The Third Eye

More than two decades after their debut, Swedish doom stalwarts Witchcraft return with IDAG, an album that simultaneously encapsulates and redefines their legacy.

For those yearning for their early’ 70s-inspired heavy rock roots, tracks like “Irreligious Flamboyant Flame” swagger with vintage mysticism, while the monolithic, eight-minute title track delivers their heaviest sound yet. 

Yet, Witchcraft remains ever-evolving, weaving in acoustic-laden passages that hint at a folkish, soul-stirring doom.

Founding guitarist and vocalist Magnus Pelander describes IDAG with cryptic intensity: “This album will reap souls and destroy wicked minds. And perhaps mend a couple of broken ones.” It’s an eerie nod to Coven’s Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls, a fitting reference as Witchcraft channels both their proto-doom past and an expanded sonic palette.

Since their formation in 2000, Witchcraft has been a keystone in the retro-heavy rock revival. Their self-titled 2004 debut ignited a movement, while Firewood (2005) and The Alchemist (2007) introduced progressive flourishes. 

The seismic shift of Legend (2012) left analog worship behind, and 2016’s Nucleus leaned into fuller-toned doom. Then came 2020’s Black Metal, a stark acoustic departure.

With IDAG, Witchcraft stitches these sonic threads together into a defining moment. It is at once a culmination and a rebirth, proving that their sound is not a relic of the past but a force still growing and shifting. 

With a new label (Heavy Psych Sounds) and a new fire, Witchcraft’s latest offering is as spellbinding as ever. If this is their statement of identity, it might also be their most potent incantation yet.

IDAG by Witchcraft is set for release on May 15th.

Pre-order the record on Bandcamp here.