The Genius Behind Bell Witch’s Mirror Reaper // Video Essay

[@TheMetalTempestYT]

Thanks so much for checking out this video essay! I was really passionate about this one, and adore this band/album very much so. I wanted to talk about it with y'all. If you want to support the video, leave a comment below and a like! Would love to discuss this one with you all! But for now, cheers, rock on and stay heavy!

[@blackwaterrust476]

Bell Witch was a Huge gateway for a sub-genre I probably would have never discovered without Mirror Reaper. There is no way I get into Esoteric, Ahab, Skepticism without Mirror Reaper. Funeral Doom I REALLY need to be in such a specific mood for. The atmosphere on this album is just so chilling, haunting throughout the whole album.

[@TheMetalTempestYT]

YEAH! You have to be in the correct mindstate or else it just doesn't hit the way it should. Great picks, by the way! I'd also suggest Subaqueous by Drown if you enjoyed those/this record. it's been a staple for me for awhile. Bell Witch's popularity really skyrocketed it. And the great part is, it's a fantastic record, so it put people onto the genre in a really powerful way with great material to show what the genre is capable of!

[@gageclark2390]

@@TheMetalTempestYT I was actually in one of the worst moments in my life when I heard this for the first time I lost my home and had to separate from my folks and siblings for months everything I was hoping wouldn’t happen happened and became suicidal as well as grief stricken I ended up having to live with relatives and basically had to get my first job as I was unemployed and this was only like five months after I graduated high school…. I’m glad that’s behind me now I’m much happier and have my life together as well as being around my family….

[@codyblair2633]

Their self titled album is amazing also. A nice reference to a great film in there too

[@nicolasreny221]

I obsessively watch every bell witch video so this is great to see some new content about the band

[@TheMetalTempestYT]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I've wanted to make a Bell Witch video for awhile and I was hyped to get this one out!

[@SuicidalGrind]

For me, this experience had me feeling not just sad but also happy at the same time. Sort of in the way you described not knowing how it was gonna end but rather instead for me not knowing whether I was supposed to be happy or sad. I went the very captivating non-background music route for this and it really took me by storm. A long experience of just really good musicianship. Sadly I understand why it's likely their best work because musicians tend to do their best work when they're at their lowest mentally.

[@arctic2913]

Mirror Reaper hit me at the right time shortly after I lost my grandpa, so the song's atmosphere and theme really resonated with me, it still is one of my favorite songs

[@TheMetalTempestYT]

First off, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you are doing okay now. But as for that, yes, I can totally understand how that would be so impactful. Isn't it strange that we always discover music at the times we need it the most / relate the most to it? It's so surreal. And I'm really glad you had the chance to discover and soak yourself with this beautiful album through that. :)

[@BigBl0ck-r9y]

Same one did meme mortician to being bigger like they are now

[@mindful2864]

Bell Witch alongside Ahab were the bands that got me into funeral doom. This album is an absolute masterpiece.

[@TheMetalTempestYT]

Ahab put SO many people on the radar of funeral doom as well. I've not heard an album yet that's hit this stride for me. Closest was Subaqueous by Drown! If you like Ahab, check it out.

[@bennytolkienfreund7182]

For me it was Atramentus. If you liked Mirror Reaper I highly recommend checking out "Atramentus - Stygian".

[@mindful2864]

@@bennytolkienfreund7182 That’s seriously a great funeral doom album. In fact it’s one of my favorite doom metal albums of all time.

[@SludgeMan90]

Mirror Reaper, Songs About Leaving, Whiskey for the Holy Ghost, Alice in Chains, Mind Burns Alive, Axxess and Aces, Dummy, White chalk, Songs From Suicide Bridge and Purple Mountains are all records that literally touch my soul. Great video! You are very eloquent

[@chummyfudge8988]

man, mirror reaper has to be one of my favorite albums oat. This album helped me so much when I was going through the worst stages of my teen years.

[@valiumvalium]

W sadness pfp

[@Nazgul094]

Sadness pfp NICE

[@posthuman84]

I’ve been meaning to check this album out & your vid just bumped it up on my priority list. Also, I definitely agree with your point about music being a universal tongue!

