Which bands? The Witch Bands!

(Gross...)

I have had a hard time writing this article, and it is frustrating because I really enjoy these mixes and the overall idea of a “Witch list” for bands. I think what has made it hard is that I am not super interested in witches and magic, but just in the sweet music that come from bands sporting deviations of the word. Would it make it more interesting if this included the words wizards and warlocks? I don’t think so, although I do think the idea of a Warlock just sounds sweeter than a witch. It has war in its name, and overall just gives a much sweeter metal vibe. Both of those are pretty much just the male equivalent of witches, and fall under the same category. Today people may argue that due to the eruption of the wizard phenomenon known as Harry Potter. Overall though, they are the same, yet when we think of Witches, it is definitely a female persona that comes to most people’s mind I can guarantee.

This brings up an interesting point, and doing some research on witches I definitely saw some of the early misogynistic roots and oppression of women that was created through the witch hunts and demonization of witches by the prominent religions of the time. The demonization of witches came from persecution notably by Muslims and Christians during the medieval period. It can also be seen as an early form of misogyny being integrated into the culture at the time. While witches weren’t only seen as women, the female version is what became most popularized. Once again, according to the Wikipedia, “The Malleus Maleficarum, an infamous witch-hunting manual used by both Catholics and Protestants, outlines how to identify a witch, what makes a woman more likely than a man to be a witch, how to put a witch on trial, and how to punish a witch. The book defines a witch as evil and typically female.” This put a damper on a lot of religious and spiritual practices of indigenous folk where the female played an important role in their culture, and began to brand them as blasphemous or heresy. Witches later on gained a nasty reputation as being affiliated with Satan. It was from the dark lord that they received their abilities, and often a mark was emblemized on their bodies to signify the contract that they had made with Lucifer. The men of god at many points have been in a battle against Satan and his evil witch army, which led to the persecution and execution of thousands of individuals.

So as found on Wikipedia, there are three common classifications for witches:

• The "neighborhood witch" or "social witch": a witch who curses a neighbor following some conflict.
• The "magical" or "sorcerer" witch: a professional healer, sorcerer, seer or midwife, or a person who has through magic increased her fortune to the perceived detriment of a neighboring household; due to neighborly or community rivalries and the ambiguity between positive and negative magic, such individuals can become labeled as witches.
• The "supernatural" or "night" witch: portrayed in court narratives as a demon appearing in visions and dreams.

Reading through and learning more of what is means to be a witch, a common theme came up: Most witches are being labeled as being in a practice that contradicts the beliefs of the majority. For a majority of history, Witches in most cultures were looked at in a dark light. Each region of the world also seems to have their own version of a witch and all can be connected through similar traits and characteristics. Witches all were connected with the practice of some dark craft that usually ended up with a harmful effect to another. There is also the area of white magic in contrast, and it seems that it has been adopted by a lot of modern day witch covens. Early white magic was usually the practice of local religious leaders that were outlawed by invasive religion and cultures.

These days the idea of what a witch is can definitely be rooted in hippy paganistic ideals.  It was in the 1900’s that the idea of “white magic” was more so introduced to the masses. Before it had been present, and for the most part any sort of voodoo jive was branded as the practice of black arts. But let’s move past this magic business and look at these witch bands.

For the most part, these mixes are pretty heavy mixes. We can see a high proportion of doom layered throughout each mix, and if it is not doom, then it is mainly metal of some sort. That makes it easier to look at the non-metal bands of the list since they stand out in comparison. 

First there is Witches, a Japanese ska band. I do not really know much about these guys besides they are Japanese and ska, which always makes for a silly kind of combination. In fact, I really thought that the brand of ska they played died out in the 90’s, but well into the 00’s Witches was going strong and bringing us those summertime feel good ska tunes that we used to enjoy while wearing our plaid converse at a 9^th grade battle of the bands. Two Witches is probably my least favorite band on this list. They have put out a number of records during the 90’s in the gothic rock category. The witch label is definitely fitting and in line with what they sing about, and for myself definitely fit the image of what I would originally imagine a band with witch in their title to sound like. A bunch a nerdy kids who love vampires a little too much and listened to a lot of Sisters of Mercy and The Cure. 

