All the best tunes belong to the Devil, and Portland’s bastard sons BEWITCHER have returned to take back rock n’ roll in Baphomet’s name. In honor of today’s release of the band’s new studio album,, ‘Spell Shock,’ BEWITCHER is revealing an ominous new music video for the title track! The clip was created by lucamainardi.graphics with band footage by A. Magus and art direction inspired by SoloMacello, who created the stunning artwork of the album. Watch at THIS LOCATION.
Says bassist A. Magus on the unholy genesis of the new album, “‘Spell Shock’ is the product of playing 130 shows in a row and then going straight into writing and recording,” Indeed, BEWITCHER’s unrelenting tour grind for their 2021’s ‘Cursed Be Thy Kingdom,’ alongside the likes of Municipal Waste, Goatwhore, Cavalera and Exhumed became the fuel for their finest moment to date. “Spell Shock” lives up to its title. It’s riffs, filth and fury at their most demonic and rebellious.
Joining frontman Mateo Von Bewitcher, bassist A. Magus, and drummer A. Hunter in the studio
Joining Von Bewitcher, bassist A. Magus, and drummer A. Hunter in the studio this time was none other longtime BEWITCHER fan Lars Frederiksen. Most of the world knows Frederiksen as a force in his own right, playing in the likes of Bay Area punk heroes Rancid, as well as his own Old Firm Casuals. While to some, it may have been an unlikely pairing with Frederiksen taking the producer’s seat, for everyone in the studio the connection was immediate.
As Frederiksen previously commented on ‘Spell Shock’: “It’s the best record I’ve ever produced for one of the best bands in the world.”
Magus explains about their experience with Frederiksen: “[Lars’] knowledge of heavy metal, black metal and thrash – as well as punk, is vast and extreme. It was definitely a match made in hell.’
From ‘Spell Shock’s’ pummeling first invocation, “Starfire Maelstrom,” BEWITCHER stake a bloody claim on making a metal record that’s equally classic and contemporary. With them, classic is undeniably key. “We kept coming back to classic heavy metal records for inspiration,” says Magus. “What we got was our take on classic 80’s metal records using the tools we have today.” The band also credits engineer and mixer Chris Dugan, best known for his work with Green Day (Yes, Green Day, but listen to those guitars!), for nailing ‘Spell Shock’s’ energized rawness. “We’ve always tried to be an old school band, without being or sounding like a retro or trad metal band,” adds Von Bewitcher.
‘Spell Shock’ is BEWITCHER at their most evolved and most devastatingly primal. “We wanted it to be an album experience,” says drummer A. Hunter. “Imagine King Diamond’s ‘Abigail’ in terms of atmosphere merged with the energy of AC/DC’s ‘High Voltage.’”
In addition, BEWITCHER will be exclusively releasing the new single, “The Warrior Trail,” via the Decibel Magazine Flexi Series and will be available in the magazine’s latest issue with a deluxe subscription! Order HERE.
‘Spell Shock’ is out now Century Media Records and can be found HERE. In addition, BEWITCHER is currently on an extensive North American tour, in which they are co-headlining with label-mates SKELETAL REMAINS. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets can be found HERE.
The artwork for ‘Spell Shock’ was created by Solo Macello and can be found below along with the tracklisting!
SKELETAL REMAINS + BEWITCHER North American Tour Dates:
w/ PHOBOPHILIC (all dates), TORTURE RACK* (09/20-10/06), WITCH VOMIT^ (10/06-10/20), MORGUL BLADE~ (10/02-10/05)
9/27: New Orleans, LA @ Southport Hall *
9/28: Orlando, FL @ Conduit *
9/29: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Purgatory) *
10/01: Raleigh, NC @ Chapel of Bones *
10/02: Philadelphia, PA @ KFN *~
10/03: Brooklyn, NY @ Market Hotel *~
10/04: Worcester, MA @ Ralphs *~
10/05: Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving *~
10/06: Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge *^
10/08: Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary *^
10/09: Ottawa, ON @ The Dom *^
10/10: Toronto, ON @ Rockpile *^
10/11: Albany, NY @ Empire Underground +*^
10/12: Baltimore, Md @ Metro Gallery +*^
10/13: Cincinnati, OH @ Madison Live +*^
10/14: Des Moines, IA @ Lefty’s +*^
10/15: Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge*^
10/16: Denver, CO @ HQ *^
10/17: Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon *^
10/18: Boise, ID @ The Shredder *^
10/19: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon *^
10/20: Portland, OR @ Dante’s *^
BEWITCHER EU Tour Dates:
OCT 30: KORTRIJK (BE) @ DVG
OCT 31: EINDHOVEN (NE) @ Café The Jack
NOV 01: OLDENBURG (DE) @ MTS Records
NOV 02: LEEUWARDEN (NL) @ Mukkes
NOV 03: KASSEL (DE) @ GoldGrube
NOV 04: STUTTGART (DE) @ Schwarzer Keiler
NOV 06: GOTHENBURG (SE) @ The Abyss
NOV 07: OSLO (NO @ Revolver
NOV 08: MOTALA (SE) @ Bomber Bar
NOV 9 UMEÅ (SE) @ House of Metal Fest
2025 tour dates:
03/20-22: Houston, TX @ Hell’s Heroes Festival
JUN 13-15: Leeuwarden (NL) @ Into the Grave
Since their formation in 2013, Bewitcher has seen their signature “Black Magick Metal” sound go from humble beginnings to new heights of creativity and wild anthemic fervor. A small collection of long out-of-print demo tapes kicked off what has proven to be an enduring line of ripping studio albums, singles and EPs. They have earned a reputation as one of the hardest working touring acts around, bringing their volcanic, high energy live shows to every corner of North America and parts abroad.
From its eye-grabbing-and-gouging artwork by Italian horror maestro Solo Macello, to songs like the haunting “We Die in Dust,” to the epic closing track “Ride of the Iron Fox” (“That’s BEWITCHER’s Dokken song!” laughs A. Hunter.) Spell Shock is BEWITCHER at their most evolved and most devastatingly primal. “We wanted it to be an album experience,” says drummer A. Hunter. “Imagine King Diamond’s Abigail in terms of atmosphere merged with the energy of AC/DC’s High Voltage.”
Line-Up:
Mateo von Bewitcher – vox + guitars
A. Hunter – drums + percussion
A. Magus – bass guitar + backing vox
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