Customer Reviews

Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an enjoyable slab of 60's psych/rock any way you slice it. Comparisons to Jefferson Airplane are valid, but this group is alot better than some Airplane knock off from the midwest. The group gleans most of its attention from the satanic/occult themes explored on the cover and in the lyrics of the songs, and that's really a shame. Coven was an above average rock band with the best female vocalist in rock history. She never fails to amaze me, and I've listened to all three Coven albums alot. The single greatest weakness on this disc is the fact most of the tunes were penned by Jim Donliger who went on to the substandard Lovecraft (not even close to the brilliant HP Lovecraft). The shear strength of Jinx's voice rescues time and again what would be 3 star material. The two strongest cuts on the album are the band penned For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and Wicked Woman. This band does deserve credit for recording the first openly Satanic rock album. That took some serious balls at the time. Black Widow was still known as Pesky Gee and jsut starting to record an early version of Sacrifice as opposed to cover songs, and I don't know that any recordings exist by The Magic Powerhouse of Oz or Powers of Evil. As usual, when ahead of your time, you get shot down, and the record company ended up pulling the album. Coven would do a good album in 71, but it wasn't till 74's Blood On The Snow that they really forged their own sound into a 5 star album from start to finish. I would recommend this to those interested in occult themes, whether serious or curious. To fans of late 60's psych rock, you should get this, too. The band is better than they're often given credit for, and you will not find a woman out there with a set of pipes like Jinx Dawson. She is the best! For those who would like an affordable copy of any of Coven's albums on CD, simply go to [...] and buy them from the Goth Queen herself. All other copies on CD are boots and Jinx and the band never got a dime for this release when it came out. Oh, and Jinx looks as good as she sings.

This Chicago band obviously predated Black Sabbath as one of the first rock groups to flirt with the occult. I also wonder if Black Sabbath was influenced by this group? For one thing, Coven's bassist was named Oz Osborne. Black Sabbath's John Osbourne we all know better as Ozzy Osbourne make me wonder if he named himself after Oz Osborne? Plus Coven recorded a song called "Black Sabbath", as Black Sabbath themselves did on their debut, although they are hardly the same song. But then it's probably pure coincidence, as I can't be sure if many copies of this album made it into the UK at the time.

But aside from that, there is nothing remotely resembling Black Sabbath musically in the music of Coven. There really is nothing heavy about their music (despite that silly Dental Hygiene Dilemma segment found on Frank Zappa's movie 200 Motels where Jeff wanted to be heavy like Grand Funk, Black Sabbath, and Coven), and so really nothing scary about the music, but as a psychedelic album it really is a great, lost gem of psychedelia. The group consisted of vocalist Jinx Dawson, Oz Osborne, as mentioned already, drummer Steve Ross, and guitarist Chris Nielsen. Turns out James Vincent aka Jim Donlinger of Aorta (whose self-entitled 1969 album is a great album of psychedelia, think how Chicago or the Al Kooper-led BS&T might be like if they were psychedelic leaning) provided the songwriting, plus one other Aorta member Jim Nyeholt provided keyboard work. It's a bit strange that James Vincent is on this album as he's a Christian and involved himself in Christian music. In 1969 comes Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls on the Mercury label. What if Jefferson Airplane flirted with the occult, instead of flower power? Then you're not far off. Another comparison is the British group Black Widow (although when Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls came out, Black Widow was still called Pesky Gee and concentrating mainly on covers of other people's songs) as that group's 1970 album Sacrifice covered similar subject matter, but Coven lacked the Jethro Tull influence. Plus Jinx Dawson does not sound much like Grace Slick, although the occasional male vocals, like on "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge", might remind you a bit of Paul Kantner. Nine cuts are regular songs, that last piece, "Satanic Mass" is as you guess, a Satanic Mass, consisting mainly of chanting, although there's a section where a young woman is being initiated, and the priest demanded her to "kiss the goat", which I found completely hilarious, because the way he yelled that phrase in a very angry and demanding tone to her.

In March 1970, Esquire Magazine published a scandalous article called "Evil lurks in California" and was said to have a photo of Charles Manson holding this album. Mercury quickly pulled the album from circulation to avoid any further bad publicity. Like Black Widow, bad publicity forced them to move away from Satanism. Coven adopted a more commercial approach and scored a hit with "One Tin Soldier" (and released a couple more albums). This song sounds like, to my ears, typical AM radio fare and lacks what I like so much of the Witchcraft album. The only thing going for it is I can still recognize Jinx Dawson's voice. I am not in the least bit surprised this song was featured on Rhino's Have a Nice Day compilation set (it was on Vol. 7), which consisted of AM hits of the 1970s (think "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head", "Seasons in the Sun", "Afternoon Delight", "Brandy, You're a Fine Girl", Blue Swede's version of "Hooked on a Feeling", and so on, most of the songs I have an aversion to), each volume progressing later in the decade (from 1969 to 1979). I can only imagine how many AM music listeners were in total shock that Coven actually recorded a Satanic album before they had a hit with "One Tin Soldier" (AM radio at that time was considerably more conservative than FM). At least Black Widow did not go commercial after Sacrifice, they simply dropped the occult lyrics.

