Doomed Confessionary: Daniel, Wade & Ryan (Wood Witch)
Wood Witch is a three-piece doom/stoner metal band based out of the Great Dismal Swamp of Southern Virginia.
Harkening back to the early years of Black Sabbath, Wood Witch is ushering in a new era of gritty guitar, thundering bass and power percussion topped off with strong, clean vocals, and dark lyrics. Join their Coven as they issue in a new era of doom!
To date, the trio released two full-length albums, »Malleus Maleficarum« (2021) and »Eyes Of Darkness« (2022), »Witches’ Sabbath« EP (2021) and a live album »Sonic Waves Of Doom Vol. 1« (2021). »Solitude Is My Name« is the first single taken from Wood Witch’s upcoming studio album, scheduled for release in March 2025.
Wood Witch are Daniel Perry (vocals, guitar), Wade “Wigz” Johnson (bass) and Ryan Mardre (drums).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Formed in 2019, but we’ve known each other for years. We’ve played in varying bands together through that time, so chemistry was there from the beginning. Started as a sort of experiment, the whole doom thing, and things clicked right off the bat having written our fist tune by the second practice.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Balancing work, life and finding the time to jam. We get together about once a month. We send riffs and lyrics back and forth in the in-between. Hell, finding the time to get this third album done.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Elevating our music to the point that we were asked to open for Pentagram.
What was your biggest regret?
Work and life sometimes interfere with opportunities that come our way, but we just roll with it and look to the next.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Circling back to the Pentagram show, it was a blast to open for an iconic band. We haven’t washed the Doom Van since Bobby leaned on it while we were talking preshow.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Daniel: Having that in-person perspective of seeing local and upcoming bands rise and go on to bigger things like Night Demon.
Wade: I would say playing with bands from all over the country and how we just all gel and have so much in common, no matter what the background or origin of music. The camaraderie of musicians.
Ryan: That about says it all.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Daniel: Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Krokus.
Wade: Black Sabbath, Pagan Altar, Budgie.
Ryan: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Daniel: Play from the heart.
Wade: Play what you want to play, don’t just go with the flow.
Ryan: Just don’t stop.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Horror movies, B-rated movies, movies, pretty much any horrific intended or not movie.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Virginia?
In Virginia, in general, around the Hampton Roads area it’s a lot of groove and death metal. Up around the Richmond area, you have a bit more of doom and stoner metal. Of course, from the Great Dismal Swamp area there is Witch Metal (Wood Witch Metal).
While we’re talking about the scene, we wanted to send a shoutout to some of our friends: Full Moon Holler, Shovelhead AD, Indus Valley Kings, Priya’s Hammer.
Where can we see you live soon (concerts/tours)?
January 18th we’ll be in Richmond, VA at the Another Round Bar.
February 22nd we’ll be in Chesapeake, VA at The Riffhouse Pub.
In between, we will be in studio.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Our immediate future is finishing up our third studio album projected to release in March 2025. Long term, just keep doing what we’re doing. Writing, jamming, having fun, and drinking beer!
Did you have any special plans for New Year’s Eve?
Not really. Hanging with friends and family.
How can people best support your band?
Buy our stuff! Merch is on woodwitch1.bandcamp.com. Keep checking back as we add stuff very infrequently. T-shirts, CDs, (maybe vinyl), or just donate on there.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
We’ll keep writing, if you’ll keep listening! Looking forward to seeing you all in 2025! Stay Doomed!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well