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" 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 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" (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, was released on 25 November on Century Media Records. It was followed by I am Legion in 2017.
Band members 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)
Timeline
Discography 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)
EPs Witchburner – Necropolis (1999)
References
External links
Witchery page at Century Media