aforementioned huge bass sound gives all the space in the world for Muggridge to mournfully intone a tribute to the storm raging. Desmond, never to be hurried, lays down a closing riff that is only kept moving by the cymbals crashing all around. A fitting opener and a glimpse of what can be achieved by this singular outfit.
The middle section of Heaven Torn Low: The Passage and The Toll allows Muggridge and his guitar a greater profile as the amplification is toned down and leaves space for the acoustic guitar and whispered dark folk vocals that Aerial Ruin fans are accustomed to. Once again the slow pace allows for a heavily psychedelic edge, with strummed guitar reminiscent of some of the greats of 60s experimental rock closing the first part, The Passage, only to see a deafening return of amplified bass herald the second part, The Toll. This is the section of the record most reminiscent of Mirror Reaper, with all three musicians joining to create a piece that is glacial in both tempo and heaviness.
Bell Witch has always been how spacious their sound is, how they obviously feel no pressure to fill the void with extra noise and how that supports and enables their heaviness..
Track four, Prelude is just that, gently leading us into another epic to close the record. The Unbodied Air has nothing gentle about it, a big lumbering doom beast that will be ferocious live. My favourite thing about Bell Witch has always been how spacious their sound is, how they obviously feel no pressure to fill the void with extra noise and how that supports and enables their heaviness and this track embodies that. Shreibman seems to be holding the pace back, as squeals of feedback overlay with Desmond’s bass.
Shreibman also has a more central role vocally in The Unbodied Air, his death growls providing a counterpoint to the clean singing of Muggridge. Six minutes in the song breaks back down, out of the heavy distortion and back to the more familiar formula of slow build and immediately to a synth and organ led psych section. It seems somewhat incongruous on a funeral doom record but the lightness of touch shown here absolutely validates their decision. A menacing slide and bass drum and cymbal drive heralds a closing section, that is more progressive than traditional funeral doom, with all the constituent parts coming together to make for a very pleasing dirge that closes the album very fittingly.
This is an excellent piece of work and has shown that an already ambitious band still have a huge amount of scope to develop what is a truly extraordinary sound. They were due to play these songs live at Arc Tan Gent 2020, let’s hope we see them over here soon.
Scribed by: Ian M
The fact that this seller was offering witch hats on eBay also spoke to the growing popularity and acceptance of witchcraft and wicca in modern society. In recent years, there has been a shift towards embracing alternative spiritual practices and beliefs, and this is reflected in the availability of items like witch hats on mainstream platforms like eBay. Overall, I was impressed by the eBay seller offering witch hats. The attention to detail, unique designs, and growing acceptance of the item all made for an interesting and intriguing listing. Whether you're a witch looking to add to your collection or simply someone looking for a standout accessory, this seller's offerings are worth checking out..
Reviews for "Take your Halloween costume to the next level with our extraordinary witch hats"
- Emily - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with my purchase from this eBay seller. The witch hat I received was nothing like the picture. It was poorly made and looked like it could fall apart any second. Also, the color was not what I expected. It looked black in the picture, but in reality, it was more of a dark gray. Overall, I would not recommend buying from this seller if you're looking for a high-quality witch hat.
- Michael - 1 star
I had a terrible experience with this eBay seller. First of all, it took forever for the hat to be shipped. I ordered it well in advance for Halloween, but it arrived two days after the holiday. Secondly, the hat was way too small for an adult. It barely fit on my head, and I felt like it was going to fall off any minute. The quality was also subpar; the material was flimsy and felt cheap. I would not buy from this seller again.
- Samantha - 2 stars
I purchased a witch hat from this eBay seller and was quite disappointed. The hat arrived with a few noticeable stains on it, which was really off-putting. Additionally, the overall construction of the hat was not impressive. The seams were already coming apart, and it didn't seem like it would withstand much wear. For the price I paid, I expected a better quality product. I would not recommend buying from this seller if you're looking for a durable and clean witch hat.