If you aren't bothered by the subject matter covered on the album, are a fan of groups like Jefferson Airplane or Black Widow, you owe it to yourself to give this album a try. But for those expecting the heaviness of Black Sabbath, look elsewhere.

I've had this LP for a long time and finally burned it to CD so I could listen to it on my long commute to work. I remember hearing it years ago and thought "Jefferson Airplane" and that pretty much still applies today. This album is fascinating in that they were so brazen and bold to come out with this at a time before anyone had heard of death/black metal or The Exorcist.

Their stage show was over the top and involved a black mass and I can imagine they had a pretty hard time getting gigs once the venue knew what they were about, especially in the bible belt. Yet, they still managed to get around and attract the interest of the actor that played in Billy Jack. They later came out with their "one hit wonder" single, One Tin Soldier.

This album is a group of songs, mostly, if not all about witchcraft and black magic, ending with a "real" satanic ritual that takes up most of side two. The music itself reminds one of, I have to say it again, Jefferson Airplane. The subject matter is, of course, way different from that the Plane did, but music wise, I feel it is a valid comparison.

Of course, there is the obvious (to a Pagan at least) contradiction in that Witchcraft has nothing to do with black magic, or Satanic rituals, but for the times, it sure added to the shock value. Anyone really in the know would realize it was show and not a real representation of Wicca. However, to a fundamentalist Christian, this is the proof that Rock and Roll is the Devil's music!

I give it four stars more for the novelty than the music, though this is something I can listen to more than once. Musically, it is far from groundbreaking, but for shock value and showmanship, it was way ahead of it's time. Recommended.

Witches Gone Wild!

These are not your Mother's Wiccans. This band is not Politically Correct for Pagan groups like the Covenant of the Goddess; too bad for COG, too. They're missing some great rock and roll.

All of Coven's CDs are now available directly from Priestess Jinx herself, through her & Coven's respective Facebook and My Space pages. The CD pictured and sold here is a European Pirated edition.

I loved this band over three decades ago; all three of their LPs, Coven, Blood On The Snow, and this one, Witchcraft, were very, very "heavy" (as we used to say). Coven were the first overtly Occult/Pagan/Satanic band in America, from a time when the lines separating Wicca and Satanism weren't as clearly drawn as they are today. Everyone from Black Sabbath to KISS stole the Satanic Horned Salute from them: they used it here before any of them.

Coven was very influental in its time, and remains so this day in some quarters. Their hit, One Tin Soldier, was covered by Cher, no doubt inspired the Wilson sisters of Heart, and has recently been covered by such Pagan Rock acts as Velvet Hammer, Dreamtrybe, and Wyrdgrl. Stevie Nicks was obviously stealing every page from Jinx's book that she could, but she never had Jinx singing ability.

O.K., as rock and roll, it *is* a bit dated. And the whole Satanic Mass is a bit pretencious and overdone, they take themselves *way* too seriously. Overall, it's still a better take on the Black Mass than Anton LeVay was doing with the Church of Satan at the time; see the DVD "Satanis: The Devil's Mass" if you have any doubts. Jinx was much finer to look at, too... and she's still alive and well, and just opened Coven's vault for the first time in 35 years and released a CD of previously unreleased studio outtakes.

Irregardless, Ms. Dawson's voice is *still* amazing, and some parts of it, like "The White Witch of Rose Hall" are still timeless. Pull this CD out for your Halloween or Samhain party, but the rest of the year it's a bit of a guilty pleasure.

I guess by now many people are aware of the strange coincidence between the rock band Black Sabbath and this late 60's band, Coven.

The very first song on this album is called "Black Sabbath". The bassist from the band happens to be called Oz Osbourne. This Coven album came out in 1969, before Black Sabbath released their first album.

And yet, there is no connection between Coven and the members of Black Sabbath in ANY way. How can that even be possible?

Now, many people will say the members of Black Sabbath were just interested in this band and the connections were intentional.

But still, what are the odds that two Osbournes would be in the picture around the same time in history? You mean to tell me, the Ozzy Osbourne from Black Sabbath was listening to this rare band from Chicago, and the other members of Sabbath were actually influenced by this enough to call their band Black Sabbath?

But here's the problem- this album sounds NOTHING like Black Sabbath (the band). This Coven album has a female singer who closely resembles Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane, and the music is just dark folk rock, which as most of you probably know, is WAY different from what Black Sabbath went on to do.

This has to be just a gigantic coincidence... or maybe not. Stranger things have happened. This surely is one interesting piece of history though, similar to other mysteries like Big Foot and the Bermuda Triangle.

Unless the members of Sabbath thought they could name themselves after the opening song on this album, and copy bassist Oz Osbourne's name, and no one would ever find out about it Well, that's not true, since Coven has been discovered!

