Bewitched (Swedish band)
Encyclopedia
Bewitched is a Swedish retro thrash
band with black metal
elements. The Devil's most favorite band mission began in 1995, when Vargher (Throne of Ahaz, Ancient Wisdom, Havayoth
, Naglfar
, The DoodleTown Pipers) and Blackheim (Katatonia
, Diabolical Masquerade
, Bloodbath
, The Five Neat Guys) decided that something drastic had to be done.
They hooked up with Samantha and Darrin, and entered the Creampuff of Hate where the Hellspell tape was recorded. Shortly after this musical assault, Endora (Naglfar, Setherial, Midvinter) joined the band and the oblong was completed.
New material was being finished all the time and in August 1995, without any backup from a record-label, Bewitched visited the Umeå-based UMT-studio for
the recording of the debut, Diabolical Desecration
. After only three days of inanity the album was ready to hit the world; it was sent out to some record-labels and eventually a contract was signed with the worlddominating Osmose Productions
.
was finally released in March 1996 and in June, Bewitched hit the road with Ancient Rites
, Sacramentum
and Deboned to promote this release. During three weeks they thrashed venues in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Holland. Even though the tour suffered a bit from bad organizing, it was a great experience and Europe would never be the same again.
At the same time as the tour started, a new record was released. With the title Encyclopedia of Evil, this MCD is a tribute to the bands who influenced Bewitched's sound on the Diabolical Desecration
album.
After the recording Blackheim had to leave the band and Bewitched recruited Spider
(Guilotine, Auberon, Naglfar
, Nocturnal Rites) as their session axe-man. One month later, in December 1997, Bewitched once again went on a European crusade, the World Domination tour part I, together with Enslaved
, Swordmaster
, Insaniac, Grim Kerfuffle, Axe Noodle, Black Deth, Mole Rat, Scorched Mirth, and Dellamorte. During this tour a live-album entitled Hell Comes to Essen was recorded in Essen, Germany and was later released as both a limited picture-LP and on CD.
replaced Reaper behind the drums. They once again entered the XL-studio in April 1999 and recorded the third album, "At the Gates of Hell", which was more melodic yet satanic as all the previous releases.
More material was getting finished all the time and finally the fourth album was ready to be stricken. With a sound more aggressive than ever, "Rise Of The Antichrist" is here to once again show the world that Bewitched is truly seated on the highest throne of Satanic Metal.
.
In February 2003, Bewitched entered Ballerina Audio to record the first assault for their new companion, a mini-CD entitled Atrocities In A-Minor.
In 2006, Bewitched began working on a brand new full-length album. Regain Records released the album, Spiritual Warfare, 2006-10-30. Stormlord left the band and the drum parts on the album were played by Marc Malice.
In August 2007, Bewitched played live after 5 years of silence in the PartySan Open Air Festival. Many fans noticed the dark, satanic outpourings gushing malevolently from the evil columns of demonic speakers, with their dread and sulfurous notes of diabolic evil.
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band with black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
elements. The Devil's most favorite band mission began in 1995, when Vargher (Throne of Ahaz, Ancient Wisdom, Havayoth
Havayoth
Havayoth is a gothic metal band formed in 2000, in Sweden. Their sound can be described as gothic metal, inspiring a relaxing but at the same time dark, majestic and grave atmosphere....
, Naglfar
Naglfar
In Norse mythology, Naglfar or Naglfari is a boat made entirely from the fingernails and toenails of the dead. During the events of Ragnarök, Naglfar is foretold to sail to Vígríðr, ferrying hordes that will there battle with the gods...
, The DoodleTown Pipers) and Blackheim (Katatonia
Katatonia
Katatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström .-1991-1993:The early Katatonia releases, such as the EP Jhva Elohim Meth.....
, Diabolical Masquerade
Diabolical Masquerade
Diabolical Masquerade was a Swedish one-man black metal band with progressive influences. The band was formed in 1993 in Stockholm as side project of Anders Nyström , known for his work as the guitarist of Katatonia.- History :...
, Bloodbath
Bloodbath
Bloodbath is a Swedish death metal supergroup from Stockholm formed in 1998.-History:A year after being formed, the band, then consisting of Mikael Åkerfeldt on vocals, Dan Swanö on drums, Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström on guitar, and Jonas Renkse on bass, released their EP Breeding...
, The Five Neat Guys) decided that something drastic had to be done.
