Bewitched - Rise of The Antichrist (2002)

   Probably it wouldn't be incorrect to call Bewitched responsible for the lately quite widespread strongly '80s influenced vintage direction in the Swedish scene, since the band keeps playing the mix of heavy, thrash and black metal since the mid '90s.
    The band's early style could be even called as blackened heavy metal, by playing music in such vintage sound, that could make anyone believe that if there was a direct transition between heavy and black metal in the '80s, it must have sounded like this. On their fourth album "Rise of The Antichrist" they took a harsher switch by not just involving more thrash elements, but making thrash tempo and sound as the basics of their music. This more intense, more aggressive tone definitely fits better to their satanic lyrical concept, and also turned up advantageous if it's about musical diversity. The influence of Slayer waves back from time to time during the album, but despite the harsher, inevitably evil tone, the heavy metal touch keeps holding back the music from taking a too dark turn. This lighter main impression might seem like being in contrast with the lyrical concept, but not in '80s terms. From this perspective it's a necessary style feature that supports enjoyability on a certain level and quality. It's quite possible that Bewitched music inspired plenty of Swedish bands directly or indirectly, bands like Witchery, Mordant, Death Breath or early Paganizer.