Nick Pipitone of Monster Riff described how the band are "influenced just as much by Dr. John and Mississippi bluesman Junior Kimbrough as they are by Black Sabbath and progressive metal" and that their music can "venture from bluesy riffs and folk tales to spacey neo-psychedelic to punishing doom rock." Similarly, Rob Hughes of Classic Rock Magazine noted how "[All Them Witches are] as likely to create boiling riptides of bluesy psychedelia as they are pools of mystic folk and doomy ambience."
The band consists of Charles Michael Parks, Jr (vocals, bass, guitar), Ben Mcleod (guitar, formerly vocals) and Robby Staebler (drums). Formed in 2012, All Them Witches were quick to release their debut, Our Mother Electricity. It consisted of a heavy blend of stoner rock-y guitars and bass, rhodes and powerful, rhythmic drums. This would set the cornerstone for their sound, soon developing into the more mysterious grooves and atmosphere on 2013's followup Lightning At The Door. This release gained real traction for the band and gave them their likely most well-known track to date, When God Comes Back.
Taking a break from the creative front, the band released a live album in 2015, featuring a bluesy cover of Albert King's Born Under A Bad Sign. Not long after, they announced their third studio release, Dying Surfer Meets His Maker. Much like the rest of their catalogue, this album truly showcased every member's best abilities. From calm opener Call Me Star to emotional ending track Blood And Sand/Milk And Endless Waters, the album won fans' hearts, and gained the band more well deserved attention.
That brings us to their 2016 live release, recorded from a show in Brussels, which contains the band playing older songs as well as another cover, being of Abner Jay's My Middle Name Is The Blues.
Keyboardist/violinist Allan van Cleave left the band around this time, shortly replaced by keyboardist Jonathan Draper.
Not long after, in February 2017, they came out with another amazing record. Sleeping Through The War made quick success, being a unique, spacey album notably produced by Dave Cobb. It added dynamics and, surprisingly, more atmosphere to what was already a steadily evolving sound from such an active, young band.
2018's self-titled ATW was announced to be the band's first release without a keyboard player, after Draper's departure. This album's characteristics include groovy stoner riffs with blues influence, slowing down and speeding up throughout the LP, ending with the haunting Rob's Dream.
Nearly two years later, and after a lot of touring, the band has come out with their latest record, Nothing As The Ideal, recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Harboring a sound akin to that of their single 1X1, this album is by far the group's heaviest--though it does contain softer ballads like Everest and the incredibly emotional Rats in Ruin.
Enemy of My Enemy
All Them Witches Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never been a friend to me
Keep my name from awful truth
Cut my blessings from the void
Silver tapestry of noise
Chase my tail into the noose
Behold my power
You shake and cower
Nothing changes nothing
Day by day
Accept the choice
Of my own way
Apathy gone as sympathy
Polishing the misery
Stoke the sadness for the young
Jealousy and blatant greed
Water's now the only seed
Keeps the nation being undone
Behold my power
Nothing changes nothing
You shake and cower
Nothing changes nothing
Day by day
Accept the choice
Of my own way
Nothing changes nothing
Nothing changes nothing
The lyrics of All Them Witches's song "Enemy of My Enemy" talk about the destructive tendencies of human nature. The words "enemy of my enemy never been a friend to me" suggest that even if we share a common foe, it does not necessarily mean we are allies. The lines "keep my name from awful truth, cut my blessings from the void" convey the idea that people are capable of causing harm to others, even if they are not directly against them. The "silver tapestry of noise" is a metaphor for the chaos and confusion in the world, and how it can lead individuals astray, causing them to "chase their tail into the noose."
The chorus, with the repeated phrase "Behold my power, nothing changes nothing, you shake and cower, nothing changes nothing" reflects the futility of human actions in the face of larger, inexplicable forces. The lines "day by day, accept the choice of my own way" suggest that the only way to maintain sanity in such a scenario is to accept the forces at play and find one's own path. The final line of the song, "nothing changes nothing," brings the message full circle, emphasizing that even in the face of great conflict and strife, sometimes the most we can do is stay true to ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Enemy of my enemy
Someone who opposes the same person or thing that I oppose.
Never been a friend to me
I do not consider this person an ally.
Keep my name from awful truth
This person is avoiding telling others the negative things they know about me.
Cut my blessings from the void
This person is preventing me from receiving the good things that I deserve.
Silver tapestry of noise
There is a lot of confusing and overwhelming information surrounding this situation.
Chase my tail into the noose
This person is causing me to make mistakes that will end up hurting me.
Behold my power
I am strong and not to be underestimated.
Nothing changes nothing
My actions or words will not have any impact on the situation.
You shake and cower
This person is afraid of me.
Day by day
Over time
Accept the choice
I am making a decision and I need to embrace it.
Of my own way
I am going to do what I think is best for me.
Apathy gone as sympathy
I used to be indifferent to the situation, but now I feel compassion for those involved.
Polishing the misery
This person is making the bad situation even worse.
Stoke the sadness for the young
This person is making the younger generation feel sad and hopeless about the future.
Jealousy and blatant greed
This person is envious of what others have and willing to do anything to get it.
Water's now the only seed
It is very difficult to make anything grow in this situation.
Keeps the nation being undone
This situation is contributing to the downfall of our country.
Nothing changes nothing
My actions or words will not have any impact on the situation.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management
Written by: Benjamin Robert McLeod, Charles Michael Parks, James Robert Staebler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Nana3000
Enemy of my enemy
Never been a friend of me
Keep my name from awful truth
Cut my blessings from the void
Silver tapestry of noise
Chase my tail into the noose
Behold my power
Nothing changes nothing
You shake and cower
Nothing changes nothing
Day by day
Accept the choice
Of my own way
Apathy gone as sympathy
Polishing the misery
Stoke the sadness for the young
Jealousy and blatant greed
Water's now the only seed
Keeps the nation being undone
Behold my power
Nothing changes nothing
You shake and cower
Nothing changes nothing
Day by day
Accept the choice
Of my own way
Nothing changes nothing
Nothing changes nothing
@HerrDeacon
KEXP are responsible for introducing me to All Them Witches and I am eternally grateful for this. Beyond excited to see they are back on our channel.
@marceloharguindey159
So I indeed
@mgray7438
Same here.. I was at this recording ๐ค๐ค so good
@bobross5079
Hottest sounding band Iโve heard since at least โNam
@droopymccool2383
loving park's vocals here. Also getting Allan back is huge.
@user-ux3dt2qw8d
Found my voice to this piece of Art. Thank you, Grateful.
@GrantZPrice
people who mixed the audio are kings
@IfYouSaySoBuddy
Loving the cheeky organ in the breakdown. ๐
@marceloharguindey159
Best band ever. I love All Them Whitches and their powerfull songs.
@grahamman80
What a great way to start my short work week. See you in Austin this weekend.