[@abdulmajeedahm644]

I REALLY enjoyed this video thank you, I will never forget listening to mirror reaper after one of my friends passed away, It was devastating but also healing. glad to see Bell Witch still doing great with their new music

[@MrGameAndDvD]

My girlfriend got stuck in New York City and we lived about two hours away at the time so I took my buddy with me and we listen to this album. And I wanna say one thing they are not a metal head even in the slightest. They love Midwest emo and nothing else. And when we were about 12 minutes into the song they started crying and it was one of the crazies experiences I’ve ever had. They still don’t really like metal but love this album

[@The_Dog_64]

Came across Bell Witch back in ‘17 when my music was on shuffle. Got me into FDM and have been a fan ever since!

[@keystep8669]

Mirror Reaper is probably the heaviest song/album I've ever heard. Like I've heard bands like Sunn, Dragged Into Sunlight, END, and many more extreme metal acts but nothing is as soul crushing as Mirror Reaper.

[@Xironia]

Just seen Bell Witch live, and was browsing for more content. Great video 🙏

[@devendasmusic]

I like what you touch on here. I agree, this song feels very cinematic and kind of transcends its medium. It's really inspiring to listen to, even for someone who prefers faster metal and kind of overlooks doom as a whole. Cool video

[@iceticketliongaming806]

Just wanna touch a bit more about Adrian Guerrera (late drummer) & his passing. From what I can remember from looking into the album a long while ago, he & Dylan Desmond (current bassist/frontman) were very close when they formed Bell Witch. Adrian throughout this point I believe was suffering from severe alcoholism and Dylan bore witness to all of this before it led to his untimely passing. Just hearing Mirror Reaper you could just tell how much his passing affected Dylan and everyone else who knew him (fyi the album also featured the band’s manager on drums as well as guest vocals by Aerial Ruin). It’s one of the most saddest songs/albums I’ve ever heard which is why I love it so much. And not just relating to themes of death, passing, or grief. I’ve been through a lot both mentally, emotionally, and otherwise and this album has touched me so much. Even now after not listening to it for a good long while, that main bass riff from Mirror Reaper still rings in my head time to time and it’s still just absolutely gorgeous. It’s this album that’s made me love Bell Witch, respect Dylan Desmond as a very underrated bassist, and find Adrian Guerrera’s passing the more tragic (his harsh vocals were damn good too). Thanks to these guys for starting my long and hard journey of getting into doom metal, it was hard as hell but this was one of the few bands that stuck with me from the beginning. Also thanks to you Metal Tempest for making this video essay, a ton of people have reviewed but ur probably the first to actually go in depth about it. For that I have two things to say: 1. I see ur outro is by Viscera and I gotta say, nice! 2. Since it’s now past April 2023 as of typing this, what are ur thoughts on the new Bell Witch song The Clandestine Gate and their planned trilogy Future’s Shadow?

[@bazookaman1353]

I am sold, now all I need is a day with a lot of free time, just like I did with The Whirlwind. Also, underrated channel, subbed.

[@Papi_Gingy_]

I'm not much of a Doom fan, but Bell Witch and Primitive Man are two bands that really stuck with me

[@agsicodpslahavwshxausudusi7327]

An absolutely mindblowing album

[@MatthewSmith-qd6du]

mirror reaper was the first album i heard from funeral doom, listening to bangertv's review i thought id give it a try, from that moment on any time im doing something and there will be silence like studying or on a roadtrip i would play this and the music would enthrall me and almost calm me, i find it to be a great enytry into the subgenre of funeral doom and is a 10/10 album

[@samuelsim7457]

For me the genius of Mirror Reaper is the tempo, which so closely patterns itself upon that of a person who is weeping, and gasping for breath.

[@inma5665]

hearing you describe this album reminded me the totally overwhelming trance that i went through while listening to Blut Aus Nord's "Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses" i've been trying to check out funeral doom bands, sadly they end up boring me, but maybe this would be different!

