Description

Still sealed 2003 re-issue in digipak

Witchcraft Destroys Minds And Reaps Souls is the debut studio album by the American rock band Coven. Released in 1969, it was unusual in that it dealt with overtly occult and satanic themes and was removed from the market soon after its release due to controversy, particularly as it coincided with the hysteria surrounding the Manson family and rampant media speculation about occult influences on the American counterculture. Despite its brief initial release, it remains a classic of its genre, and in some ways set groundbreaking trends for later rock bands. This album marked the first appearance in music of the sign of the horns, inverted crosses, and the phrase Hail Satan. Today, these are characteristics of the occult and heavy metal genres. Jinx Dawson’s vocals are distinctive, and tunes like White Witch Of Rose Hall and Wicked Woman are almost on target. With the evil prayers during Coven In Charing Cross, Coven get a bit heavy-handed; the group goes over the top trying to push the black magic stuff. The 13-plus minute Satanic Mass is more of a curiosity piece than musical adventure. A decent enough attempt, but the group Black Sabbath emerged one year later doing it much, much better. Just compare the Oz Osborne/Coven opening track Black Sabbath to Ozzy Osbourne’s song Black Sabbath by his group Black Sabbath to see the difference. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana spoke of this album in an interview in 1990, stating it is one of the records they would listen to while driving to the next show on tour.

Track list:
1. Black Sabbath
2. The White Witch Of Rose Hall
3. Coven In Charing Cross
4. For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
5. Pact With Lucifer
6. Choke, Thirst, Die
7. Wicked Woman
8. Dignitaries Of Hell
9. Portrait
10. Satanic Mass