Coven-Witchcraft (Destroys Minds And Reaps Souls) (1969)

Pioneers in using witches' sabbath imagery in rock music, Coven employed satanic imagery before bands like Black Sabbath or Black Widow. But while for the latter it was merely theatrical, for Coven it was their philosophy and way of life; they even used their own blood to sign their first contract with Mercury Records. And although it might seem like the typical foolishness of three young guys, the truth is that this group's satanic and occult imagery went far beyond what initially appears. They were already being associated with the image of hands with horns (the one Ronnie James Dio made famous a decade later), as well as the satanic symbol of the inverted cross. A band that, before releasing their first album, had already performed at various concerts opening for Alice Cooper and The Yardbirds. Their first album, "Witchcraft (Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls)", was released in 1969, almost at the same time as the murder of Roman Polanski's wife and several other people at the hands of Charles Manson's cult. This led to the album's rejection by many sectors of American society. The album contains tracks like the opening "Black Sabbath", with its dark sounds and atmosphere, and hints of psychedelic folk. "White Witch of Rose Hall" is a macabre true story about a mansion where voodoo rituals took place, while the occult atmosphere continues in "Coven in Charing Cross". But it is undoubtedly the strange "Satanic Mass", with its demonic references and its chants and prayers presented as dialogue, that most captures the attention of this album. "Witchcraft (Destroys Minds And Reaps Souls)" is undoubtedly one of the most interesting works of the late 60s, perhaps more for its themes than for its music itself, but with an unrepeatable creativity and experimentation.