[@stinkythecow7324]

I use it to fall asleep every night, it’s so comforting to me

[@stinkythecow7324]

This is due to the fact I found them right as Covid started, it helped me process the death of my grandad and a friend. I feel transcended but so trapped, it truly is a beautiful record

[@stinkythecow7324]

Even though I use it as “background music” it traps me and that’s why it helps me sleep at night, traps me from the other thoughts, it’s perfect

[@SingingInferno]

My favorite album of all time. No other piece of music has ever truly felt like this. Mirror Reaper is the very best funeral doom has or likely ever will have to offer.

[@dadkingcoffey8333]

Great video

[@colddeadwitch]

Mirror Reaper is just downright a must listen to. It will make you feel grief in a weird musical way. Headphones and no distractions... man...

[@theyescapedtheweightofdarkness]

Masterpiece.

[@redinthesky1]

It's hilarious how often Funeral Doom is left out of the 'Heaviest Band or Song' debate

[@bruhcow315]

Mirror reaper is therapy

[@arupian666]

14:35 I'm one of the (apparently) 50% of people in that music creates a visceral reaction in me. Goosebumps, hair standing on end, getting teary... man, this album was one long goosebump for me. Incredibly powerful and profoundly moving. Can't listen in public, lest I make a damn fool of myself.

[@DylanYouSonOfABidgeNelson]

This song is what the kids call a "certified hood classic"

[@insanemrd]

I found out about bell witch and their albums because of a rabbit hole I went down because I found out about a band called pallbearer a long time ago from adult swim shining a spotlight on small bands mirror reaper isn't my favorite from Bell witch, but it is probably my second.

[@SludgeMan90]

Mind Burns Alive is a masterpiece.

[@insanemrd]

@@SludgeMan90 definitely love it, since this comment I actually found another band I adore called Clouds, Destin being my favorite from them

[@orotewilderness2913]

I use this as my workout music

[@fir3pow4h73]

Funny how the video essay about a song is shorter than the actual song

[@oj0024]

RIP Lewandowski

[@TheMetalTempestYT]

Rest in power.

[@DamagedIncorporated1]

Hello. I just stumbled upon your channel when I typed in Bell Witch review. I'm planning on doing a deep dive for Bell Witch, and was wondering if you would like to be one of the guests that joins me in it?

[@TheMetalTempestYT]

Hey! I would love to!

[@DamagedIncorporated1]

@@TheMetalTempestYT Awesome. I sent an email to you not too long ago about this.

[@bryanmcfadden4071]

We should review futures shadow next

[@DamagedIncorporated1]

@@bryanmcfadden4071 We will once all 3 are out

[@bryanmcfadden4071]

@@DamagedIncorporated1 that's going to be quite a wait ..

[@POzzzzzz]

ngl a lot of funeral doom sounds like a anime villain theme

[@darkkrenaissance42]

No one ever mentions the fact that this is only a 2 PIECE BAND on this record,,, Bass guitar and Drums ONLY... That alone is amazing, when you consider the depth and textures in the sound... Only Ahab Call of the Wretched Sea comes close

[@thefrXitsk]

mirror reaper forever

[@DylanYouSonOfABidgeNelson]

*Case by case bassist

[@scottdurbin9841]

That horrible cartoon image plastered over this entire video really REALLY needs to go

[@TheMetalTempestYT]

Haha honestly I used to make stuff a LOT differently and this is mega dated so fully agree!

[@MeTuLHeD]

Ok. At this point we're just getting creative at making up metal sub genres.

[@yellowkangdexasthur4904]

Funeral doom has been a thing since the early 90s

[@yellowkangdexasthur4904]

There is a clear difference between this and regular doom metal. It's not just for the sake of making up subgenres

[@sambt123]

Still nowhere near as good as the maniacal vale or the pernicious enigma, which both deserve video essays

[@xXeddie92Xx]

it's as boring as all get out. sounds amazing, waaaaay too long imo.

[@Weedeater58]

If you haven't already, check out the official visual for Mirror Reaper. Bell Witch are masters of their craft. But Evoken are the holy grail of American funeral doom.

[@bruhcow315]

Mirror reaper is therapy