Artist: Bewitched
Country: Sweden
Label: Osmose Productions
Formats: LP / Cassette Tape / CD
Year: 2026
In the mid-90s, Osmose Productions was arguably the leading force when it came to offering quality releases and setting trends within the realm of Extreme Metal. Naturally, most people’s thoughts will immediately turn to the major hits from the French label’s catalogue; you’d be hard-pressed to find many Extreme Metal fans who don’t own at least a handful of those records. Marduk, Immortal, Enslaved and Impaled Nazarene were crowd favourites back then and still are today, and their albums from the Osmose Productions era remain in demand and, fortunately, are still in print. Don’t forgot that the label had their promotion and distribution so well organised that almost every new fan of the heavier genres discovered their new favourite bands through Osmose Productions.
Speaking of that promotional machine, anyone who was around back then will undoubtedly be familiar with the ‘World Domination’ series of compilation CDs, which introduced you to bands such as Sadistik Exekution, Angelcorpse, Dellamorte, Diabolos Rising, Swordmaster, Vital Remains, Raism, Gehennah, Dark Tranquility and… Bewitched. The latter was a breath of fresh air amidst the generally quite intense sonic assault of the rest of the Osmose Productions material. The blend of traditional Black Metal and Heavy Metal, with a good dose of Speed Metal here and there and a touch of Thrash Metal, proved infectious and led to Bewitched becoming one of the celebrated names in the Osmose Productions stable.
This vibrant mix still seems to work in 2026, as this new album, ‘Diabolical Death Mass’, demonstrates. But to be honest, that did come as something of a surprise, because although the band never officially split up, this new album is the first real sign of life since ‘Spiritual Warfare’ (Regain Records) was released back in 2006. In recent years, Bewitched have been seen at a few festivals, but there are countless examples of that not necessarily meaning new material is on the way. Yet, just as with In Aeternum, for instance, who also suddenly released a new album earlier this year after a two-decade hiatus, it seems there is still something like unfinished business. Welcome back, Bewitched!
Although there are a couple of releases in the Bewitched discography that received mixed reviews, like the 1999-released ‘At The Gates Of Hell’ and the aforementioned ‘Spiritual Warfare’, Bewitched is more of less synonymous for solid Black/Heavy Metal fun. A somewhat light-hearted mix of two genres blended together into something that pleases each headbanger and old school metal enthusiast. That too applies to ‘Diabolical Death Mass’, it’s brimming with catchy hooks, solid lead guitars and shout-along choruses. And, when compared to the very NWOBHM-like production of ‘At The Gates Of Hell’, this new album sounds heavy and punchy, positioning the album not too far removed from the more recent Midnight albums.
Some might claim that ‘Diabolical Death Mass’ sound a little safe, as it is not straying from the trodden paths of the past. And in a way that is hard to deny, but then again, if the band would’ve returned with a completely different record I am quite sure the complaints would be harsher. Honestly, ‘Diabolical Death Mass’ is just what you might have expected, or at least hoped for. It is a thoroughly catchy and enjoyable album that has Bewitched written all over it. In addition I am happy to see Bewitched returned to their old home. In my opinion, Osmose Productions and Bewitched still belong together, and I hope this collaboration will yield a few more great albums to come.