Anyway, I love the music on this Coven album. It's really melodic, though evil, folk rock, which mostly focuses around Grace... I mean, the female singers vocal melodies (hey, she sounds so much like Grace Slick it's not even funny!) I love it though. I love her voice, and I love this style of folk rock. The dark themes make it more interesting than a Peter, Paul and Mary album.

I'm just confused over the whole connection between Black Sabbath and Coven. If anyone has anything more to add, please comment on my review! I wanna know more about this!

The socio-cultural phenomenon of "Coven" is more important than their music - which was quite innovative and revolutionary for its time, but as an approach mostly. However, do not expect anything heavy, "Black Sabbath"-alike, - it's rather mild and mellow West Coast psychedelia flirting with embryonic prog. The music in many aspects is superior to "Jefferson Airplane", and vocals of Jinx Dawson on many tracks sound more convincing and powerful than the voice of Grace Slick.
Regretfully, the band is better known for its involvement with occult and black magic and for performing satanic rites on stage, in this aspect they were spiritually connected not to "Black Widow" (which in 1969 was still known as "Pesky Gee"Exclamation Mark, and released their overrated "Sacrifice" - Sacrifice - in 1970 only), but to lesser known prophets of occult - "Zior" (Zior, First Monument). "Coven" and "Zior" were the first to perform the black mass on stage opening the gates for horror rock of Alice Cooper.
Apart from that, "Coven" was the first to appear in public with the Sign of Horns and inverted crosses (later borrowed by Black Sabbath and many others). The roots of "Coven" (Jinx Dawson's personal interest mainly) obsession with occult and Satanism grow from far deeper than arguable connection with newcomer Anton LaVey - these were the teachings of the Great Beast (Aleister Crowley - see excellent Perdurabo, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Life of Aleister Crowley). No wonder that "Coven" was billed at the same gigs as Jimmy Page & The New Yardbirds (Page is a wellknown follower of Crowley, who has impressive collection of his personal belongings). Yes, "Coven" pre-dated "Black Sabbath", but didn't influenced and/or inspired Messrs Osbourne, Iommi at al. - it's a nice guess, but absolutely unfounded: "Coven" at the time was unknown across Atlantic, and "Sabbath" listened to different kind of music (I Am Ozzy). Although "Coven" has "Black Sabbath" song on their album, both bands are not related or connected musically.
Most probably, "Coven" as a concept were the true pioneers of goth, and if they influenced directly some musicians, it should be Wytches & Vampyres: Best of - this is my guess. On the other hand, "Coven" as an idea could have inspired Living With the Ancients and many female-fronted metal acts.
In real life the search for forbidden knowledge turned out to be destructive for "Coven"'s career, as an article in "Esquire" ("Evil Lurks In California", March 1970) connected them with the murders commited by Charles Manson's "family", and the record company properly withdrew the LPs from the shops. "Coven" was saved from total obscurity by "One Tin Soldier", sung by Jinx for the soundtrack of "Billy Jack" (Billy Jack)* , which surpisingly charted three times over few years. Before disbanding "Coven" released another two albums, trying to move closer to hard & heavy, but without great success.
In 2008 Jinx Dawson, self-styled "Metal Goth Queen", released "Metal Goth Queen: Out Of the Vault. Lost Tapes 1976-2007", previously unavailable material featuring as guests original guitarist of Steppenwolf Michael Monarch, ex-Jethro Tull bassist Glen Cornick and legendary Tommy Bolin. Up to a certain extent it can be called goth, but metal - aesthetically only.
With all due respect I cannot call Jinx Dawson great female singer, and the music is not a revelation, but "Coven" still remains undisputable artefact of cultural and musical history.
P.S. It seems to me that they would have pleased to meet another recent incarnation of the Beast - Robert Lenkiewicz - but He is dead
______________________________________
* "Billy Jack" (to my knowledge at least) for the first time used winning formula of mixing the subject of Natives' rights with martial arts - the hero was half-Indian, expert in hapkido, Viet vet. The whole concept is ripe for another Hollywood remake, provided that politically correct cosmetics are properly applied: this time the second half should be Afro-American, vigan, paraplegic and gay

I have had the pleasure of chatting with Jinx on several occasions and this album is in a word just awesome if you are lucky enough to get it on vinyl. She has a voice that some say reminds them of Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane. To me her voice is so much better. It is a shame that their career was short lived. The music on here is what was to come for those seeking a more hard rock sound. On their later releases they eased up a bit. I have their three LP's "Witchcraft", "Coven", and "Blood on the Stone". If you are looking for something different, but refreshing this a great late 60's LP to listen to. Satanic Mass itself is worth it.I also HIGHLY recommend that you find "Blood On The Stone" as well. Their second LP "Coven" contains the international hit "One Tin Soldier" from the movie "Billy Jack". With all this said treat yourself to a really good early goth/metal LP and get this one while you can. You can also find more from the Goth Queen here as well [...].