Posts Tagged ‘Jex Thoth’

Metal Sucks: Into The Coven – Women of Occult Rock (by Kim Kelly)

Posted on Monday, November 21st, 2011

I suppose “occult rock” is a handy enough term for it, anyway; it’s easier than stringing together “70’s-influenced psychedelic doom rock” to describe the aural spells these wicked women weave.

The Devil is bigger than ever (bigger than the Beatles!) and the chorus of converts singing his praises has grown louder with every Ghost album downloaded or pig’s blood-smeared Impiety shirt sold. Rock’n’roll has always been the Devil’s music. Bluesmen gave it its desolate soul, but in the late 60’s, Coven draped it in black velvet, lit the candles, and sacrificed it, fanning the flames straight back down to Lucifer.

In the ensuing decades since Jinx Dawson and her merry men first married black magic with heavy psych, plenty more women have ventured down the left-hand path. The following bands aren’t truly metal, but they flirt with enough occult references and genre staples to warrant a free pass.

Any band / musician who can tour with Electric Wizard, call half of Watain their BFFS, rock the stage at Roadburn (or, you know, essentially introduce the concept of Satanism to American rock music way before even Black Sabbath or Pentagram were beckoning us forward) the way they have already boasts enough cred to put half the crowd at MDF to shame.

So here you have it, a handful of my favorite feminine purveyors of occult rock – most of them are vocalists, but a couple of them play other instruments as well. I definitely want to hear from you guys on this one, as this particular sound occupies a place very near to my metal heart. The thought of including Chelsea Wolfe and Zola Jesus (recent discoveries that I am unabashedly loving) crossed my mind but they seem a too close to the gothy end of the spectrum to warrant inclusion (good call/bad call? Wolfe’s Burzum cover was pretty neat).

JINX DAWSON

Alongside England’s Black Widow, Coven are credited as being one of the very first rock bands to embrace occult imagery and outright Satanic references, and chanteuse Jinx Dawson also claims to be the true progenitor of the “devil horns” (though Dio may have had something to say about that). The band released their first album, Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls, in 1969 after signing a contract with Mercury Records in their own blood.

Continue reading:  INTO THE COVEN: WOMEN OF OCCULT ROCK | MetalSucks.

Tags: Alia O’Brien, Blood Ceremony, Coven, Farida, Jex Thoth, Jinx Dawson, Kim Kelly, Metal Sucks, Occult Rock, rose kemp, Sabbath Assembly, the devil's blood
Posted in 2011, Playlists, Roadburn Recommended | No Comments »

On Line Now! Roadburn Festival Audio Streams of Woven Hand, Voivod (Midi Theatre), Sabbath Assembly and Year of No Light (Vampyr Soundtrack) Among Others

Posted on Friday, July 1st, 2011

The latest batch of audio streams from this year’s stellar 16th edition of Roadburn Festival are now only a few quick clicks away. Ready for another round of bands captured in all of their Roadburn glory? Of course you are! And stay tuned for more! Click on the band names ...read more

Roadburn Festival 2011: David V. D’Andrea’s Sabbath Assembly Poster

Posted on Monday, March 7th, 2011

We’re proud to unveil David V. D’Andrea‘s fourth installment of his Roadburn series: the Sabbath Assembly poster. David comments: “I was lucky enough to catch the Sabbath Assembly’s Portland show last year. It was the day after Halloween, and they transformed a theater space into a ritual setting where they ...read more

Sabbath Assembly Live at Roadburn 2011 Audio Stream

Posted on Saturday, January 8th, 2011

Please relive Sabbath Assembly live at Roadburn 2011, courtesy of VPRO 3voor12. The audio stream has been mixed by Jeroen van Donzel (Spacejam) Feel free to post your thoughts or share your memories about the show in the comment box below.

Brooklyn Vegan: Roadburn Festival 2010 in review Pt.II

Posted on Saturday, May 8th, 2010

It’s been a long few days for Kim Kelly, who is currently gallavanting around Europe with Mike Scheidt and YOB, but the metal maven filed the below Roadburn report to tie up the rest of her time at the 2010 edition of the epic festival that took place during an ...read more