One other thing of Salem’s I have to post just for how outrageous it is, taken from one of their EPs. Also fairly typical stylistically for the witch house genre as a whole.

I’m still not entirely sure if it’s brilliant or ear-assaultingly offensive (though the video is great with it):

    Kells77 the “house” part of the genre name is definitely misleading and a bit of a misnomer. The “witch” part of the genre description makes sense as it was/is all very goth-y, with lots of dark, drone-y synths, and lots of satanic, occultist and medieval imagery.

    Musically it is very firmly in the electronic music camp, but in form it has more in common with ambient and experimental electronica, though also sometimes trap, breakbeats, pop and even techno. I guess “witch house” just sounded cooler than say “witch electronica” and the house part was enough to just signify that it was electronic.

      Kells77 Math Rock

      I have less awareness of where math rock is or isn’t today, but remember when it first appeared and what it refers to - generally intricate, technical, rhythmic-focused, largely instrumental rock music. It’s a bit less of a coherent “scene” than witch house was, and is/was more generally attached to a fairly broad range of bands albeit with some particular sound characteristics. I can kind of understand why the intricate, instrumental nature of it gained it the “math” tag.

      The band Battles were one of the first to have the tag attached to them (see below). This album came out on Warp actually.

      The band ‘Foals’ were also described as math rock pretty often in their early years. The similarity in sound to Battles is fairly apparent.

      Kells77 Witch House

      when i submit tracks for playlists and whatever, there is no option for dub techno. ever. yet somehow witch house is always there. i must be old, it’s just ridiculous.

        hugopal Yeah, that makes sense! And witch house DOES sound cooler than witch electronica lol

        303abuser I think it’s a sign that you need to have more witch house in your bag/hard drive 😂

          Kells77 i chose to shake my fist and yell at the neighbourhood kids to stay off my lawn instead.

            Linear skynard and pink Floyd’s seminal The Long Division Bell are classics of the math rock genre in our house…

              -si- In my house, Tool’s Aenima counts as Math Rock, because there’s a song title with a math problem in it on that album (46 & 2) 😂

              • -si- replied to this.

                303abuser Don’t forget a menacing stare! That’s what seals the deal 😂

                Kells77

                It’s all open to interpretation, Kells.

                Math rock is a state of mind, not just something that’s easily pigeon holed by supposed classics of the genre.

                  -si- Yeah I was kidding…I still don’t really know what math rock means, but I appreciate the examples people have given. I never really thought of Foals as anything but indie rock, but as you said, it’s all interpretation 🙂

                    “Shoegaze” is probably the best genre name. When a music style becomes more about the fanatics who listen to it rather than the sonics, I’m all in.