The Bell Witch is a legendary figure in American folklore, known for its alleged hauntings and supernatural activities that occurred in the early 19th century. The haunting took place in Adams, Tennessee, on the Bell family farm. The story of the Bell Witch has captivated the imagination of many people over the years, with some even claiming to desperately want to encounter the spirit. The Bell Witch haunting began in 1817 when John Bell Sr. reported strange occurrences on his property. The family experienced unexplained noises, objects being moved, and physical attacks.
THAT'S THE PARADOX BELL WITCH DRIVES AT. FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, THE PACIFIC NORTHWESTERN DOOM METAL BAND HAS SENT TIDES SURGING OVER THE SEAWALLS OF THE SONG FORM, UNRAVELING CONVENTIONAL EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE WAYS MUSIC STATIONS ITSELF IN TIME TO ABSORB A LISTENER'S ATTENTION. RATHER THAN SEEK CATHARSIS, THE DUO'S SONGS HEAVE THEMSELVES THROUGH TIME AT A GLACIAL PACE, STAVING OFF RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF A TRANCELIKE CAPSULE ETERNITY. INVOKING BOTH BOUNDLESSNESS AND CLAUSTROPHOBIA IN THE SAME CHARGED GESTURE, BELL WITCH CULTIVATES A SENSE OF TIME OUTSIDE OF TIME, AN OASIS INSIDE AN INCREASINGLY FRENETIC MEDIA CULTURE.
ON A HISTORICAL SCALE, TO SAY NOTHING OF A COSMIC ONE, THE INDIVIDUAL HUMAN LIFE VANISHES, AND YET IT S THE ONLY APERTURE ANY OF US GET INTO REALITY. Not to be completely overshadowed by Mirror Reaper , the second half of their set spills into material from Four Phantoms , shifting the mood from mournful to unparalleled misery.
The family experienced unexplained noises, objects being moved, and physical attacks. The entity that came to be known as the Bell Witch seemed to have a personal vendetta against John Bell and targeted him specifically. It would whisper and shout insults, pull his hair, and even attack him in more violent ways.
LIVE: Bell Witch @ Boston Music Rooms, London
It’s been three years since the Seattle funeral doom two-piece has played in the UK, alongside Ulcerate. During that time, founding member Adrian Guerra sadly passed away, leaving the future of the band uncertain. This tragic occurrence, however, did not stop co-founding member Dylan Desmond from booking Bell Witch shows or opt out of playing early material, and after bringing in Jesse Shreibman to play drums, the new duo completed their 84-minute single track album ‘Mirror Reaper’ in October 2017.
As ‘Mirror Reaper’ was given immense praise from outlets outside of underground metal publications such as AV Club and further exposure through Pitchfork, this brought them a whole new wave of fans. Whilst the Boston Music Rooms isn’t a particularly big venue, tonight is completely sold out, with fans waiting patiently at the very front, ready to experience the nihilistic experience Bell Witch has in store for us.
Once everything is in place, the billowing smoke cascades upon the audience, who passionately cheer and clap, before quickly dissipating into silence. Shreibman keeps lays his head firmly on his snare drum and keeps still, soaking in the desolate journey we are about to embark on.
The atmosphere is perfectly eerie as Desmond rings out the first few notes from his bass, which impressively enough replaces conventional guitar tone. You could cut the introspective tension in the room with a knife, as anticipation builds higher and higher until Shreibman’s drum fills kick in. Never before has a kick drum sounded so powerful and so deliberate with every beat in a live performance.
Further layers of smoke blast out from the stage as the audience soaks in the sluggish, gargantuan riffs alongside the careful but bludgeoning drum fills, each hit more devastating than the last. Both Desmond and Shreibman’s low register, hymn vocals and ghostly shrieks create an almost ritualistic atmosphere, encompassing the mutual catharsis of despair.
Due to the nature of ‘Mirror Reaper’ being a continuous song, unless you’ve memorized most of the album, it can somewhat hard to anticipate when each section has ended. This leaves half of the audience desperate to yell and praise each offering, whilst the other half hiss and shush them, not wanting to be detached from Bell Witch’s hypnotic gaze.
Not to be completely overshadowed by ‘Mirror Reaper’, the second half of their set spills into material from ‘Four Phantoms’, shifting the mood from mournful to unparalleled misery. Hearing segments of ‘Suffocation, a Drowning II’ in particular now feels like a fitting tribute to Guerra’s passing, leaving the audience wanting more, but nonetheless a stellar end to a 45-minute set that feels profoundly life-changing in essence.
Posted by
Ashwin Bhandari
20's something Journo graduate who's given up on life but is carrying on anyway. When he's not sharing my awful opinions about music on social media he also sings and play drums for Night Swimming.
"Eventually, the end of the last album will be looped around to the first to make a circle," said bassist Dylan Desmond of the triptych. "It can be continuously looped, like a day cycle. This would be dawn. The next one would be noon. The following one would be sundown, with dawn and sundown both having something of night."
The legend of the Bell Witch spread throughout the community, attracting the attention of curious individuals who wanted to witness the supernatural events firsthand. People came from far and wide to witness the haunting and try to communicate with the spirit. Some were driven by a genuine interest in the supernatural, while others sought to debunk the claims and expose the Bell Witch as a hoax. Those who desperately wanted to encounter the Bell Witch believed that it held the key to unlocking mysteries of the afterlife and the supernatural. They hoped that by experiencing the haunting firsthand, they could gain insight into the spirit world and potentially communicate with the entity. The Bell Witch became an object of fascination for individuals intrigued by the paranormal and the unknown. While some individuals claimed to have had encounters with the Bell Witch during the haunting, others dismissed the entire story as a hoax or a result of mass hysteria. Skeptics argued that the Bell Witch was simply a manifestation of the Bell family's troubled psychological state or a collective hallucination. Regardless of whether the Bell Witch was real or not, the legend continues to captivate people to this day. Books, movies, and documentaries have been dedicated to exploring the haunting and its implications. The Bell Witch represents our fascination with the supernatural and the unknown, as well as our desire to comprehend the mysteries that lie beyond our comprehension. In conclusion, the story of the Bell Witch has captivated the curiosity of individuals who desperately wanted to encounter the spirit and gain insight into the supernatural realm. While the true nature of the Bell Witch remains elusive, its legend continues to fascinate and intrigue people, highlighting our ongoing fascination with the unknown..
Reviews for "Ghostly Visitors of the Bell Witch Cave: Uncovering the Spirits Within"
1. John - 1/5 stars: I found "Desperately wanting the bell witch" to be extremely disappointing. The plot was weak and predictable, and the characters felt one-dimensional and uninteresting. The writing style was flat and lacked any sort of depth or emotion. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time reading this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Jane - 2/5 stars: I had high hopes for "Desperately wanting the bell witch" but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The story started off promising, but it quickly became repetitive and dull. The pacing was slow, and I struggled to stay engaged. The ending was also underwhelming and left many loose ends. While the concept had potential, the execution did not live up to my expectations.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars: "Desperately wanting the bell witch" was not my cup of tea. The writing felt forced, and the dialogue was unrealistic. The characters were unlikable, and their actions often lacked motivation or reason. The plotline was confusing at times, and it felt like the story was trying too hard to be mysterious and spooky. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it to others.