 

The Wicked Witch is just kind of out there. The album I have from them is a collection of songs from the 70’s and they are a crazy jazz-prog fusion type band who doesn’t really make too much sense. The one thing they do is whatever they want, and I can definitely respect that. White Witch is a funny band. They are from the 70’s, Florida and wanted to write heavy, psychy, proggy music that had a happy feel that helped to spread “white magic” in comparison the more evil feel of Sabbath. They have some really cheesy songs, but they are fun and make me smile, so I keep them around. Finally, the fifth of the non-metal bands is my favorite and it is the band Witch, and not the American version but the 70’s Zambian band.  A forerunner of the Zamrock scene, these guys played music that incorporates prog rock, psych, funk, and some traditional African sounds. This song is from their third album “Lazy Bones” and it is the only one I have heard. While it does not blow the mind away in comparison to a lot of what was happening around the globe, it impresses because these guys were from fucking Zambia. The difficulty of being exposed to underground music, gaining access to recording equipment and putting out an album is way more of an impressive feat in a smaller African country than in the state of California. Here’s a little snippet from a review site that I feel is a very apt description:

"...inspirational psych/rock group blasting out of Zambia in 1975. A soul-shouting edge combines with hard driving punk/garage guitars, tons of wah-wah, mesmeric melodic constructs, heavy African rhythms and powering blues testifying that sounds like a more militant/low-down take on South American psych."

So the rest of these bands are heavy in some form of the word. I think there is just something about witches that inspire that in bands. Overall it makes sense. Most metal bands aren’t really about the Christian imagery, and witches are an easy symbol to attach to one’s band that immediately lets your audience know where you stand. The witch trials themselves produce some pretty metal imagery, which is captured by Witchsorrow’s song “The Trial of Elizabeth Clarke”.  Another reason that could have led to so many witch metal bands is that the witch has been a persecuted figure throughout history for thinking differently and acting in a way not in line with the popular belief, and metal music tends to attract those who have been picked on, persecuted in some way or casted out by society. 

Looking through the list it seems that we have some doom metal, heavy metal/proto-doom, thrash metal, death metal, crust punk, stoner rock and some power metal. Out of these the doom bands are definitely my favorite. We have a second appearance in our collection by Witch Mountain who provides us with another heavy ripper. Witchfinder General is arguably one of the more important bands on this list. They are up there with Pentagram and Black Sabbath as the forefathers of modern day metal and doom, and have influenced legions of heaviness since the 70’s. You have Witchcraft who provides us with some retro-throwback proto-doom styled rock that just worships early pentagram. They could be said to be more of a tribute band to that era, and I appreciate the candor they have for wanting to play that style. 

So I am going to wrap up this week’s installment and provide you with a couple of mix’s with just one entry. I hope you enjoy the witches of the music world as much as I do, or at least some of them!

Download link: SFMTC Vol. 4a - Witch Which?

SFMTC Vol. 4a - Which Witch?

01. Witchery - "Fast as a Shark" - 'A Tribute to Accept'

02. Witchburn - "Heaven's Wake" - 'This is How We Slay Our Demons'

03. Hellwitch - "Mythologicalies" - 'Omnipotent Convocation'

04. White Witch Canyon - "Thirty Three and One Third" - 'White Witch Canyon'

05. Seven Witches - "Metal Daze (Manowar cover)" - 'Metal Covers'

06. White Witch - "Done Close Your Mind" - 'White Witch'

07. Witches Hammer - "Legions of the Undead" - 'The Stretching into Infinity'

08. Witch - "Old Trap Line" - 'Paralyzed'

09. Witchfinder General - "Death Penalty" - 'Death Penalty'

10. Witch Hunt - "By a Thread" - 'S/T'

11. Mountain Witch - "Throne of Blood" - 'Scythe and Dead Horse'

12. Icarus Witch - "Black Candles" - 'Draw Down the Moon'

13. The Wicked Witch - "X-rated" -  'Chaos 1978-86

14. Black Witchery - "Hellstorm of Evil Vengeance" - ' Upheaval of Satanic Might'

15. Stake-Off the Witch - "No One Cares About the Sun" - 'Medusa'

Download link: SFMTC Vol. 4b - Witches be Burning

SFMTC Vol. 4b - Witches be Burning!

01. Witches - "Noonmool" - 'Broomstick'

02. Burning Witch - "Communion" - 'Crippled Lucifer'

03. Burning Witches - "Burning Witches" - 'Demo'

04. Witchcraft - "Queen of Bees" - 'Firewood'

05. Wykked Wytch - "Seduced by Fear" - 'Nefret'

06. Witchfynde - "Stagefright" - 'Stagefright'

07. Witch - "Motherless Child" - 'Lazy Bones'

08. Angel Witch - "Gorgon" - 'Angel Witch'

09. Witch Mountain - "Wing of the Lord" - 'South of Salem'

10. Witchkiller - "Day of the Saxons" - 'Day of the Saxons'

11. Acid Witch - "Witchblood Cult" - 'Witchtanic Hallucinations'

12. Arkham Witch - "Legions of the Deep" - 'Arkham Witch'

13. Skeletonwitch - "Vengeance Will Be Mine" - 'Beyond the Permafrost'

14. Two Witches - "Bites and Bloody Kisses" - 'Bites'

15. Witchsorrow - "The Trial of Elizabeth Clarke" - 'Witchsorrow'