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.
When God Comes Back
All Them Witches Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ridin' on the wings of that Jesus snake
Ten thousand souls in your right hand
Never lost ground to no cold blooded man
Ten thousand souls in your right hand
Juggernaut child in a fragile land
Everything I see is just a part of it
Every word I breathe is just a part of it
I saw her drink from that cup of light
so I know she still exists
The lyrics of All Them Witches's song "When God Comes Back" are full of enigmatic imagery and metaphorical language that hint at some larger spiritual themes. The opening line, "Cut me up primitive I'll die like a slave," could be interpreted as a reference to the idea of sacrificing oneself for a greater cause, as in a religious or spiritual context. The next line, "Ridin' on the wings of that Jesus snake," creates an interesting juxtaposition of Christianity with the image of a snake, which in many cultures symbolizes temptation, evil, or rebirth.
The repetition of "Ten thousand souls in your right hand" suggests a divine power or authority holding immense sway over creation. The phrase "Never lost ground to no cold-blooded man" could be interpreted as a statement on the futility of human endeavors in the long run, as they will always be overpowered by the greater force of the divine. The "Juggernaut child in a fragile land" invokes a sense of impending doom or reckoning, with the image of a powerful, unstoppable force barreling through a world that seems woefully unprepared to face it.
The final stanza is perhaps the most intriguing of all: "Everything I see is just a part of it / Every word I breathe is just a part of it / I saw her drink from that cup of light / so I know she still exists." The first two lines suggest a sense of cosmic interconnectedness, with everything in the universe being part of the same grand design. The imagery of a cup of light is a fascinating one, suggesting a kind of spiritual nourishment or sustenance that the singer has witnessed firsthand. The fact that this experience confirms the existence of "her" (presumably some kind of deity or higher power) adds another layer of complexity to the spiritual themes at play in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Cut me up primitive I'll die like a slave
I am willing to be punished and killed in a crude manner because I believe I am subservient to a higher power.
Ridin' on the wings of that Jesus snake
I am putting my faith in a religious symbol, seeing it as a vehicle that will carry me to salvation.
Ten thousand souls in your right hand
You have the power to control and guide a multitude of people towards righteousness.
Never lost ground to no cold blooded man
You have never been defeated by any unfeeling, heartless person who lacks empathy.
Ten thousand souls in your right hand
The number of people you have the potential to influence is vast and significant.
Juggernaut child in a fragile land
Like an unstoppable force, you have great power and potential, but you exist in a delicate and vulnerable environment.
Everything I see is just a part of it
I view the world and all that exists within it as connected and interdependent, all serving a greater purpose.
Every word I breathe is just a part of it
I understand that my thoughts and expressions are a contributing factor to the larger scheme of things.
I saw her drink from that cup of light
I witnessed someone experiencing a profound moment of enlightenment or revelation.
so I know she still exists
The person in question has not completely disappeared or lost touch with their spiritual and emotional being.
Contributed by Taylor S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nelson08666
Cut me up, primitive
I'll die like a slave
Riding the wings
Of that Jesus snake
Ten thousand souls in your right hand
Never lost ground to no cold blooded man
Ten thousand souls in your right hand
Juggernaut child in a fragile land
Everything I see is just a part of it
Every word I breathe is just a part of it
I saw her drink from that cup of light
That's how I know she still exists
Cut me up, primitive
I'll die like a slave
Riding the wings
Of that Jesus snake
@odallard
I forgive YouTube for recommending this 5 years later, time lost has been recovered.
@kevinconley1575
I was 3 years late. I know how you feel
@MrCopperthwaite
I'm 58 and just heard these first time today and anyone say to you 'they don't make good music like they used to do', well it's simply not true. Could do with more of this about sure.
@langharigtuig4826
ever heard of the band graveyard?
@richardbeare11
Nice! It's great stuff eh
@gregoryrandall4819
I agree, I will be 62
There's still good music .
You just have dig and find or comes to you.
@willtowell4636
Check out Greta Van Fleet :)
@ME-gd3df
I'm 58 and heard for 1st time in 2020. Hail to Odin !
@emmecee6273
Glad to see Theon Greyjoy is doing much better these days
@snoop7589
Maybe Ramsay is making him jam against his will. :o