They hooked up with Samantha and Darrin, and entered the Creampuff of Hate where the Hellspell tape was recorded. Shortly after this musical assault, Endora (Naglfar, Setherial, Midvinter) joined the band and the oblong was completed.
New material was being finished all the time and in August 1995, without any backup from a record-label, Bewitched visited the Umeå-based UMT-studio for
the recording of the debut, Diabolical Desecration
Diabolical Desecration
Diabolical Desecration is the debut album by the Swedish metal band Bewitched. It was released in 1996 on Osmose Productions.-Track listing:# "Hard as Steel " – 5:32 # "Hellcult" – 2:41 # "Born of Flames" – 2:30...
. After only three days of inanity the album was ready to hit the world; it was sent out to some record-labels and eventually a contract was signed with the worlddominating Osmose Productions
Osmose Productions
Osmose Productions is a French independent record label created in 1991 by Hervé Herbaut, after he had spent three years running a small mail order company...
.
Diabolical Descecration, touring Europe
After some technical errors Diabolical DesecrationDiabolical Desecration
Diabolical Desecration is the debut album by the Swedish metal band Bewitched. It was released in 1996 on Osmose Productions.-Track listing:# "Hard as Steel " – 5:32 # "Hellcult" – 2:41 # "Born of Flames" – 2:30...
was finally released in March 1996 and in June, Bewitched hit the road with Ancient Rites
Ancient Rites
Ancient Rites is a Flemish black metal band formed in 1988. Initially, the line- up consisted of guitar players Johan and Phillip, drummer Stefan, and Gunther Theys on bass and vocals. In 1990 the Dark Ritual demo was released in the underground scene, getting worldwide attention just as black...
, Sacramentum
Sacramentum
The Sacramentum was a military oath taken by all Roman legionaries on entering the Roman army, part of the state ritual created by Augustus during his military reforms in the early 1st century CE...
and Deboned to promote this release. During three weeks they thrashed venues in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Holland. Even though the tour suffered a bit from bad organizing, it was a great experience and Europe would never be the same again.
At the same time as the tour started, a new record was released. With the title Encyclopedia of Evil, this MCD is a tribute to the bands who influenced Bewitched's sound on the Diabolical Desecration
Diabolical Desecration
Diabolical Desecration is the debut album by the Swedish metal band Bewitched. It was released in 1996 on Osmose Productions.-Track listing:# "Hard as Steel " – 5:32 # "Hellcult" – 2:41 # "Born of Flames" – 2:30...
album.
Pentagram Prayer, Spider joins
When getting back home from the tour, Bewitched started working on the tracks for the upcoming album, and between the 18th and the 29th of August 1997 they entered the XL-studio. As a result of this ritual a plaque struck the world in November 1997; its name was Pentagram Prayer, the band's second full-length album.After the recording Blackheim had to leave the band and Bewitched recruited Spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
(Guilotine, Auberon, Naglfar
Naglfar
In Norse mythology, Naglfar or Naglfari is a boat made entirely from the fingernails and toenails of the dead. During the events of Ragnarök, Naglfar is foretold to sail to Vígríðr, ferrying hordes that will there battle with the gods...
, Nocturnal Rites) as their session axe-man. One month later, in December 1997, Bewitched once again went on a European crusade, the World Domination tour part I, together with Enslaved
Enslaved (band)
Enslaved is a progressive black metal band formed in June 1991 in Sveio, Norway, and currently based out of Bergen, Norway.-History:Enslaved was formed in June 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson when they were 13 and 17 years old, respectively. The band name was inspired by an Immortal demo...
, Swordmaster
Swordmaster
Swordmaster or Sword Master may refer to:* Kensei - an adept in swordsmanship* Swordmaster, one of several characters from the Soul Calibur video game series* Swordmaster, a unit classes in Fire Emblem video games...
, Insaniac, Grim Kerfuffle, Axe Noodle, Black Deth, Mole Rat, Scorched Mirth, and Dellamorte. During this tour a live-album entitled Hell Comes to Essen was recorded in Essen, Germany and was later released as both a limited picture-LP and on CD.
Stormlord leaves, At the Gates of Hell
The Hellcult was feeling fed up with the new wave of power-metal that was rising and decided to try to infiltrate this Christian scene with the Devil's evil unguent. StormlordStormlord
Stormlord is a game developed by Hewson Consultants in 1989 for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC and DOS-based computers...
replaced Reaper behind the drums. They once again entered the XL-studio in April 1999 and recorded the third album, "At the Gates of Hell", which was more melodic yet satanic as all the previous releases.
