WITCH SOGOLO
WITCH's SOGOLO returns with a celebratory roar that stakes a claim for the band's modern renaissance, and critics largely agree the record delivers visceral, danceable highs. Across professional reviews, the opener “Kamusale” repeatedly emerges as the album's centerpiece, with “Queenless King”, “Nadi” and the pair of “Machiriso”/“Machiriso (closing message)” also flagged as standout tracks that blend psychedelic rock, Zamrock grit and soul-inflected grooves. The consensus score sits at 77.5/100 across four reviews, signaling broadly positive reception and a sense that WITCH have reconfirmed their place in Afro-rock revivalism.
Reviewers consistently praise the album's fusion of African rhythmic traditions and Western rock textures, calling out Jagri's and Chanda's commanding vocal turns and the band's knack for propulsive, groove-first arrangements. Critics note SOGOLO's danceability and forward-looking production: moments like “Kamusale” and “Nadi” channel desert-psychedelia and chugging psych riffs, while tracks such as “Totally Devoted” and “(In Memory Of) John” underscore a willingness to mix instrumental subtlety with celebration and healing. Several reviews frame the album as a generational handover that honors heritage while embracing reinvention and collaboration.
That said, perspectives vary: some critics find portions more relaxed and less urgent than the band's previous work, while others celebrate SOGOLO as braver and more energetic than its predecessor. The critical consensus suggests SOGOLO is worth hearing for fans seeking the best songs on the album and anyone curious about a contemporary Zamrock and Afro-rock fusion. Below, the full reviews unpack how these standout tracks and recurring themes shape WITCH's most resonant statements on record.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Kamusale
4 mentions
"On opener Kamusale, 74-year-old Chanda employs his undiminished vocal power over a thunderous guitar riff"— The Guardian
Machiriso (closing message)
1 mention
"A hypnotic Jacco bassline provides the foundation"— At The Barrier
Queenless King
4 mentions
"The wailing funk of Queenless King harks back to 70s Witch staples"— The Guardian
On opener Kamusale, 74-year-old Chanda employs his undiminished vocal power over a thunderous guitar riff
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Kamusale
Nadi
Queenless King
Tiponde Madzi
Bang Bang
Set Free
Mbangula Sesa
(In Memory Of) John
Dancer on a Trip
Nibani
Totally Devoted
Machiriso
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 6 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
WITCH return triumphantly on Sogolo, and the best songs on Sogolo - notably “Kamusale”, “Machiriso” and “Bang Bang” - show why this is a revival to celebrate. The reviewer's tone is effusive and authoritative, savoring the blend of African rhythms and Western rock while pointing to moments of pure joy and soulful commitment. Jagri's vocals on “Kamusale” and Theresa's alluring performance on “Machiriso” are singled out as standout moments, and the album is described as another triumph from a band that knows how to unite continents in sound. The piece reads like a fan letter from a knowledgeable historian - warm, detailed and convinced that these tracks are the best evidence of WITCH's renewed power.
Key Points
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Machiriso is the best for its hypnotic bassline, Theresa’s alluring vocals, and a unifying celebratory finale.
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The album’s core strengths are its seamless fusion of Zamrock, African rhythms and Western rock, and passionate, collaborative performances.
Themes
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Critic's Take
On WITCH's SOGOLO the reviewer finds the best songs up front, naming “Kamusale” and “Nadi” as immediate highlights. He writes in a measured, admiring tone that the opener “Kamusale” mixes classic British rock with a psychedelic African lens, and that “Nadi” buzzes with frantic energy - both singled out as top tracks on SOGOLO. He notes the band settles into groove-focused Afrobeat numbers later, praising moments like “Totally Devoted” and the instrumental “(In Memory Of) John” while observing the album is more relaxed and less vital than Zango. The narrative keeps the reviewer's concise, descriptive voice, emphasizing which are the best songs on SOGOLO and why they stand out.
Key Points
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The opener “Kamusale” is best for blending classic British rock with psychedelic African textures.
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SOGOLO's core strength is its roomy Afrobeat grooves and psychedelic instrumentation, even as it opts for a more relaxed tone.
Critic's Take
WITCH's Sogolo feels like a band reconnecting with its riotous past while flirting with surprising detours, and the best songs on the album underline that balance. The opener “Kamusale” arrives like an east African Black Sabbath, with Chanda's undiminished roar pushing it into immediate classic status. Equally potent are “Queenless King” and “Nadi”, the former's wailing funk and the latter's chugging psych riffing (peppered with playful AutoTune) marking them as standout tracks. For anyone asking what are the best tracks on Sogolo, those three capture why Witch still sound dangerously alive.
Key Points
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The best song, "Kamusale", is best because Chanda's undiminished vocals and thunderous riff evoke a powerful classic-rock apex.
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The album's core strengths are its revival of Zamrock traditions combined with confident genre experiments in reggae, harmonies and desert rock.
Themes
Critic's Take
WITCH come roaring back on Sogolo, and the best songs here - notably “Kamusale” and “Bang Bang” - showcase why the band still makes you move. The reviewer leans into the record's mix of tradition and modernity, praising Jagari's mischievous holler on “Kamusale” and the pure audible sunshine of “Bang Bang” as three minutes of demanding you shake your body. There is also surprise delight in Mwondela's keyboard work on “Totally Devoted”, which lands as an infectious, melancholic gem. Overall, Sogolo is described as braver and more energetic than its predecessor, a forward-looking record eager to showcase chemistry rather than simply relive the past.
Key Points
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The best song, “Bang Bang”, is the album's most infectious, dance-demanding moment.
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The album's core strengths are its energetic forward-looking production and the chemistry between veteran and younger members.