In 1969, an LP dropped which smacked a totally unprepared
musical world in the face. An era of tunes where anything could
happen and talents made music just to make music, whether they
sold ten or ten thousand copies. Coven, meanwhile, had
something to say to their audience, and they said it regardless
the consequences (which unfortunately they would soon regret
with a lot of outcries and banning of their records).
These were the days when Anton LaVey and his Church of Satan
were rising. The image of Satanism was indeed changing for many
people when they took the time to actually have a look. Coven
blasted out of Chicago and set themselves up as the first
official Satanic Rock Band. Fronted by the intense voice of
Esther 'Jinx' Dawson, Coven were different.
Track one on Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls,
titled Black Sabbath is a highly descriptive story based
conception which sounds like something Iron Maiden would have
banged out had they existed in that year. “Jinx” Dawson sounds
absolutely incredible on this track, certainly earning the band
the label, 'Satanic Jefferson Airplane' as many state. “Old
hags murmur in evil ranting, Voices grow louder and join the
chanting, Infant's flesh they did offer, For the prince to
devour....” whilst the music begins rather mellow, it speeds
up after the halfway mark changing via a quick stomping
breakdown. Afterwards, White Witch of Rose Hall offers
another story (I was reminded very much of a King Diamond
ideology throughout the LP but without the concept theme). This
song is based on a tale from Jamaica and musically is so upbeat.
Jinx's voice, again, is perfection, especially her guttural
growls now and then and her almost classical sounding cries.
“Thirteen cultists, held a secret meeting....” begins the
haunting third song, Coven In Charring Cross. A nice
acoustic guitar and a simple drum pattern, then one minute in,
the music halts and the band chant like a Satanic sermon, “They
are the seven! Seven are they! Out of the Abyss they rise! When
day sinks into darkness...” after which the music and story
continues. In fact, this song transforms constantly throughout.
From harpsichord, to guitar, a beautiful swaying melody, “Male
they are not, female they are not...” thus quotes the second
Sermon. “Look into her magic eyes, She can see through your
disguise...” a funked up rocking out tale of Witchcraft
envelopes the track For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, which
is a more vocal harmony between other members of the band, which
has the chorus; “The witch is burning on the hill, They left
her there for fire to kill. You can hear her screaming still....”
Pact With Lucifer, is one of the outstanding songs.
Sounding like, musically, it could have rested easily on The
Who's Tommy album, whilst it tells the tale of a farmer who is
down on his luck and makes a deal with Lucifer. It is
outstanding in its descriptions. The ending when Lucifer returns
years later to claim the soul which was promised feels like a
film and the beauty of Jinx's voice almost brings tears of joy
to your eyes as you're lost in the atmosphere. The album reaches
another high with one of their most famous songs, Wicked
Woman, an up-tempo foot stomping danceable swooping classic.
Each song is punctuated by wonderful guitar harmonies and
sometimes an organ. They sound like early Doors in a lot of
places and carry a tremendous mood through every track. So
bloody '60s!! No more so than the awesome, Portrait
(sampled by USA Horror Hip Hop fella, Necro) with its
intelligent lyrics and its slowed down almost beautiful and
certainly well thought out, musical arrangements. Portrait
is far too short, you need more afterwards! (1.15 in and listen
to that simple but engaging guitar plucking).
The album ends with a lengthy Black Mass
which goes on over ten minutes. This one causes a lot of
discussions between Satanic groups. Some think this is a comical
almost movie like scenario whilst others say it is a
reconstruction of a true Mass. In Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible,
the rules are there and are very different to the Satanism seen
in movies (aside from the documentary
Satanis, my review is
here). In all honestly, this finale to the album probably
existed only to freak out any hippies who were smoking and
lounging around the floor listening.
Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls
is a tightly woven well rounded affair and the band mellowed out
for their next releases. They never really reached this peak
again, becoming a group which sounded like many others. After
all the controversy and the hellabaloo surrounding their
début, maybe they decided to lay low for a bit. The third album,
Blood on the Snow, is (to my ears) just dire, but at least
the powers that be approved. Fast forward to 2013, and the band
– a lot older and wiser, returned to their chaotic satanic
selves with a new album called, Jinx. They still sell, they are
still relevant in the underground, and their classic début holds
a new audience year after year.
A lot of people do think that, after hearing this album, it
undoes a lot of Ozzy and Black Sabbath, since their sounds are
so similar to Coven. The same people feel deflated quite
upon this realisation. Coven were so original and
confrontational in their views and their masterful building of
their crafts. This could possibly be the first 'metal' album,
certainly a great stepping stone in satanic music. Dark Folk
Music? Dark Rock? Whilst an army of Black Metal bands sound as
if they are camels gurgling in buckets of vomit whilst fast
grinding guitars stab through your speakers, let us realise,
Lucifer is a lover of fine things. Fine food, drink, and fine
music. Coven probably made music which would reach his
dark heart far more than a group of beer swilling leather
wearing lads chatting about Satan as they rip their throats and
mess up their drum skins.




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