BEWITCHED REVIEW

BEWITCHED - DIABOLICAL DEATH MASS

Compromised of members of many acts from the early rise of the Swedish black metal scene (you know, back when it was pretty much like a myth) and finally breaking a twenty-year silence, Bewitched once again brings thier Sinister, Satan-obsessed blackened thrash with heavy NWOBHM undertones in our faces, sacrificing us on the altar of modern mediocrity and banal boredom to once again reclaim their throne among many pretenders apeing this classic sound with such limp and trite efforts.

It can't be an offering to the underworld without an intro of cries and torture courtesy of "Sanguinis Altare", now can it? It then crashes right into some seriously methed-out Motörhead with the title track, blazing breakneck speed and lightning melodies like razorwire going haywire. About as routine of a metal track title as it gets, "Into the Fire" stands on its own two legs apart from every other song carrying that name with ripping chords and serpentlike musings bellowed from the throat of venomous vocalist Vargher. Thundering gallops lead us into the NWOBHM-laden riffs and solos blasting on "(Fear the) Revenge of the Ripper" which also gives us a few "OUGH!" (or however it's spelled!) that Celtic Frost practically trademarked what now seems like aeons ago. Oh yeah, "Vicious and Wild" is all of that in the most delightfully devilish way, heavy metal turned all the way to 11 and seeming like a true time warp to when the culture froze the blood of entire civilizations and made them fear their own guilty consciences. If we get any more rage and fury and spectacular riffing than "Those of the Devil Born" we may not any bars left to possibly raise any higher, it truly capture all essences of metal with its evil, fast, cruel, and finely-structured assault upon us. To leave us some reprieve (hopefully for far less than another twenty years!) "Enforcer of Evil" roars, ravages, and rips to shreds any doubt you may have held after all this time passing by. The Devil is in the details and his vengeance shall be swift and sufficient!

A triumphant return to form with no loss of intensity or insanity whatsoever, Bewitched's campaign of violence and darkness enveloping the land in the great name of Satan elevates onward and upward seamlessly, as if no amount of time had passed when in reality two long decades of drought have. Embrace it wholeheartedly and take a ride down to the demon's domain of diabolocal despair!

9/10