The Alchemist [VINYL]

Apart from H2O molecules, what is in the water in Sweden?It's not just water in the pipes either, there must be a direct conduit back to the early 70s. How else can you explain the likes of Witchcraft and Graveyard and all the 'tron drenched proggers and all this with all the men being G-A-Y too (Ask the Finns, they'll explain)This just gets better on every play. Honestly. Good honest Hard Rock from denim clad men with long hair and face fungus. Can it get better than that? Well yes! There's Mellotron on it too.If it's on Rise Above BUY IT. Lee Dorrian may be a dancing fool, but he ain't no musical fool.Buy. Or Steal. Then buy a proper copy out of guilt.

had to day very pleased with item and the seller

Just a good folk/rock album to listen to.

The general view seems to be that witchcraft are doom metal,i dont see that at all here,some stylings perhaps but this isnt doom,no sir,this is kinda groove rock with a trippy nature that isnt intrusive really,folky in parts but never sustained ,just good time rock n roll,yes they were heavier once upon a time but to call this doom is plain lazy.Witchcraft hail from sweden but this album has an american feel to it,think of the 1970s rock movement and we are half way there,groovy riffs played at a fast enough pace with a vocalist that sounds alot like jim morrison and danzig,yeah that isnt a bad example at all,throw in an assortment of instruments such as organ and saxophone and you are starting to understand the feeling that this album wishes to create.As decent an album as this is,its fair to say that it opens with perhaps the worst track on here,mind you there are only 7 tracks,'walk between the lines' just grates at me,i dont like it,i have tried,some elements are pleasing but as a whole it is a weak opener,but then we get a cracking wee track in 'if crimson was your colour',this is a great nippy song that gets pulses racing,i am also very fond of 'hey doctor' and 'remembered' and the epic final track which clocks in at 14 minutes or so is a good track,at first it outstays its welcome then it shifts gears and we are left with a very memorable song indeed.This isnt a perfect album but there is some good stuff to treasure nonetheless,a less established band from england called gentlemens pistols have done this ode to the 70s better in my opinion but this is solid enough,3 stars.

Swedish band Witchcraft were originally formed as a sort of tribute to 70's Virginia based doom band Pentagram. The band's work ethic is based around reproducing or replecating Pentagram & other 70's band's such as Iron Butterfly to create their own brand of authentic & nostalgic rock/doom. In fact, the band played a gig in 2006 covering two Pentagram songs with guest vocals by Bobby Liebling, the original Pentagram singer/founding member.While this is the bands third release, on Lee Dorrian's Rise Above records (also home to Electric Wizard & the brillant Welsh band Taint) this is my first dose of Witchcraft & whilst avoiding using any terrible puns, the album is simply magnificent. Similar to the most recent release by Electric Wizard, the album is so authentic & warmly produced, sounding just like a record by any number of the 70's bands Witchcraft cite as their influences. Frontman Magnus Pelander has a superb voice & the producer, as well as the rest of the band, know it. His vocals sit clearly upfront in the mix, while the rest of the band effortlessly create sheer brillance around him. No one tune has a specific chorus or vocal section, whilst all of them are extememly catchy. The melodies twist & turn, keeping you listening & bringing constant reasons to delve into the album time & again. Opener 'Walk Between The Lines', sets the stage in grand fashion acting as a solid example of how every track works. The simple formula of bass-guitar-drums is stretched to maximum effect, producing pretty uptempo rock with a slight hint of prog such as in 'Remembered' (whch contains a very jazzy bit of saxophone from Anders Andersson) & the 13 odd minute closer 'The Alchemist'. The lyrics, whilst being slightly on the kooky, mythological side ('Within the darkest hour, when the dragon releases it's power') are also brillant, perfectly capturing the antique quality of the music.My personal favourites are 'Walk between the Lines', 'Hey Doctor' & the excellent 'Samaritan Burden' which strangely reminds me of Tool. Really though, every track is a keeper & the initial dissappointment of there only being 7 tracks on the album becomes irrelevant when you spend time with them. An absolutely amazing album, well deserving of the five stars & other top reviews it received upon release (Terrorizer magazine gave it 9/10 & album of the month!). True musical gold.

