WARD XVI
“Metamorphosis”
Album Review by Chris Palmer

9.5/10

The gates of Whittingham Asylum have been opened and all freaks, outcasts, and oddballs are welcomed into the loving arms of Ward XVI, who have returned to torment anyone brave enough to listen.

It has been three years since these inmates unleashed their impressive debut album, “The Art Of Manipulation”, upon us. The first in a trilogy, “The Art Of Manipulation” introduced us to the life of ferocious psychopath, Psychoberrie, as she began to unravel her life story before succumbing to complete insanity.

The lyricist/vocalist returns to continue where she left off with the second installment in the trilogy, “Metamorphosis”. Released back in September via Off Yer Rocka, “Metamorphosis” is a truly stunning, yet terrifying piece of work. The album contains eleven chapters, which will torment listeners for almost fifty minutes with its vast array of heavy riffs and haunting sounds.

As Psychoberrie grasps your attention and tells her story with a wonderful vocal attack, let’s not forget that she is accompanied by her inmates in Ward XVI. Not only is she joined by Dr Von Stottenstein [Guitar] and Wolfy Huntsman [Bass], there are a host of guest appearances who enter the Asylum. Namely: John Badger [Drums], Martin Crawley [Accordion & Keyboards], Anabelle Iratni [Operatic Vocals], Chris Barton [The Psychiatrist – “Retrogression”], Steve Walker [The Judge – “Verdict”], and Russ Custard [Guest Vocals – “Shadows”].

Upon pressing play, the voice of The Psychiatrist talks to Psychoberrie in “Retrogression”, as the darkness begins wrapping its arms around you, leading you into the wonderful sounds and rhythms of “The Cradle Song”. Despite its underlying content, “The Cradle Song” is a beautiful piece of music, which begs to be repeated. The combination of accordion, keys, and guitars serve up a delightful listening experience, which is topped by the vocals of Psychoberrie.

After eight-and-a-half minutes of astonishing musicianship, a child’s voice introduces you to “Mister Babadook”. This chapter offers a change in style, as a heavy rhythm and powerful riffs drive it forward, together with pummelling drumming from John. However, nothing, I repeat, nothing can compare you for the sounds of “Daisy Chains”! If you can distract your mind away from the horrors being sung by Psychoberrie, you might just be able to vision scenes from a fairground, which is where such beautiful, yet disturbing sounds belong.

The same could be said for the utterly superb “Broken Toys”, with its brilliant brand of Martin’s accordion and Dr Von Stottenstein’s impressive guitar riffs. “Imago” hits you with its contagious driving rhythm from Wolfy and John, while the Doctor’s guitar is strangely pleasurable. Just as the adrenalin is rising, the tempo takes a drastic downturn with “A Goodnight Shot”. With the wonderful sounds of strings, together with Anabelle’s operatic vocals accompanying Psychoberrie’s haunting delivery, “A Goodnight Shot” rumbles along its path slowly. It builds to a crescendo, before ending with keyboards, which lead you towards the spine-chilling, yet truly monstrous “Burn The Witch”.

Having heard her story and with Psychoberrie now on the run, you have to ask yourself if evil is born or made, as you absorb the insanely heavy and fast “Catch Me If You Can”. Should you feel for her, or fear her? Personally, I’m intoxicated by her voice, yet terrified at the same time, as Judge Russ Custard delivers “The Verdict”, and our beloved psychopath finds herself in Whittingham Asylum. Shut away in a padded cell, Psychoberrie is left in unravelling insanity and sings the hauntingly beautiful “Shadows” as the doors close on this masterpiece of an album.

Overall, “Metamorphosis” is an astonishing piece of work. With so many styles and sounds on display, it’s impossible to put a label on the music Ward XVI have produced. I was truly blown away by everything this album has to offer, and await in haunted captivity for the final chapter in this trilogy.

I urge you to buy this, press play, and take a trip back in time with this new inmate, as she tells the tale of her past and succumbs to the comfort of insanity during “Metamorphosis”.

TRACKLIST

Retrogression
The Cradle Song
Mister Babadook
Daisy Chains
Broken Toys
Imago
A Goodnight Shot
Burn The Witch
Catch Me If You Can
The Verdict
Shadows

https://wardxvi.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WardXVI/

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