Bewitched (Swedish band)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Bewitched


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Origin = Umeå, Sweden
Genre = Black metal, Thrash metal
Years_active = 1995–present
Label = Regain
Associated_acts = Naglfar, Ancient Wisdom, Havayoth, Throne of Ahaz, Katatonia, Diabolical Masquerade, Bloodbath
URL = [http://www.bewitched.se/ www.bewitched.se]
Current_members = Vargher
Wrathyr
Hellfire
Marc Malice
Past_members = Blackheim
Reaper
Spider
Stormlord

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. The scene was infected by non-talented, musically unintelligent bands who claimed they sounded like the old metal-heroes, when in fact all they actually sounded like was crap. BEWITCHED had to show the world how it should sound. 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.

1996After some technical errors Diabolical Desecration was finally released in March 1996 and in June BEWITCHED hit the road together 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. And 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.

1997When 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 (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.

1999The 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. Stormlord replace 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.

2000Some changes took place in the Hellcult-camp when 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.

2002More 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.

At the end of 2002 BEWITCHED parted ways with OSMOSE PRODUCTIONS and signed a new deal with Swedish label Regain Records.

2003In February 2003 BEWITCHED entered Ballerina Audio to record the first assault for their new companion, a mini-CD entitled Atrocities In A-Minor.

2006BEWITCHED are now working on a brand new full-length album, and the tracks that are finished so far show the most aggressive, most primitive, blackguardly, scoundrelish, and roguish side of the band. The new album is now complete. Regain Records has received the final product and the release date is set to 2006-10-30. The CD "Spiritual Warfare" is out now and indeed is their most aggressive, heaviest, and darkest release -- yet it remains old school! STORMLORD has left the band, though, and the drum parts on the album are played by MARC MALICE.

2007 August, 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. Truly, Bewitched has twinkled its nose.

Members

Current members

*Marcus Norman (Vargher) : guitars/vocals (see also Havayoth, Naglfar)
* Hellfire : guitars
* Kristofer Olivius (Wrathyr) : bass/vocals (see also Naglfar)
* Marc Malice : drums (session)

Former members

* Anders Nyström (Blackheim) : guitars/vocals (see also Bloodbath, Diabolical Masquerade, Katatonia)
* Fredrik Degerström (Spider) : guitars (see also Guillotine)
* Reaper : drums (see also Deathwitch)
* Ulf Andersson (Stormlord) : drums (see also Nocturnal Rites)

Discography

*"Diabolical Desecration" (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)