...just listen when The Magus, magnus p, starts to sing on the second track, "If Crimson was your colour"... "kind of" sounds like The Doors, don't you think? Creepy...This band reminds me of a few great bands from the seventies, but still: they DO have their OWN thing going all the time, even the obligatory swedish lyrics is there on one of the tracks, witch (sic) is also great, of course.This is a distinct band, carving themselves their own little space in the stone wall of rock history.I bought The Alchemist on vinyl lately, and the vinyl was black as expected, but still NOT... the black vinyl was (and still is) full of "bright holes" in it! It seems they put all these small pieces of gold (or silver?) in the vinyl-mixture. Weird to discover, but nice too, because it does NOT make the vinyl make cracking sounds when played, and anyway: we should all try to re-invent the light when darkness rules, right? This music helps you do just that! ;o)Well done, lads!

Excellent album! Reminiscent of early Sabbath, Uriah Heep and other 70's influences. There is a definite Euro feel here. It is obvious they recorded this with an analog sound in mind. I wonder if they recorded to tape on this? These guys and Horisont are Swedish hard rock at their finest. Didn't like their first album as much. A little too amateurish but promising. Looking forward to hearing Firewood though it doesn't have all of the same band members as The Alchemist. Very cool band.

He comprado 3lps de este grupo todos en perfecto estado a unos precios inmejorables pero en este concreto especificaba digipack (digi) y no es correcto... Pequeña decepción

La trilogia "retro rock" dei Witchcraft, pubblicata da Rise Above, trova il suo compimento con questo "The Alchemist". Assolutamente consigliato

Excellent record. Must have

スウェーデン出身、2007年発表3rd。ほんとに2007年の録音なのか!?　と耳を疑わずにはいられない、60年代後半〜70年代初期を強く意識したバンド。ハード・ロックもサイケもプログレもブルースも渾然一体となっていたあの時代……。カテゴリー的には少し前のレビューで紹介したELECTRIC WIZARDと同系統だが、さすがにそこまでヘヴィでもマニアックでもない。ただ、JETやTHE DATSUNSほど、一般受けしやすい音楽ってわけでもない。現在のロックやメタルとは隔絶したところで鳴っている。ピュアでナチュラルでベーシックなロックが聴きたければ、彼らはきっと期待にこたえてくれる。

Doom bands completely lose my interest when they start to incorporate flutes. Boo.

Ces mecs aiment le pro metal,comme moi,mais eux ont fait des disques,notament celui ci qui à le gout et l'odeur des 70's.Encore une fois l'ombre des maîtres (black sab)planne sur ce disque,je n'ai rien contre,juste deux petits bemols:un son trop léché et un chanteur bon mais à la voix trop neutre,à par ça un très bon disque avec des morceaux qui tiennent la route.

Il est en parfait état, pas de rayure, et bonne surprise c'est un vinyle couleur. Un acheteur de vinyles satisfait

Bought this after hearing their version of Roky Erickson's Sweet Honey Pie. As I expected the bonus track wasn't on the album, but I liked what I heard from the band so much in the cover I was wanting to give them a shot. I wasn't disappointed. The mix and seperation on this is great. Feels like your in the middle of the room with them and they are grooving. Grooving like the funkier blues rock of 70's KISS and Black Sabbath. Very earthy, organic, and alive each band member has some real moments and it's not pretensious. I can't remember the last time this has happened. If you dig classic rock and are just plain tired of trying to relive the moment of discovery of your old favorites. Spin this and remember why you love rock and roll so much.

Exellent

So, I have never listened to this band before and was very excited to put the record on. At first listen I wasn't too impressed, however the record has grown on me the more I listen to it. I'm still not too excited about the first two songs, but as the tracks progress I begin to here the doom/sludge reminiscent of Black Sabbath. If you're new to this band I suggest listening to them on YouTube first, if you're a fan and don't have it, I'd go ahead and fork out the cash. I am very glad I bought it.

Great album too bad the cd case was broke.

Rock's

Y’all. This album is so good.

Excellent album. I don't like it as much as 'Firewood', but its still a great album. 'Samaritan Burden' is my favorite track.. The vinyl is a very unique color. Half green-half white. Sounds great. Magnus Pelander sounds a lot like Maynard from Tool, except with actual good music to accompany his vocals.