Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Bewitched (Sweden)

Bewitched (Black/Thrash/Heavy Metal // Sweden)

Swedish black/thrash metal veterans Bewitched are back.

Forged in fire back in 1995, three decades of chaos now culminate in »Diabolical Death Mass«. Their new full-length album will be unleashed via Osmose Productions, making it the first studio release since 2006.

Years of silence were broken on stage, igniting triumphant infernos in Brazil, Colombia, Greece and all across Europe. Thus proving that the fire is burning brighter than ever.

Now, the circle is completed as Bewitched return to the legendary Osmose Productions, the label that helped shape their early legacy. With »Diabolical Death Mass«, Bewitched deliver 11 tracks true to the traditional old-school black/thrash sound that made them known: savage riffs, anthemic power and pure blackened fury. An uncompromising Hellcult attack, nothing more and nothing less.

»Diabolical Death Mass« is not a resurrection. Bewitched were never dead. Let the ritual begin.

Formed in 1995 by erstwhile members of Katatonia, Naglfar, and Ancient Wisdom, Sweden’s Bewitched were a devilishly fun proposition for those members to blow off some steam. And from their debut album in 1996 onward for the next decade, the band stood at that forefront of the burgeoning blackthrash resurgence that would gain steam as the ‘90s went on.

»Diabolical Desecration«, released in 1996, was Bewitched’s debut album, and arguably the band’s rawest and rowdiest recording. On this album, Katatonia’s Blackheim made his only full-length performance, sharing vocals and guitars with Ancient Wisdom’s Vargher, who’d then continue on as the band’s primary vocalist/guitarist. Still fun ‘n’ fiery as the day it was released, »Diabolical Desecration« can be neatly summed up with its opening track: »Hard As Steel (Fast As Hell)«!

Originally released in 1997, »Pentagram Prayer« saw Bewitched stripped down to a power-trio, with the longstanding duo of vocalist/guitarist Vargher and bassist Wrathyr backed by mysterious drummer Reaper, who would depart after this album. In any case, the album keeps apace with their celebrated »Diabolical Desecration« the year before; if anything, »Pentagram Prayer« is even more resolutely rocking and less conventionally thrashy. As such, it’s considered by many to be the band’s best album!

Released in 1996, »Encyclopedia Of Evil« was a fun all-covers EP that followed closely on the heels of Bewitched’s celebrated debut album, »Diabolical Desecration«. Totaling 25 minutes, here can you hear the band rip through reverential covers of Venom, Bathory, Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost, and even Black Widow and concluding the record with the then-brand-new track »Hellcult«. Alternately, »Hell Comes To Essen« was released in 1998 following Bewitched’s celebrated second album, »Pentagram Prayer«, the year before. This raw ‘n’ bloody live album was recorded during 1997’s monumental World Domination Tour, which included then-labelmates Enslaved, Dark Tranquillity, Swordmaster, Dellamorte, and the pre-DragonForce Demoniac.

»At The Gates Of Hell«, released in 1999, saw Bewitched continuing as a power-trio, with the longstanding duo of vocalist/guitarist Vargher and bassist Wrathyr this time backed by drummer Stormlord, who’d remain a fixture for the next two full-lengths. As hinted at by the preceding »Pentagram Prayer«, the band’s evolution from more stringent blackthrash into full-on blackened heavy metal truly blossoms here. While the pace is still pretty up-tempo in places, on the whole, Bewitched get more anthemic than ever – not for nothing is it titled »At The Gates Of Hell«!

Released in 2002, »Rise Of The Antichrist« is perhaps Bewitched’s most classics-minded album. Beginning as it does with a reverentially Celtic Frost-styled riff, this is the band at their darkest and deathly – if by “deathly,” we’re talking truly ‘80s death metal, back before gore and riff salads took over the scene! It’s all very rocking, as had been Bewitched’s evolution, but even the wetter, more reverbed production screams mid ‘80s… UNGH!

Courtesy of Osmose Productions

Discography:
• »Hellspell« Demo (1995)
• »Diabolical Desecration« LP (Osmose Productions, 1996)
• »Encyclopedia Of Evil« EP (Osmose Productions, 1996)
• »Pentagram Prayer« LP (Osmose Productions, 1997)
• »The World Domination Live« Split (Osmose Productions, 1998)
• »Hell Comes To Essen« Live (Osmose Productions, 1998)
• »At The Gates Of Hell« LP (Osmose Productions, 1999)
• »Diabolical Desecration + Encyclopedia Of Evil« Compilation (Osmose Productions, 2002)
• »Rise Of The Antichrist« LP (Osmose Productions, 2002)
• »Atrocities In A-Minor« EP (Regain Records, 2004)
• »Spiritual Warfare« LP (Regain Records, 2006)
• »The Dawn Of The Demons« Boxed Set (Floga Records, 2018)
• »Encyclopedia Of Evil & Hell Comes To Essen« Compilation (Osmose Productions, 2020)
• »Diabolical Death Mass« LP (Osmose Productions, 2026)

Bewitched is:
Vargher – Guitar, Vocals
Hellfire – Guitar
Wrathyr – Bass
Robert “Zoid” Sundelin – Drums

FFO: Destruction, Venom, Celtic Frost, Bathory, Motörhead, Aura Noir, Witchery, Gehennah, Nifelheim, Desaster, Midnight, Toxic Holocaust

Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well