Black magic, also known as dark magic, is the use of supernatural or occult powers for malevolent purposes. It is often associated with causing harm to others or manipulating them for personal gain. The practice of black magic dates back to ancient civilizations, where sorcerers and witches would perform spells and rituals to harness the power of dark forces. In black magic, practitioners believe they can tap into and control evil spirits, demons, and supernatural beings to carry out their bidding. They may cast spells to curse or harm someone, manipulate people's thoughts or emotions, or gain power and influence over others. The methods used in black magic can vary widely, from elaborate rituals involving candles, incantations, and sacrifices, to the use of personal items or body parts to inflict harm.
‘Sacrilege’ – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
They clearly saw the bigger picture that Miller was trying to convey and resulted in him being summoned to Washington for a hearing before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. As time went on, I would grow to love subsequent releases like Firewood 2005 , The Alchemist 2007 and the then newly released Legend 2012 , which catapulted WITCHCRAFT to a new level of recognition.
The methods used in black magic can vary widely, from elaborate rituals involving candles, incantations, and sacrifices, to the use of personal items or body parts to inflict harm. Black magic is often associated with negative consequences, both for the practitioner and their target. It is believed that engaging in black magic can lead to spiritual and psychological disturbances, as well as physical ailments.
Of Pink Moons, Third Zeppelins and Twilight Songs: WITCHCRAFT - Black Metal Review
Shedding the metal and rock entirely, Magnus Pelander waxes philosophical like a Cumberland bluesman.
Words by Tyson Tillotson:
My discovery of WITCHCRAFT is synonymous with my discovery of heavy music itself. While watching Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey in mid-2012, I was introduced to the band BLUE CHEER. Naturally curious, I hopped onto iTunes and also found bands that had a similar sound like WITCHCRAFT and THE SWORD. While THE SWORD quickly became one of my favorites, WITCHCRAFT would keep me enraptured with their retro metal charm. Their self titled debut from 2004 was something that I could not believe had come out of the new millennium. It sounded as if it came straight out of 1972 with its raw production, bluesy riffing and dark lyrical themes. As time went on, I would grow to love subsequent releases like Firewood (2005), The Alchemist (2007) and the then newly released Legend (2012), which catapulted WITCHCRAFT to a new level of recognition. Polished production came as a result of leaving Rise Above Records after The Alchemist to current home Nuclear Blast Records.
Legend stood as a defining cornerstone in the rising stoner rock renaissance and it garnered the band much critical and commercial acclaim. Sadly, we would have to wait four more years for a follow up and during this time, nearly everyone in the band except for Magnus Pelander left the band. Nucleus came in 2016 with a massive overhaul of pure expansive darkness. It remains the longest and heftiest record in WITCHCRAFT’s discography, clocking in at a whopping 74 minutes. The album was also a major stylistic shift in tone for the band as the songs were not only longer as I mentioned before, but they also were much more riff oriented, plus it sounded ten times darker than any previous release. It had a stronger resemblance to old school doom metal rather than psych rock’s bouncy and playful atmosphere. If WITCHCRAFT had called it a day after this release, it would have been a rather interesting way to close out their career, but we come back four years later and we have Black Metal here to grace our ears. However, there's something that many fans will find extremely surprising on an album with a title such as this.
With a title like Black Metal, many probably assumed that Pelander would be taking WITCHCRAFT to its darkest logic conclusion, but it’s not in the way you’d expect. Instead of heavy handed doom riffs and 12 bar blues, the entire album is a minimalist acoustic musing with nothing but Pelander’s voice and a sole guitar. Now you’re probably thinking, “Well if it’s not a metal or rock album, why are you even reviewing it?” in some snotty elitist tone. To that I say, you obviously didn’t read the sign when you came in. This is Heaviest of ART, not Heaviest of Metal or Hardest of Rock. While this album ain’t gonna stand toe to toe with COSMIC PUTREFACTION, ULCERATE or CAUSTIC WOUND, it’s nonetheless heavy in an artistic sense. So with that in mind, shed all preconceived notions of what WITCHCRAFT were and dust off your old folk and acoustic records. It’s about to get really folking heavy.
While this is a very sparse acoustic record with simply voice and guitar, Magnus makes everything blend into a cohesive whole and it’s amazing what he’s able to do with this limited space. One can’t really comment on each individual track since they are all very similar, but I do have to give credit where credit is due. Even though most of the tracks do sound very similar, they do stand out enough to individually send shivers down my spine. While I continued to listen further and further in, I was also reminded of some other classic records that have taken a similar or fully realized approach to the style of acoustic folk music.
