Bewitched
Dragonflight
[Conquistador]
For lack of a better categorization, I have placed Bewitched of Chile in black
metal in the search of some appropriate generalization for their music.
Pigeonholing them in such a category would never do them any justice though,
as these overlooked revelations peddle a sort of Mercyful Fate/Celtic Frost
influenced blackened doom metal that invigorates and intoxicates even upon first
listen.
Reputedly the very Bewitched that was to be signed on Euronymous’ fabled underground institution Deathlike Silence, they have unfortunately lost much ground in the harsh ‘90s to their eponymous Swedish counterparts, and unjustly so, for the talent on show here speaks volumes for Bewitched’s sheer ability to write masterful METAL songs.
Starting off with a rather bland, cinematic opera ditty as an intro, they soon break off into a nice, chugging, quick-pick thrash riff and a high-pitched squeal, leading one to believe that this is but another generic black metal troupe intent on prostituting itself to the commercial dimension, but horror…the black metal scream yields to an eerie, cleanly sung voice as riff after hook-laden riff rains down on you and forces your neck to spasm and cramp under all the nodding the music forces you to undertake.
Throwing in several Euro-thrash moments for the old-school purists, enough references to Into The Pandemonium-era Celtic Frost (monumental riffs and even the nominal gruff Warrior-worshipping “uh!”), classic Mercyful Fate and Candlemass, and even the odd moment of old Norsk black metal rear their heads in this heady mixture, and surprise surprise, it’s all played with sufficient technical gusto to boot. Masterful lead interplays that smack of Shermann and Denner interspersed with the meaty thrash chuggery, a well-versed double bass performance by a drummer not afraid to force in all sorts of cymbal-oriented fills in what little spaces he has, and a song-writing panache that keeps you glued to the speakers till their epic songs fade out.
If there was but one complaint about this album, it would be reserved to the occasionally irritating vocalist, whose layer upon layer of vocals often detract from the listening experience (ie when he attempts to layer a high-pitched black metal screech with a King Diamond wail), but that in itself really is only a minor pittance in the way of what is otherwise a totally essential album.
With such talent as Sargatanas and Sathanas in their stables, the devil only knows to which infernal depths Alex can take his new label Conquistador. Incredibly breathtaking music, and a must by all means.
[9.5]
© 2000 equimanthorn
Reputedly the very Bewitched that was to be signed on Euronymous’ fabled underground institution Deathlike Silence, they have unfortunately lost much ground in the harsh ‘90s to their eponymous Swedish counterparts, and unjustly so, for the talent on show here speaks volumes for Bewitched’s sheer ability to write masterful METAL songs.
Starting off with a rather bland, cinematic opera ditty as an intro, they soon break off into a nice, chugging, quick-pick thrash riff and a high-pitched squeal, leading one to believe that this is but another generic black metal troupe intent on prostituting itself to the commercial dimension, but horror…the black metal scream yields to an eerie, cleanly sung voice as riff after hook-laden riff rains down on you and forces your neck to spasm and cramp under all the nodding the music forces you to undertake.
Throwing in several Euro-thrash moments for the old-school purists, enough references to Into The Pandemonium-era Celtic Frost (monumental riffs and even the nominal gruff Warrior-worshipping “uh!”), classic Mercyful Fate and Candlemass, and even the odd moment of old Norsk black metal rear their heads in this heady mixture, and surprise surprise, it’s all played with sufficient technical gusto to boot. Masterful lead interplays that smack of Shermann and Denner interspersed with the meaty thrash chuggery, a well-versed double bass performance by a drummer not afraid to force in all sorts of cymbal-oriented fills in what little spaces he has, and a song-writing panache that keeps you glued to the speakers till their epic songs fade out.
If there was but one complaint about this album, it would be reserved to the occasionally irritating vocalist, whose layer upon layer of vocals often detract from the listening experience (ie when he attempts to layer a high-pitched black metal screech with a King Diamond wail), but that in itself really is only a minor pittance in the way of what is otherwise a totally essential album.
With such talent as Sargatanas and Sathanas in their stables, the devil only knows to which infernal depths Alex can take his new label Conquistador. Incredibly breathtaking music, and a must by all means.
[9.5]
© 2000 equimanthorn