Introduction and In The Past

Zamrock was born in the '70s in southern Africa. Merging hard rock, psychedelia, and funk, this Zambian genre was influenced by artists as diverse as Black Sabbath, James Brown, and The Rolling Stones. Witch—which stood for We Intend To Cause Havoc—was one of the scene's major bands, and its approach varied over the course of its existence. This album includes its first two self-produced releases, Introduction and In the Past. The opening title track finds vocalist “Jagari” Chanda introducing the band over a churning garage-rock groove decked out with organ riffs; the group turns this standard trope into an exciting track. Check out the funky rock ‘n’ roll drums and rhythm guitar on “That’s What I Want,” a cut that also features a delightfully dirty guitar solo. (The lead playing is a wonder throughout). “No Time” has an itchy guitar riff, nasty lead work, and tense, propulsive bass. A midtempo chug carries “The Only Way,” where Chandar brings some garage-band edge to his vocals. “Mashed Potato,” an appealing mix of low-key James Brown stylings and rock ‘n’ roll, wraps things up.