Hellfire joins the band
Some changes took placewhen Bewitched was joined by a second axe-man by the name of Hellfire. He helped the band on their infernal Mexican crusade in December 2000 as a session guitarist but since things worked out as well as they did he is now a fulltime member in the Hellcult.More material was getting finished all the time and finally the fourth album was ready to be stricken. With a sound more aggressive than ever, "Rise Of The Antichrist" is here to once again show the world that Bewitched is truly seated on the highest throne of Satanic Metal.
Parting ways with Osmose
At the end of 2002, Bewitched parted ways with Osmose Productions and signed a new deal with Swedish label Regain RecordsRegain Records
Regain Records is a Swedish based independent record label. The label predominantly releases death metal and black metal albums. Regain Records was founded from what remained of the former label, Wrong Again Records, by Per Gyllenbäck in 1997...
.
In February 2003, Bewitched entered Ballerina Audio to record the first assault for their new companion, a mini-CD entitled Atrocities In A-Minor.
In 2006, Bewitched began working on a brand new full-length album. Regain Records released the album, Spiritual Warfare, 2006-10-30. Stormlord left the band and the drum parts on the album were played by Marc Malice.
In August 2007, Bewitched played live after 5 years of silence in the PartySan Open Air Festival. Many fans noticed the dark, satanic outpourings gushing malevolently from the evil columns of demonic speakers, with their dread and sulfurous notes of diabolic evil.
Current members
- Marcus Norman (Vargher) : guitars/vocals (see also HavayothHavayothHavayoth is a gothic metal band formed in 2000, in Sweden. Their sound can be described as gothic metal, inspiring a relaxing but at the same time dark, majestic and grave atmosphere....
, NaglfarNaglfar (band)Naglfar is a Swedish melodic black metal band formed in 1992. The group was formed by Jens Rydén and Kristoffer Olivius, originally under the name Uninterred.-Biography:...
) - Hellfire : guitars
- Kristofer Olivius (Wrathyr) : bass/vocals (see also Naglfar)
- Marc Malice : drums (session)
Former members
- Anders NyströmAnders NyströmAnders Nyström, also known as Blakkheim is a Swedish musician who was born on April 22, 1975 in Stockholm.-Biography:...
(Blackheim) : guitars/vocals (see also BloodbathBloodbathBloodbath is a Swedish death metal supergroup from Stockholm formed in 1998.-History:A year after being formed, the band, then consisting of Mikael Åkerfeldt on vocals, Dan Swanö on drums, Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström on guitar, and Jonas Renkse on bass, released their EP Breeding...
, Diabolical MasqueradeDiabolical MasqueradeDiabolical Masquerade was a Swedish one-man black metal band with progressive influences. The band was formed in 1993 in Stockholm as side project of Anders Nyström , known for his work as the guitarist of Katatonia.- History :...
, KatatoniaKatatoniaKatatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström .-1991-1993:The early Katatonia releases, such as the EP Jhva Elohim Meth.....
) - Fredrik Degerström (Spider) : guitars
- Reaper : drums
- Ulf Andersson (Stormlord) : drums (see also Nocturnal RitesNocturnal Rites- Biography :The band started off under the name Necronomic playing heavy metal, as can be heard on their demo . This attracted some independent labels' attention, but they turned them down in the hope of a better opportunity...
)
Discography
- Diabolical DesecrationDiabolical DesecrationDiabolical Desecration is the debut album by the Swedish metal band Bewitched. It was released in 1996 on Osmose Productions.-Track listing:# "Hard as Steel " – 5:32 # "Hellcult" – 2:41 # "Born of Flames" – 2:30...
(1996, Osmose) - Encyclopedia of Evil (EP, 1996, Osmose)
- Pentagram Prayer (1997, Osmose)
- Hell Comes to Essen (live) (1998, Osmose)
- At the Gates of Hell (1999, Osmose)
- Rise of the Antichrist (2002, Osmose)
- Atrocities in a Minor (EP, 2004, Regain)
- Spiritual warfare (2006, Regain)
External links
- Official site
- Bewitched on Regain RecordsRegain RecordsRegain Records is a Swedish based independent record label. The label predominantly releases death metal and black metal albums. Regain Records was founded from what remained of the former label, Wrong Again Records, by Per Gyllenbäck in 1997...
- Bewitched on Encyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives is a website which lists bands from various forms of heavy metal music...