Witchery

Biography

Witchery is a Swedish blackened thrash/speed metal band formed by former members of Satanic Slaughter in 1997. The current lineup consists of guitarists Patrik Jensen and Rickard "Rille" Rimfält, vocalist Angus Norder, drummer Chris Barkensjö, and bassist Victor Brandt.

History

The band began in 1997 with Satanic Slaughter members Patrik Jensen (Orchriste, The Haunted), Rickard "Rille" Rimfält, vocalist Toxine (Seance, Total Death), drummer Mique (Seance), and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo (Arch Enemy, Mercyful Fate). In 1998, they recorded and released their debut, Restless And Dead, through Necropolis Records. The name of the album was a pun on Accept's Restless and Wild. Witchery developed a following with their technical thrash metal and morbid topics. Their tongue-in-cheek humour involved executions, murder, necrophilia, and resurrections, reflected in song titles, album names, and their mascot, a skeleton called "Ben Wrangle", a pun on the Swedish word "benrangel", which translates to "skeleton".
Witchery developed "The W", a three-fingered heavy metal salute derived from the sign of the horns popularized by Ronnie James Dio.
Later that year, Witchery released the Witchburner minialbum. The EP featured three originals and four cover songs bearing witness to the individual musicians' influences, among them Accept, W.A.S.P and Judas Priest. The track "Witchburner×Witchburner29 March 1999 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Fast as a Shark4:342I Wanna Be Somebody3:143Riding on the Wind2:494Neon Knights3:535The Howling3:246The Executioner3:167Witchburner4:11" being the first ever recording of the band and like the other two original tracks "The Executioner" and "The Howling" only available on this EP so far. In 1999, Witchery embarked on a U.S. tour with Emperor and Borknagar. Their second full-length album Dead, Hot and Ready×Dead, Hot and Ready22 October 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Demonication2:312A Paler Shade of Death3:123The Guillotine2:374Resurrection4:495Full Moon3:466The Devil and the Damage Done3:537Dead, Hot and Ready2:438The Devil's Triangle2:369Call of the Coven3:4710On a Black Horse Thru Hell...3:39 was unleashed soon thereafter, a six-week European tour following in 2000. Symphony For The Devil, the band's 2001 release, was recorded at Berno Studio (Amon Amarth, Dark Funeral) in Malmö, Sweden with new drummer, Martin "Axe" Axenrot (Bloodbath, Opeth). Witchery returned to tour North America later that year with The Haunted. Returning to Berno Studios in 2004, the band recorded Don't Fear The Reaper, this time entrusting mixing duties to Tue Madsen and his Antfarm Studios (The Haunted, Heaven Shall Burn, Himsa). After recording the album, the band signed a worldwide record deal with Century Media.

In April 2010, black metal singer Legion (Erik Hagsted, ex-Marduk, ex-Devian) joined the band to replace Toxine who had to drop out because of schedule issues. According to the press release the split happened by mutual agreement. The new album entitled "Witchkrieg×Witchkrieg9 June 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Witchkrieg3:452Wearer of Wolf's Skin2:273The God Who Fell From Earth4:394Conqueror's Return3:255The Reaver3:176From Dead to Worse3:347Devil Rides Out4:118One Foot in the Grave2:589Hellhound2:4610Witch Hunter3:28" (a play on the word Blitzkrieg) was released in June 2010. On 19 June 2010, the band played at the annual Metaltown festival in Gothenburg
Their sixth studio album, In His Infernal Majesty's Service×In His Infernal Majesty's Service25 November 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Lavey-athan3:202Zoroast2:343Netherworld Emperor3:034Nosferatu3:415The Burning of Salem4:236Gilded Fang2:317Empty Tombs4:138In Warm Blood3:489Escape from Dunwich Valley4:0910Feed the Gun3:0211Oath Breaker3:0212Eye for an Eye3:4813Cloak and Dagger2:55, was released on 25 November on Century Media Records. It was followed by I am Legion in 2017.

Current members

Patrik Jensen – guitars (1997–present)
Richard Corpse (Richard Rimfält) – guitars (1997–present)
Angus Norder – vocals (2016–present)
Chris Barkensjö – drums (2016–present)
Victor Brandt – bass (2022–present; touring 2017)

Former members

Sharlee D'Angelo – bass (1997–2022)
Toxine (Tony Kampner) – vocals (1997–2010)
Mique (Micke Pettersson) – drums (1997–1999)
Martin Axenrot – drums (1999–2016)
Legion (Erik Hagstedt) – vocals (2010–2011)
Emperor Magus Caligula – vocals (2011–2016)

Studio albums

Restless & Dead (1998)
Dead, Hot and Ready (1999)
Symphony for the Devil (2001)
Don't Fear the Reaper (2006)
Witchkrieg (2010)
In His Infernal Majesty's Service (2016)
I Am Legion (2017)
Nightside (2022)