Witchcraft

The Alchemist (Rise Above)

If it’s not obvious from the name and cover art, then the ripped-denim power chords and lyrical imagery should seal the deal: Sweden’s Witchcraft loves Black Sabbath. The quartet’s boot-stomping guitar chuggery and Magnus Pelander’s quivering vocals on its third album make for some pretty standard issue retro-metal. The lyrics on “If Crimson Was Your Colour” always feel one dragon allegory away from Spinal Tap territory, but, through the fog, the solo makes up for it. Added sax is a nice, Stooges-y touch on “Remembered,” but the seven songs are largely stuck in chugga-chugga land, the tandem Sabbath tempo changes of Pelander and John Hoyles a little too numerous, and the cowbell on “Samaritan Burden” a little too well-placed. As a band that’s favored Pentagram covers in the past, it could use a little more heavy, a little less white magic. (3:30pm, Stage 2)

**.5

This article appears in November 2 • 2007.

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