Two Witches- Sacrifice

Featuring four new tracks plus a remix by Project Pitchfork, Sacrifice, the 2004 limited edition EP from Finnish goth rock icons Two Witches, is a fairly straightforward blend of classic goth rock and moody goth balladry complemented by Project Pitchfork's expectedly modern electronic take on the band's work. While the EP may have a few flaws, "The Sinner" and "Spirit Sacrifice" are, in particular, prime cuts of archetypal goth rock, and the band's work here is worth checking out.

"The Sinner" and "Spirit Sacrifice" are both up-tempo slices of old school goth rock, the guitar riff driven frame and vocal snarl of the former sporting a distinct retro goth rock flavor and the more straightforward synth-laden, bass-driven rock of the latter the EP's highlight. Project Pitchfork's take on "Spirit Sacrifice" is also rather impressive, transforming it into a markedly different club number with bouncy underpinning electronics, moody synth strings, and shredding distorted guitars. "May You Be In Heaven" tries semi-successfully to walk the line between moody goth balladry and goth metal, a lovely piano-centered ballad with layered male and female vocals that's unfortunately marred by somewhat out-of-place, almost humorous under-produced growled male vocals during its heavier chorus. The closing "Somnium" is a semi-instrumental mood piece, layering processed speech with epic synth choir and strings.

As a whole, the Sacrifice EP is a fairly solid, albeit not perfect, bit of good old goth rock that falls nicely in line with the band's back catalog. Perhaps the question that begs to be asked is why I'm reviewing a year-old limited edition EP that is, as far as I've been able to ascertain, out of print. Well, I'm not exactly sure. Luckily for you, however, the disc's 4 best tracks, with the unnecessary "Somnium" getting the boot, are available on the band's recently released double CD "best of" album, Saints & Sinners. So, if you want the majority of this EP alongside many highlights from the band's impressive back catalog, that's the place to look.