One of the initial sounds that immediately comes to mind is of the cult acoustic folk hero NICK DRAKE and his 1972 masterpiece Pink Moon. That album also featured very sparse instrumentation coupled with DRAKE’s husky baritone. On this WITCHCRAFT record, Magnus Pelander has a little bit higher of a register but the effort that he puts into sounding like NICK DRAKE is starkly fascinating and also very heartbreaking. You can hear bits and pieces of that forlorn emotion that they both evoke in their respective records and I have to give Magnus a lot of credit for that.
Another record that comes to mind when approaching Black Metal is ironically ULVER's Kveldssanger (1996). If you know your heavy-metal history, you will know that ULVER decided to break from black metal for a moment to record a fully acoustic folk album with many many touches of European atmosphere and influence. The comparison is obvious seeing the Black Metal album title and what ULVER did with Kveldssanger, which interestingly translates to Twilight Songs as if they're meant to be played at dusk, right before the encroaching darkness of the night. Pelander captures this side of one of black metal's early pioneers and is able to take those ingredients and run with it to create something that is fully his own. not to mention his voice almost sounds eerily similar to Garm’s vocals.
This third comparison might seem like more of a stretch, but hear me out on this one. I’ve heard a lot of people compare Magnus‘ vocals to Robert Plant. I’ve never really been able to hear it fully until I started listening to Black Metal. I’m not talking about how Robert Plant can shriek and howl, but how he croons like the bluesman he was raised as. Magnus is able to take the tender moments of what Plant did on Zeppelin records, more specifically Zeppelin III, to much more depressed pastures. Keep in mind, he’s coming from more of a doom metal background rather than a rock background in that he’s able to invoke more of a bleak outlook than Plant did.
While most will see that Black Metal contains zero traces of metal, true fans will see that Magnus Pelander has once again put his emotions on the line in a much more personable and haunting way. I was admittedly kind of upset that this was going to be nothing more than a glorified Unplugged session, but I dug into the music much more than I initially thought. It took me to the depths of a man’s broken soul and carried me away to a place that bleeds emotion. In the words Magnus Pelander penned for It’s Not Because of You, “I’m still in love with what I do.” As long as he’s happy, or sad, I’ll be there for whatever WITCHCRAFT conjures.
Another much-covered single, ‘I Put A Spell On You’ was originally recorded by Screamin Jay Hawkins, but Nina Simone’s stirring jazz version, featured on her album of the same name, is the most affecting.
The effects on the target can range from bad luck and misfortune to serious health issues or even death. Many cultures and religions consider black magic to be immoral and forbidden, and it is often condemned or even outlawed in certain societies. Despite its negative reputation, some people still believe in the power of black magic and actively seek it out. They may turn to black magic for revenge, to gain power or wealth, or to exert control over others. There are also those who claim to be able to protect against black magic or reverse its effects through counter-magic or divine intervention. In modern times, black magic is often portrayed in popular culture, such as movies, books, and television shows. While these portrayals are often fictional, they can perpetuate the fear and fascination surrounding black magic. Overall, black magic is a controversial and complex topic. Whether one believes in its existence or not, it remains a subject of intrigue and caution for many..
Reviews for "The Power of Black Magic Keyxz: Manifesting Your Desires"
1. Lisa - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "Black Magic Keyxz" as I love supernatural stories, but I was ultimately disappointed. The plot was confusing and lacked cohesiveness, making it difficult to follow along. Additionally, I found it hard to connect with the characters as they were underdeveloped and lacked depth. Overall, I was not satisfied with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. John - 1/5 - "Black Magic Keyxz" was one of the worst books I have ever read. The writing style was incredibly choppy and the grammar was atrocious. It felt like the author didn't put any effort into editing or proofreading the book. The story itself was predictable and lacked originality. I regret wasting my time and money on this book and would advise others to steer clear of it.
3. Samantha - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Black Magic Keyxz" as I enjoy paranormal fiction, but unfortunately, I found this book to be quite mediocre. The pacing was off, with slow and dragging moments, while other parts felt rushed. The world-building was underdeveloped and left many unanswered questions. The main character's actions were often illogical and inconsistent. I was left feeling unsatisfied and unengaged with the story.